Viktor Orbán Is Out: But for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ Community, the Battle Is Only Half-Won
For years, Viktor Orbán's Hungary was synonymous with a hardline right-wing agenda that systematically pushed the country's LGBTQ+ community into the shadows. When the government changed hands in Budapest, many breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. But after talking with people on the streets here, it's clear that optimism comes with a hefty dose of realism. For those who have had their backs against the wall for a decade, Viktor Orbán’s exit is only halftime.
A new era? The joy is palpable
There’s no doubt the mood has shifted. I’ve been covering Eastern Europe for two decades, and it’s rare to see this mix of relief and nervousness. For the young queer people I spoke with earlier this week, it’s no longer about surviving in the shadows, but about daring to claim space. The new government has spoken in more inclusive terms, and it’s given a boost to their courage.
But as one activist put it: “Orbán being gone is like having a weight lifted off your chest. You can breathe, but you’re still tied up.” That hits the nail on the head. The law banning the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ to minors is still on the books. The Constitutional Court, which Orbán stacked with his own people, is still there. The machinery was built to keep running.
- Symbolic victories: Pride marches can now take place without the fear of police brutality—something unthinkable just a year ago.
- The heavy structures: The old guard still holds significant sway in the media and local administrations, where discrimination often starts.
- Economic dependency: Many in the cultural sector still rely on state funding, and the fear of losing their livelihood is very real.
Two stories: From the hockey bus to Budapest
While the world focuses on the major political shift in Hungary, another, very different drama reminds us that life’s fragility often overshadows politics. A few weeks ago, I was glued to the screen like everyone else when news broke about the Canada hockey bus crash. A tragedy that brought an entire nation to a standstill in the middle of their greatest passion. It’s a reminder that even in the most privileged societies, life is short.
For the queer Hungarians I followed today, it’s not about life and death on the ice, but about a slow strangulation that is finally starting to ease. The collective grief over the hockey crash in Canada united a country in a shared sense of loss. That’s exactly the kind of solidarity the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary has been yearning for: to be seen as a natural part of the whole, not as a threat to it.
Only half the battle
It’s tempting to call this a new dawn for human rights in Hungary. But the real fight is just beginning. It’s no longer about getting Viktor Orbán out of office. It’s about dismantling a system that, for over a decade, has ostracized a large part of the population. The embattled human rights situation in Hungary doesn’t just need to be restored; it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
I asked an older woman, who’s been an activist since the ‘90s, what her greatest hope is. Her answer was simple: “That my daughter can hold her girlfriend’s hand in public without having to check who’s watching.” It’s no longer a matter of grand ideologies. It’s about being able to live your life freely. And even though Orbán is no longer in office, the road to get there is still long. The battle is won, but the war is far from over.