Hungary is facing harassment from the European Commission over a law, enacted on June 15, requiring that children not to be exposed to LGBT material before the age of 18. This law only recognizes the natural right of parents.
Vitkor Orban first had to endure the indignation and ire of European Union (EU) heads of state during a video conference on June 24.
The European executive, for its part, denounces a discriminatory nature in these measures against LGBT people.
The Commission has therefore sent Hungary a letter of formal notice. This is the first step in a long procedure, which can lead to referral to the EU Court of Justice and then to financial sanctions. Viktor Orban had two months to respond.
“Equality and respect for dignity and human rights are fundamental values of the EU, enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The Commission will use all the instruments at its disposal to defend these values,” it emphasized in a press release.
Mr. Orban countered that this was an “abuse of power,” announcing a referendum. He announced that, therefore, the Hungarian Government has decided to initiate a referendum on the following five questions:
- Do you support the holding of presentations in public education institutions to introduce minors to topics on sexual orientation without the authorization of their parents?
- Do you support the promotion of gender reassignment treatments for minors?
- Do you support gender reassignment treatments being made available to minors?
- Do you support minors being shown, without any restriction, media content of a sexual nature that is capable of influencing their development?
- Do you support minors being shown media content that demonstrates gender reassignment?
The precise date for the referendum has not yet been set, but it could take place at the beginning of next year.
Poland is also subject to European Commission procedures. The reason: since 2019 around a hundred local authorities adopted an “anti-LGBT ideology” resolution or a “family charter of rights.” These communities represent around a third of Polish territory and are located mainly in the south-east and east of the country.
These decisions had already led the Commission, in July 2020, deprive some of these municipalities of grants under a matching program.
Ursula von der Leyen, for her part, had castigated the “LBGTIQ free zones” which “have no place” in the EU, during her first State of the Union address to the European Parliament in September 2020 .
Verbal exaggeration knows no bounds, and words no longer have any meaning. Unfortunately, twisted and distorted as they are, they can still be used to berate and condemn a state for legitimate and courageous sovereign acts.
