Rainbow Digest June 2025
Budapest Pride makes history
200 thousand people took the streets in Budapest to assert the right to freedom of assembly, making it the largest march for civil rights in the history of Orbán’s regime.
Last February, in his annual address, Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán suggested that the organisers of Budapest Pride shouldn’t put much effort into planning this year. “It is a waste of time and money,” he said, going on to ban Pride events across the country.
On Saturday June 28, an estimated 200,000 people marched at Pride in Budapest, making it not only the largest Pride ever to take place in the city (last year 35,000 people marched), but the largest protest during Orbán’s tenure, which was seen across the world.
In the tense lead-up to the march, ILGA-Europe along with many other NGO’s, MEP’s and 20 EU member states, called on the European Commission to issue interim measures against Orbán’s law, which not only banned Pride events, but criminalised both organisers and participants with the use of facial recognition software. The Commission refused to take the action, which was well within its remit, instead publishing a last-minute video from President Ursula von der Leyen, asking Orbán to let the march go ahead.
The Pride ban stems from Hungary’s so-called “child-protection” law, which is already subject to infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union. On 5 June, the Advocate General of the Court delivered her opinion, proposing that the Court find Hungary in violation of EU law on all grounds raised by the European Commission.
“Congratulations to the organisers of Budapest Pride and thanks to all in the community and allies who showed up with pride!” said ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director, Chaber, who attended the march.
ILGA-Europe news
New resources for activists
We published five new learning resources at ILGA-Europe’s free learning resource for the LGBTI movement, The Hub, with topics ranging from building communications strategies to tips on growing organisations, and from crisis communications to organising Pride events.
The power of radical self-care
In an activist world that demands constant work and resilience, taking time to rest, to heal, to care for ourselves isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessary, defiant act of survival. In the latest episode of The Frontline, we take a deep dive into radical self-care, and in particular on the intersections of queerness, race and mental health, and for activists on these intersections.
We’re looking for a researcher
ILGA-Europe are seeking a consultant to conduct in-depth analysis of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) LGBTIQ Survey III dataset.
Latest news
PRIDE
The Kyiv Pride march went ahead successfully
On 14 June, 1,500 people attended the Kyiv Pride. While the march took place without incidents, the organisers had difficulty in cooperation with the police and local authorities. Police pushed KyivPride to use a less visible route than in pre-war years and the most central location was allocated to a counter-demonstration.
More than 50 people were detained at the Istanbul Pride
Turkish police detained at least 50 people in Istanbul on Sunday as they attempted to participate in the Pride March, amid an intensified crackdown on LGBTI people. The group was attacked by police while reading a press statement. Among those detained were not only activists but also three journalists who were documenting the incident and four lawyers.
Moldova Pride went ahead despite the mayor’s ban
On 15 June, over 1,000 people reclaimed central Chișinău for the Moldova Pride despite the mayor’s unlawful dispersal orders and the church‑led counter‑protests. On 23 June the organisers of the march were called to the police and received an administrative penalty for disobedience of law enforcement.
ENLARGEMENT
The new report on enlargement countries is out
Together with ERA LGBTI, we published our LGBTI Enlargement Review 2025 assessing gaps in legislation and policy for the protection and advancement of the human rights of LGBTI people in the enlargement countries, and identifying priorities for those countries for accession to the EU.
EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
Anti-LGBTI constitutional amendments on the table in Slovakia
ILGA-Europe sent a letter to the Parliament of Slovakia urging the rejection of a constitutional amendment package that would ban adoption by same-sex couples, severely restrict access to comprehensive sexuality education, and make legal gender recognition virtually impossible. The vote was delayed and is now expected to take place in September
Turkey poised to further roll back LGBTI rights amid ongoing democratic crackdown
A draft law moving through the Turkish parliament threatens to impose harsh criminal measures targeting LGBTI people. The draft bill includes an ‘LGBT propaganda’ ban, criminalises trans people who want to get married, and introduces the concept of ‘biological sex’ in law.
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
European Court rules Czech Republic violated trans rights with forced sterilisation
In a pivotal judgment delivered today, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found that the Czech Republic violates the rights of trans people by requiring forced sterilisation as a legal requirement for legal gender recognition.
Notice board
- The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is hiring a Project Coordinator to work on a project that supports pre-accession countries. Apply by 11 July.
- TGEU is seeking a consultant to develop a publication on recent case law of the EU Court of Justice relevant to trans rights. Apply by 9 July.
- Dalan Fund is opening a new call for projects for Romani-led initiatives and groups in Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Apply from 1 July.
