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Thirteen Embassies in Hungary Express Support of Budapest Gay Pride
 

■ Budapest Pride: Scene from 2009 promotional video.

BUDAPEST, August 31, 2009  –  Thirteen Embassies, representing countries on four continents, have issued a joint statement supporting Budapest Pride Festival, which culminates with a parade in the Hungarian capital next Saturday afternoon.

“Human rights – including justice, equality, humanity, respect and freedom of expression – and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built,” the joint press statement says.  “Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The Embassies are (alphabetically) Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Almost three months ago, on June 7, the extreme right wing party, Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik), gained enough votes to send three MEPs to the European Parliament.  Then seven days later, the party announced at a press conference that they will work in close cooperation with other extreme right wing political groups to stop “by all means necessary” the Gay Pride march on September 5 in Budapest.

But Budapest Pride organisers vowed not to be intimidated.  And they have the support of city officials.

The first Pride in Budapest was in 1997.  And for the first ten years the annual event was a peaceful occasion.

But in 2007 protestors threw eggs, petrol bombs and bags filled with sand and faeces at the marchers, while shouting “Fags to the Danube, Jews to follow”.  After the parade, gays and lesbians leaving a number of venues were attacked by smaller groups of extremists.

Last year, the violence started before the July Pride march: a petrol bomb was thrown at the office of the organisers, and the attack on the march was even more violent – and organised – than the previous year.

Police and city officials have pledged extra protection for next Saturday’s parade.

The joint statement from 13 Embassies in Budapest

“On the occasion of the 2009 Budapest Pride Festival, we express our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Hungary. We support the right of these communities to use this traditional occasion to march together peacefully and lawfully, in order to express their desire to end the silence surrounding the specific issues that affect them.

“Human rights – including justice, equality, humanity, respect and freedom of expression – and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built. Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“It is this respect for fundamental human values that obliges governments to protect all citizens from violence and to ensure that all people enjoy equal opportunities.

“Today, many individuals face discrimination, both systemic and overt, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Our governments seek to combat such discrimination by promoting the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.  We urge all governments to ensure that neither sexual orientation nor gender identity form the basis for criminal penalties.

Our governments` policies in this area are in accordance with the principles set out in the Joint statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity delivered at the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December, 2008,” the joint statement concludes.

■ UK Gay News will be reporting from Budapest from the evening of Thursday September 3.

SEE ALSO

The Hungarian Government Stands by Gay People.  The Hungarian Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement, Tibor Draskovics promised to provide the participants of the coming Gay Pride March with full police protection.  (Budapest Pride Website, July 20, 2009)

“We Will Not Be Intimidated” – Organisers of Budapest Gay Pride.  Extreme right wing groups plan to stop September’s Pride march “by all means necessary”.  Organisers of Budapest Gay Pride are calling for world-wide support for their September event which, they say, is no longer only about the rights of gay and lesbian people, but about the freedom of everyone.  (UK Gay News, June 28, 2009).

Hungary Referred to European Commission Following Budapest Gay Pride Violence.  There has been condemnation from Members of the European Parliament following the violence at Budapest Gay Pride at the weekend.  Even a Hungarian MEP, Katalin Lévai, experienced first-hand the violence when she was attacked during the parade, it has emerged.  (UK Gay News, July 9, 2008)

Budapest Gay Pride: A Demonstration of Solidarity.  Braving threats of violence from neo-Nazis and other ultra right wing groups, some 1,500 people turned up at the Budapest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride March yesterday to express their will to live in a country where the rights of LGBT people – and other minorities – are respected. (UK Gay News, July 6, 2008)

Gay Prides: Budapest Police Face Potential Trouble, While in London It’s Keeping the Traffic Moving.  As police in Budapest brace themselves for threatened disruption of the Hungarian capital’s Gay Pride, politicians in the United Kingdom are lining-up to support Pride London as the Metropolitan Police’s ‘Pride Operation’ centres on how to keep central London’s traffic moving.  (UK Gay News, July 4, 2008)

Another Gay Business Torched in Budapest.  Another gay business in the Hungarian capital has been torched, following a fire in a gay club in the city last week.  (UK Gay News, July 3, 2008)

Police Criticised After Budapest Gay Bar Set on Fire.  Gay groups in Hungary have criticised Budapest police in the aftermath of the torching of a gay bar in the city in the early hours of yesterday.  (UK Gay News, June 28, 2008)

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