PHOTO REPORT: Incredible Pride held in Budapest

The 28th pride march was held in Budapest yesterday with more than 35 thousand participants, according to the organisers. Not only several Hungarian leftist politicians, MPs, Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony, and other district mayors and representatives took part in the march but also the US ambassador, David Pressman. He gave a speech saying that a lot of governments are worried because of the reality in Hungary. Here is our photo report.

In a speech at the event, Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, said freedom was indivisible and no one could be free in a city in which the LGBTQ community, the Roma or students were not free. “We must stand together for every group that is a target of power,” he said. “Mutual solidarity is indispensable,” he said in the City Park after the parade.

“We live in a country that is not free enough,” the mayor said, “not only for the LGBTQ community, but also for others, too.” He accused the government of trying to hide real problems by stoking “hatred”. Quoting Pope Francis, Karácsony spoke of Budapest as being “a city of bridges” connecting people. “Let’s keep Budapest free…” he said.

Marchers walked from Vajdahunyad Castle in the City Park through Heroes’ Square, Andrássy Avenue, Oktogon, Teréz körút, Király Street, then back along Andrássy Avenue to return to Vajdahunyad Castle. US ambassador David Pressman was among the marchers.

Pressman slammed the government

Pressman told RTL Klub that many countries are worried because of the situation in Hungary. Furthermore, the embassies of 37 countries and the USA issued a statement considering the Hungarian laws condemning the LGBTQ community and the anti-LGBTQ political rhetoric as worrisome. No government member, MP, mayor, or local representative of Orbán’s Fidesz or KDNP participated in the pride march.

The parade was accompanied eight floats, including those of the opposition Socialist, Momentum, Párbeszéd-Greens and Two-tailed Dog parties, and participants danced and waved rainbow flags. At one point, the march was disrupted by counter-protesters who held up banners with the words: “Crime cannot be an object of pride!” and “Let’s stop the corruption of our children!” Here is a photo:

NGOs, petition, Hungarian President

According to the late night statement of the organisers of the Budapest Pride, “40 special people marched with us from more than 17 cities, whose participation was supported by the Budapest Pride application. 40 NGOs, rural LGBTQ associations, political parties and inclusive companies took part as well. In the Civil Village, 15 NGOs presented their activities, and the two-year educational programme, the so called “Befogadó terek” (Inclusive Spaces), a joint project of Budapest Pride, Amnesty International, Háttér Társaság and Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület, was also on display.

After the march, singer and songwriter Martina Király and guitarist Zsolt Barta performed. Kristóf Steiner introduced he Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, who gave a supporting speech. Dávid Bedő, President of the Parliamentary Group for a Diverse Hungary, and Szilvia Szénási, Roma activist and head of the Uccu Foundation also gave speeches. Sári Palugyai said a moving farewell to Györgyi Lang, Hungarian singer, her mother and host of our 2021 event.

Viki Radványi, president of Budapest Pride also gave a speech. Together with Phiren Amenca and the Haver Alapítvány, they announced that they will launch a campaign to take joint action against vulnerable minority legislation. In the campaing, they call on Katalin Novák, President of Hungary to be the President of Everybody. HERE is the petition.

Drag queen entertainment

Trinity Bee, drag queen, entertained the audience with her show between speeches. As an indication of the seriousness of the LGBTQ situation in Hungary, 49 embassies and cultural institutes have issued an unprecedented joint statement urging national governments to end discriminatory laws and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community in Hungary. The event was attended by the embassies of the United States of America, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Kosovo.

This year, the visibility of the participating NGOs was enhanced by a banner on the stage. Rural organisations and groups were also given a special vehicle this year, with a large banner with their logo on it, highlighting the importance of grassroots initiatives outside Budapest. The 28th Budapest Pride March was made possible by thousands of hours of hard work by more than 300 volunteers, nearly 30 project members and 14 organisers. This year, for the first time, the march returned to the same place where it started. We also changed our security concept, replacing static entry points with the tried and tested ribbon-lining at the edges of the march”.

Here are some more photos: