Democracy Digest: Hungary Lacks Pride

Initially, the law was seen as a reaction to that case. It was designed to show the government was not trying to cover up such abuses, but rather pushing for stricter punishment of paedophiles, creating a register where neighbours could search for previously convicted child sex offenders in the neighbourhood, and introducing a ban on those with child abuse convictions from being employed in certain professions. There was an all-party consensus behind the bill.

Yet - not untypically for the Fidesz government - the draft bill was amended at the last minute to give it a completely different complexion. The new version, amended by two Fidesz MPs, was still introduced under the veil of the so-called "Paedophilia Law", but now clearly targets the LGBT community and conflates paedophilia with homosexuality.

The law requires media content that "propagates homosexuality or portrays it" should not be shown to children under 18, nor should commercials portraying "diversion from one's biological sex, change of gender, or those propagating or portraying homosexuality" be accessible to under-18s. Violators could be fined or have their broadcasting licence suspended. Publishers in Hungary say it runs counter to free speech and diversity.

"These proposals, which have dark echoes of Russia's anti-gay propaganda law, will further stigmatize LGBTI people, exposing them to greater discrimination in what is already a hostile environment for those who are LGBTI or perceived to be so," David Vig, director of human rights watchdog Amnesty International, wrote.

It is especially telling that the bill was passed just weeks after Hungary took over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe - the Council of Europe's statutory decision...