FBD
07-08-2021, 01:27 PM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hungary-rejects-eu-demands-to-repeal-controversial-anti-lgbtq-legislation-e2-80-98we-are-not-willing-to-do-that-e2-80-99/ar-AALTo5q?ocid=BingNewsSearch
Hungary leaders say the country will not reverse course on a controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation set to come into force on Thursday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said Wednesday that Brussels is considering legal action against the EU member state over the discriminatory law proposed by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban.
The law, which was approved by Hungary’s parliament on June 15 in a 157-1 vote, would ban LGBTQ content in schools or television programs for people under the age of 18.
Last month, EU leaders slammed Orban’s administration over the legislation during a closed-door meeting, when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Budapest leaders to either respect EU values of tolerance or leave the bloc.
Hungary leaders say the country will not reverse course on a controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation set to come into force on Thursday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said Wednesday that Brussels is considering legal action against the EU member state over the discriminatory law proposed by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban.
The law, which was approved by Hungary’s parliament on June 15 in a 157-1 vote, would ban LGBTQ content in schools or television programs for people under the age of 18.
Last month, EU leaders slammed Orban’s administration over the legislation during a closed-door meeting, when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Budapest leaders to either respect EU values of tolerance or leave the bloc.
a group of people standing in front of a building: A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in front of the parliament building in Budapest on June 14, 2021, during a demonstration against the Hungarian government's anti-LGBTQ bill. © GERGELY BESENYEI A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in…
A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in front of the parliament building in Budapest on June 14, 2021, during a demonstration against the Hungarian government's anti-LGBTQ bill. (GERGELY BESENYEI/)
“Homosexuality is equated with pornography. This legislation uses the protection of children as an excuse to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday. “It is a disgrace.”
Respect LGBT rights or leave EU, Hungary's Orban is told
“If Hungary does not correct the situation, the Commission will use its powers as guardian of the treaties,” she said, describing the law as “shameful.”
Orban, who faces a national election next year, has defended the legislation, saying that the law was designed to protect children, and not to discriminate against LGBTQ people.
“Brussels’ efforts to have us allow LGBTQ activists into schools and nursery schools are in vain,” Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, said Wednesday according to Reuters. “We are not willing to do that.”
The European Parliament said in a news release that “a broad majority of MEPs (members of the European Parliament) demanded action from the Council and the Commission against the continuous deterioration of EU values in Hungary and Poland.”
Slovenia’s minister of foreign affairs, Anže Logar, and the Commission’s VP for values and transparency, Věra Jourova, spoke against the legislation noting that it contradicts EU law, and adding that the matter falls within the EU’s remit under the Treaties.
Any legal action launched against Orban would be backed by a majority of member states, the Agence France-Presse reported.
“LGBTI rights are human rights and acting against those rights in the European Union is illegal,” Iraxte García Pérez, a Spanish politician who has served as an MEP since 2004, told the parliament. “This is why the new Hungarian law must be revoked, because it is an attack on human rights and it is an indecent and shameful law. This retrograde law shows the seeds of hate and violence.”
“Let me be clear, in this European Union, any person should have the same rights and opportunities, regardless of who they love. The European Council reacted against the Hungarian government, but reaction must now become action,” Pérez added.
Hungary leaders say the country will not reverse course on a controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation set to come into force on Thursday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said Wednesday that Brussels is considering legal action against the EU member state over the discriminatory law proposed by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban.
The law, which was approved by Hungary’s parliament on June 15 in a 157-1 vote, would ban LGBTQ content in schools or television programs for people under the age of 18.
Last month, EU leaders slammed Orban’s administration over the legislation during a closed-door meeting, when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Budapest leaders to either respect EU values of tolerance or leave the bloc.
Hungary leaders say the country will not reverse course on a controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation set to come into force on Thursday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said Wednesday that Brussels is considering legal action against the EU member state over the discriminatory law proposed by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban.
The law, which was approved by Hungary’s parliament on June 15 in a 157-1 vote, would ban LGBTQ content in schools or television programs for people under the age of 18.
Last month, EU leaders slammed Orban’s administration over the legislation during a closed-door meeting, when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Budapest leaders to either respect EU values of tolerance or leave the bloc.
a group of people standing in front of a building: A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in front of the parliament building in Budapest on June 14, 2021, during a demonstration against the Hungarian government's anti-LGBTQ bill. © GERGELY BESENYEI A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in…
A participant holds a placard showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban holding a scarf in rainbow colors, in front of the parliament building in Budapest on June 14, 2021, during a demonstration against the Hungarian government's anti-LGBTQ bill. (GERGELY BESENYEI/)
“Homosexuality is equated with pornography. This legislation uses the protection of children as an excuse to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday. “It is a disgrace.”
Respect LGBT rights or leave EU, Hungary's Orban is told
“If Hungary does not correct the situation, the Commission will use its powers as guardian of the treaties,” she said, describing the law as “shameful.”
Orban, who faces a national election next year, has defended the legislation, saying that the law was designed to protect children, and not to discriminate against LGBTQ people.
“Brussels’ efforts to have us allow LGBTQ activists into schools and nursery schools are in vain,” Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, said Wednesday according to Reuters. “We are not willing to do that.”
The European Parliament said in a news release that “a broad majority of MEPs (members of the European Parliament) demanded action from the Council and the Commission against the continuous deterioration of EU values in Hungary and Poland.”
Slovenia’s minister of foreign affairs, Anže Logar, and the Commission’s VP for values and transparency, Věra Jourova, spoke against the legislation noting that it contradicts EU law, and adding that the matter falls within the EU’s remit under the Treaties.
Any legal action launched against Orban would be backed by a majority of member states, the Agence France-Presse reported.
“LGBTI rights are human rights and acting against those rights in the European Union is illegal,” Iraxte García Pérez, a Spanish politician who has served as an MEP since 2004, told the parliament. “This is why the new Hungarian law must be revoked, because it is an attack on human rights and it is an indecent and shameful law. This retrograde law shows the seeds of hate and violence.”
“Let me be clear, in this European Union, any person should have the same rights and opportunities, regardless of who they love. The European Council reacted against the Hungarian government, but reaction must now become action,” Pérez added.