“Thousands of Hungarians marched in solidarity with the country’s LGBTQ+ community Saturday in protest at government rhetoric and new legislation targeting sexual minorities which has drawn condemnation from Hungary’s European Union partners,” reports Politico. “Members of the European Parliament joined the Pride parade through the streets of Budapest. Despite the tension, the mostly youthful participants maintained a festive mood, dancing to Abba songs and waving rainbow flags. However there was also a sense among participants – who included many high-school students – that this was an act of defiance.”
“In June, the Hungarian parliament approved measures banning the promotion and portrayal of homosexuality or sex change issues to minors. The move, which impacts educational programs and advertising, sparked alarm within Hungary’s LGBTQ community and led the European Commission to formally launch legal proceedings against Hungary.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been a close political ally of far right politicians such as Vladimir Putin, Bibi Netanyahu and Donald Trump was elected in a right-wing wave election in 2010. The election of Orban is suspected of having been a “test run” for various private sector companies and the Russian GRU to develop information warfare tactics that were later used to help elect former guy Donald Trump.