Viktor Orbán is gone: But for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community, the battle is only half won

For years, Viktor Orbán’s Hungary was synonymous with a brand of hardline right-wing politics that systematically pushed the country’s LGBTQ+ community into the shadows. When the power shifted in Budapest, many breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. But after talking to people on the streets here, it’s clear that optimism is being met with a heavy dose of realism. For those who have had their backs against the wall for a decade, Viktor Orbán’s exit is only the end of the first half.

A new era? You can feel the hope in the air

There’s no doubt the mood has shifted. I’ve been covering Eastern Europe for two decades, and it’s rare to see such a 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 their space. The new government has been using more inclusive language, and that’s given them a much-needed boost in courage.

But as one activist put it to me: "Orbán being gone is like getting a boot off your neck. 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 in place. The constitutional court, which Orbán packed with his own loyalists, is still there. The machinery was built to keep running.

• Symbolic wins: Pride marches can now take place without the fear of police brutality, which was 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 dependence: Many in the cultural sector are still reliant on state funding, and the fear of losing their livelihood is very real.

Two narratives: From the hockey bus to Budapest

While the world’s focus is on the major political shift in Hungary, another drama reminds us that life’s fragility often overshadows politics. A few weeks back, I was glued to the screen, like everyone else, when news of the Canada hockey bus crash broke. 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 of 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 now finally starting to ease. The collective grief over the hockey crash in Canada brought a country together in a shared sense of feeling. That sense of solidarity is exactly what the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary has been starved of: to be seen as a natural part of the community, 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 only beginning. It’s no longer just about getting Viktor Orbán out of office. It’s about dismantling a system that has ostracised a huge part of the population for over a decade. The severely strained 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 has been active since the 90s, what her biggest hope is. Her answer was simple: "That my daughter can hold her partner’s hand in public without having to check who’s watching." It’s no longer a question of grand ideologies. It’s a question of being able to live your life in freedom. 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.