Hungary rolls back part of Orbán’s anti-LGBTIQ+ law
Parliament removes restrictions on LGBTIQ+ content for minors, but leaves other curbs in place.
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Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday rolled back parts of the controversial anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation introduced under Viktor Orbán. The new majority is removing restrictions on the depiction and promotion of sexual and gender diversity in content accessible to minors.
The amendment concerns provisions from the so-called 2021 child protection law. According to AFP, it banned, among other things, showing or promoting homosexuality and gender diversity in content accessible to young people. The amended law instead targets material that could seriously harm children’s physical, intellectual, emotional or moral development.
This removes restrictions on television, books and other media that make LGBTIQ+ people or relationships visible. The law no longer places homosexuality in the same legal context as protection against the sexual abuse of children.
The vote is the first major rollback of Orbán’s LGBTIQ+ policy since Péter Magyar became prime minister. His TISZA party has held a comfortable parliamentary majority since this spring’s election, making the outcome widely expected.
The amendment does not end all restrictions. According to Spanish and Austrian reports, rules remain in place allowing LGBTIQ+ events, including Pride marches, to be banned. Constitutional provisions on sex and restrictions on adoption by same-sex couples are also outside the scope of this legislative change.
The new government presents the change as a return to European rule-of-law standards. In April, the European Court of Justice ruled that Hungary’s restrictions on LGBTIQ+ content violated EU law and fundamental rights.
Opponents of the change, including Orbán’s Fidesz and an even more right-wing party, say the state must protect children from content they consider harmful. Supporters respond that age-appropriate protection can also be arranged without stigmatising a minority.
For the Netherlands, the development is mainly relevant as a signal of the direction taken by an EU member state. Hungary is removing part of the legislation, but the remaining rules on demonstrations, constitutional provisions on sex and adoption keep the conflict with European institutions and human rights organisations alive.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Hungary’s parliament has scrapped parts of the 2021 anti-LGBTIQ+ law.
- The legislative amendment removes restrictions on LGBTIQ+ content accessible to minors.
- Rules concerning Pride, constitutional provisions on sex and adoption by same-sex couples remain in place.
- The European Court of Justice declared the earlier content restrictions incompatible with EU law.
Left
Arguments The amendment restores some freedom of expression and equal visibility for LGBTIQ+ people. From this perspective, child protection should concern concrete harm, not making a minority invisible.
Values Equality, fundamental rights, inclusion and protection against discrimination.
Consequences Supporters expect less stigmatism and closer alignment with European human rights standards, but fear that the remaining Pride and adoption rules will allow discrimination to persist.
Centre
Arguments The state may protect minors from pornography, violence and sexual exploitation, but that protection must be precise in substance and legally robust. A clear distinction between harmful content and LGBTIQ+ representation creates room for compromise.
Values Legal certainty, proportionality, institutional stability and the protection of minors.
Consequences A limited rollback could reduce the conflict with the EU without immediately resolving all the social and constitutional disputes.
Right
Arguments Parents and the national government should retain broad control over what children see at school, on television and online. From this perspective, scrapping the restrictions may be experienced as foreign pressure setting aside traditional views on upbringing.
Values Parental authority, national autonomy, cultural continuity and the protection of children.
Consequences Critics fear that fewer restrictions will reduce the influence of the state and parents over upbringing. At the same time, a conflict with EU law could have legal and financial consequences for Hungary.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The substance of the legislative amendment and the remaining restrictions are independently described in the same terms by AFP, ORF and Cadena SER. The background on EU law is based on AP and is clearly distinguished as context from today’s vote.
- confirmed Hungary’s parliament rolled back parts of the anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation on 13 October. — AFP, ORF and Cadena SER report the vote and its outcome. source
- confirmed The amendment removes restrictions on showing or promoting sexual and gender diversity in content for minors. — AFP describes precisely this change. source
- confirmed Bans on Pride, constitutional provisions on sex and restrictions on adoption by same-sex couples remain in place. — Cadena SER identifies these elements as not having been repealed. source
- confirmed TISZA holds a comfortable parliamentary majority. — ORF reports that TISZA has held a two-thirds majority since the election. source
- confirmed The European Court of Justice ruled in April 2026 that Hungary’s legislation breached EU law. — AP describes the April 2026 ruling. source
Editor's note
The parliamentary amendment and its limited scope are confirmed by several public sources. According to the sources, the remaining restrictions were not lifted by this vote.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „hongarije lhbtiq+”
- de Volkskrant — „hongarije lhbtiq+”
- RTL Nieuws — „hongarije lhbtiq+”