Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 29th Budapest Pride Festival

On the occasion of the 29th Budapest Pride Festival, we the undersigned embassies and cultural institutes express our full support for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) community in Hungary and their rights to equality and non-discrimination, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and freedom from violence, among others.

Respect for the rule of law and universal human rights are the foundations upon which democratic states are built. International human rights law is grounded on the broad premise that all individuals have the same rights and freedoms without discrimination.

We reject and condemn all acts of violence, hate speech, harassment, stigmatization and discrimination committed against individuals and communities on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics and support the fight against such acts. In this regard, we are seriously concerned with the recent application of legislation and political rhetoric, including in Hungary, that is in tension with principles of non-discrimination, international human rights law and human dignity, and contributes to stigmatization of the LGBTQI+ community. This includes politically motivated efforts to target LGBTQI+ persons, their families, and depictions of LGBTQI+ persons in books, cultural institutions, and in the media. We stress the need for leaders and governments, here and elsewhere, to show respect for and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ communities and individuals, and to eliminate laws, practices, and policies that discriminate against them.

We stress the inviolability of international human rights law, human dignity, the right to freedom of expression and information, the right to private and family life, and the right to non-discrimination for all. We underline the need to ensure supportive regulatory environments that uphold and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ people. We emphasize the importance of access to diverse and pluralistic information, the representation of LGBTQI+ people, and their full participation in public, cultural, and online spheres.

Furthermore, we welcome the important advocacy of LGBTQI+ human rights defenders, activists, journalists, media workers and civil society organizations working to ensure that all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, receive equal treatment and the full protection of the law.
Celebrating diversity is an important way to promote respect for human rights for all. Budapest Pride has the longest history of such events in the region, and we highlight its role in promoting equality of treatment and social acceptance for all LGBTQI+ persons, and contributing to the creation of a more open, just, inclusive and equal society.