Hungarian Court Pushes for Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages

The Hungarian government is facing increasing pressure as the country's Constitutional Court seeks to advance rights for same-sex couples. Presently, same-sex marriages are not recognized in Hungary, but a recent court ruling has called for the acknowledgment of marriages performed abroad.

The court has mandated that same-sex partnerships established outside Hungary must be recognized as registered partnerships within the country. This decision was prompted by a legal case involving a Hungarian-German same-sex couple who were married in Germany. The court has given the Hungarian Parliament until October 31 of this year to enact legislation that reflects this ruling.

While same-sex marriage remains prohibited in Hungary, registered partnerships have been allowed since 2009. A government decree from 2016 stated that same-sex marriages conducted abroad should be recognized as registered partnerships in Hungary; however, this has not been implemented due to a lack of formal legislation passed by Parliament. The court deemed this legislative oversight unconstitutional, emphasizing that the protection and acknowledgment of same-sex relationships are essential components of human dignity and the right to self-determination.

In recent years, the ruling Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has systematically restricted the rights of non-heterosexual individuals. Recently, the Fidesz-dominated Parliament has made changes to laws and the constitution that have laid the groundwork for prohibiting the annual Pride parade. The government cites child protection as a rationale for preventing minors from being exposed to LGBTQ+ themes.

The next Pride demonstration in Budapest is scheduled for June 28, but its status remains uncertain. Ongoing discussions involving the police, government, and the liberal city council of Budapest are currently taking place to determine whether and where the event can occur.

In response to the proposed restrictions, Budapest's Mayor Gergely Karácsony commented critically on the suggestions made by Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, who proposed the Budapest horse racing track as a venue for the event, claiming it would limit children's access to the festivities. Mayor Karácsony highlighted that those attending Pride events are individuals advocating for freedom and love, not merely spectators at a racing event.