Intro: Budapest is a ‘miracle’ city of world class cultural venues, orderly, efficient transportation, reliable peaceful (right-wing) governance, manicured parks, breezy free-thinking cafes, gourmet restaurants, palatial hotels, heroic monuments and palatial thermal baths. The miracle is that the freedom, independence, capitalism, and beauty of today have survived and grown far beyond the chaos and centuries
Homosexual activity above the age of 20 was decriminalized in 1961, then above the age of 18 in 1978 by the new penal code. The age of consent, which is 14, has applied equally to heterosexual and homosexual activity since a Constitutional Court decision of 2002. Gay and bisexual people are not banned from military service. The 2003 Act on Equal Treatment and the Promotion of Equal Opportunities forbids discrimination based on factors that include sexual orientation and sexual identity in the fields of employment, education, housing, health, and access to goods and services. Unregistered cohabitation has been recognized since 1996. It applied to any couple living together in an economic and sexual relationship (common-law marriage), including same-sex couples. Starting from January 1, 2009 same-sex couples have been able to enter into registered partnership. The law gives the same rights to registered partners as to spouses except for adoption. Hungary was the host country of Mr Gay Europe 2007 contest and host to the Eurogames in 2011. Budapest’s Gay Pride was the first such event in the ex-communist blocs, and draws a steady, but moderate number of LGBT people and their supporters. The LGBT festival lasts a week every summer with a film festival, pride march and parties across the city. The Festival was opened in the past by notable public figures including the mayor of Budapest and the Minister of foreign affairs.
Name: Hungary
Population: 10043200
Capital: Budapest - Pop. 2451300
Area: 93030 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Hungarian
Religion: Roman Catholic Majority, 30% Protestants
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 36
Gay Pride Budapest Supported by Whoopi Video
Westhampton, MA – September 1, 2009 Richard Ammon – GlobalGayz.com For fifteen years attempts to conduct a peaceful pride parade in Budapest, Hungary have resulted in violence and arrests of right-wing groups who are fiercely homophobic. Next up is the 2009 parade on September 5 when both sides of the battle will gear up for