Thirteen European Union countries called on the European Commission on Tuesday to “use all the tools at its disposal to ensure full compliance with European law” before Hungarian law is considered “discriminatory against LGBT people.”
“We express our deep concern about the adoption by the Hungarian Parliament of discriminatory legislation against LGBTQ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gay and intersex) that violates the right to freedom of expression under the pretext of protecting children,” wrote 13 member states.
Drafted at the initiative of Belgium, the text was signed by another 12 member states: the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Portugal has remained on the sidelines and justifies its decision by the fact that it presides over the Council of the European Union.
“We have a duty to remain neutral. But if it was just for me, I would sign it, it’s obvious, ”said Ana Paula Zacarias, Secretary of State for European Affairs.
On June 15, Hungary passed a law prohibiting the “propaganda” of homosexuality among people under the age of 18, sparking unrest among human rights defenders as Viktor Orban’s conservative government repeatedly tightens restrictions on the LGBT community.
The new Hungarian law “introduces a ban on“ the presentation and promotion of gender identity other than sex at birth, sex reassignment and homosexuality ”among persons under the age of 18,” signatory countries indicate, condemning “an egregious form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and self-expression “.
