Approved in 2021, the law prohibits or severely restricts depictions of homosexuality and gender reassignment in media and educational programs aimed at audiences under the age of 18. Fifteen European Union countries have joined in a legal action to put pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Two years of protests have done nothing. In Europe, Hungary remains the champion of the anti-LGBT movements which are also multiplying in the United States. This bill “goes against the values of the European Union”, had already declared the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and that is why the institution has launched an infringement procedure before the Court of Justice of the EU. She argues that the legislation breaches fundamental rights and several single market regulations. “The Hungarian law violates European law, fundamental rights and EU values. We have referred Hungary to the CJEU and it is now up to the Court to decide the case,” a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews.
And fifteen countries have joined in this legal action: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, France, Germany and Greece, along with the European Parliament, will act as third parties in the lawsuit launched last year by the European Commission. The participation of 15 member countries is “revolutionary”, says Katrin Hugendubel, director of ILGA-Europe, an NGO that brings together more than 600 organizations across Europe and Central Asia.
Strong division between West and East
The list of countries participating in the lawsuit has a strong Western component. This trend reflects the long-standing divide between West and East when it comes to protecting the rights of LGBT+ people on the continent. Italy, Estonia, Latvia and Cyprus, whose leaders had signed a collective letter in 2021 denouncing the Hungarian law, have not added their names to the legal action. Recently, Italy stood out on the recognition of children from same-sex families. On the other hand, Slovenia has chosen this time to join the procedure.
Contrary to what was announced, France and Germany joined the movement at the last minute. France joined in extremis, on the evening of Thursday April 6, the deadline for participating. “It is good news that France is finally expressing its support for this procedure. I remain disappointed that we have not been able to use our diplomacy to encourage other countries to do the same”, reacts Sébastien Tüller, LGBTI manager for Amnesty International France. And without Amnesty’s pressure, Emmanuel Macron’s government could have found itself in a delicate, if not shameful, position.
Source: myeurop
