Participation in Budapest pride an “indispensable sign of solidarity”

“I will go to Hungary in June and, together with colleagues on site, set a clear and indispensable sign of solidarity with the Hungarian LGBTIQ community. Despite the ban, the organizers will stop the Pride march on June 28th. The Pride Parade was recently banned by the authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán. During his visit to Hungary, Stögmüller will network with non -governmental organizations, civil society groups and important representatives: networking inside the community in order to signal support and to exchange ideas about the situation.

“Orbán drives his inhuman politics on his back on queer people unbroken. In March there were already protests and warnings from Austrian politicians: inside and EU representatives: But Orbán impressively shows that he doesn’t care. Here we should not be silent. Stögmüller, who practices sharp criticism of the Hungarian Prime Minister: “The prohibition of the Budapest Pride is another, unacceptable attack on the basic and human rights of the queer community in Hungary. Orbán is under domestic pressure and is always unpopular- the more he now puts on blunt populism, according to Donald Trump. Fundamental rights not only suffer queer and trans*people, but all Hungarians, ”explains Stögmüller.

In addition, Stögmüller decidedly rejects the recent statements by FPÖ general secretary Christian Hafenecker, who welcomed the anti-queer measures of the Orbán government and disparaged the Pride movement as a “woken gender and rainbow delusion”. “Anyone who gives something like this openly questions the human rights of minorities. The FPÖ once again shows that it stands against democracy and clearly on the side of the authoritarian powers,” criticizes Stögmüller and further: “Whoever uses such words plays with fire, undermines the social cohesion and turns into a stirrup holder of anti -democratic forces.” Stögmüller reminds that human rights are indivisible: “Especially as MPs, we should defend the rights of minorities instead of questioning them.”

Finally, Stögmüller confirms: “Vienna and all of Austria stand for diversity, for fundamental rights and for solidarity with the queer community-and it will stay that way. We will continue to be loud wherever the rights of LGBTIQ+people are attacked. Austria is located alongside the queer community in Hungary.”