Yesterday, a number of negative things happened in Hungary that have had a deeply personal impact on me as a Hungarian in exile. Proposals for constitutional amendments have been adopted that will affect all the people of Hungary, and the current political situation in Hungary means that these proposals will be incorporated into the constitution. The ruling party Fidesz has secured more and more power over time, so opposition is virtually impossible. The proposed amendments will undermine the rights of the people in general, but of LGBTIQ people in particular:
"Queer people and families will be the first to notice the changes. For example, it will be impossible for queer people to adopt. Only heterosexual married couples will be able to adopt, unless you obtain a single-parent adoption licence from the minister himself! This will of course be impossible for queer people.
"Queer people and families will be the first to notice the changes. For example, it will be impossible for queer people to adopt. Only heterosexual married couples will be able to adopt, unless you obtain a single-parent adoption licence from the minister himself! This will of course be impossible for queer people.
The space narrows tightly around people born with gender incongruence, intersex, non-binary and transgender people, with a new constitutional provision stating that children have the "right" to a gender identity from birth:
"Every child has the right to the protection and care necessary for his or her physical, mental and moral development. Hungary protects children's right to self-identity according to their gender at birth and ensures that children receive an education that is based on the country's constitution and Christian culture."
After this, it will not be possible to change legal gender, for example. If a transgender person manages to get treatment, for example abroad, they will still never be able to change their assigned gender in their ID papers.
Also new is that "The basis for family relationships is marriage or parent-child relationships. The mother is female, the father is male (sic.)" Yes, that's what they write: a mother must be a woman, a father must be a man. Of course, this doesn't rule out that two fathers together are actually men, but the implication is that such family relationships will no longer be recognised.
After these changes, I fear that the groundwork will be laid to adopt a law similar to the Russian "propaganda law" - a law that prohibits so-called "propaganda against minors", i.e. providing information about homosexuality to children/young people.
Personally, I am both scared and disappointed. Like many other Hungarians, I have been worried that our country would go further in this direction. Now it seems to be becoming a reality. I fear for the future.
Personally, I am both scared and disappointed. Like many other Hungarians, I have been worried that our country would go further in this direction. Now it seems to be becoming a reality. I fear for the future.
"These changes will make life very difficult for people who violate gender, sexuality and cohabitation norms in Hungary. Let's take this as a reminder that we can never take equal rights for granted and that we must continue to fight to preserve hard-won rights here in Norway and in other countries.
Krisztian Rozsa
Head of Programme at Queer World, Hungarian and proud family man with a husband and two children
