Viktor Orbán Is Gone: But for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ Community, the Fight Is Only Half-Won
For years, Viktor Orbán's Hungary was synonymous with a hardline right-wing politics that systematically pushed the country's LGBTQ+ community into the shadows. When power 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 this optimism is tempered 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? The joy is palpable
There's no doubt the mood has shifted. I've covered 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 just surviving in the shadows, but about daring to demand space. The new government has adopted a more inclusive tone, and that's given people a much-needed boost of courage.
But as one activist put it to me: "Orbán being gone is like having a boot lifted off your throat. 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 loyalists, 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 entrenched systems: The old guard still holds significant sway in the media and local administrations, where discrimination often begins.
- Economic dependency: Many in the cultural sector still rely 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, a different kind of drama serves as a reminder that life's fragility often overshadows politics. A few weeks ago, I was glued to my 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 midst 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 bus crash in Canada united a country in a shared emotion. That's exactly the kind of solidarity the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary has been longing for: to be seen as a natural part of the community, not 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 just about removing Viktor Orbán from office. It's about dismantling a system that has ostracized a large part of the population for over a decade. 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 has been an activist since the 90s, what her biggest 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 question of grand ideologies. It's a question of 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.