Chappell Roan (L) has been urged to boycott Hungary over the decision to ban Budapest Pride (Getty)
As thousands of protestors continue to regularly take to the streets of Budapest, celebrities such as Chappell Roan and Emeli Sandé are facing calls to boycott Hungary in the wake of the government ban on Pride.
The ruling Fidesz party – recently praised by Donald Trump – submitted a bill to parliament earlier this month to effectively ban Pride marches in Hungary. It quickly passed into law and set fines of up to 200,000 forints (£420/$550) for organisers of Budapest Pride and anyone attending, with supporters of the legislation claiming the events could be considered “harmful to children”.
The law also allows police to use facial recognition to target and fine anyone at Pride marches.
Prime minister Viktor Orbán took to X/Twitter to praise the move and write: “We won’t let woke ideology endanger our kids.”
“This is not child protection, this is fascism,” a statement from Budapest Pride organisers said. “The Hungarian government is trying to restrict peaceful protests with a critical voice by targeting a minority. Therefore, as a movement, we will fight for the freedom of all Hungarians to protest.
“Hungarians are freedom-loving… we know that if the government tries to ban protests with critical voices, they will face resistance from the whole of society. That is why [they] need a scapegoat, a distraction, another wave of hatred… they lie to their voters about a child-protection measure but there is no child protection in this bill.”
‘It’s vital they speak out or pull out’
In response, the Peter Tatchell Foundation has urged Chappell Roan, Emeli Sandé and Alanis Morissette, to cancel upcoming concerts in the country.
Letters sent to the celebrities read: “We ask you to stand with Hungary’s LGBT+ people by cancelling your performance. If this is not possible, when you are in Hungary, we ask you to hold a press conference where you condemn the Pride ban and express support for the LGBT+ community, and do the same on stage when you perform.”
Human rights campaigner Tatchell said: “These performers are beloved LGBT+ icons, their visibility gives hope. That’s why it’s vital they speak out or pull out. I’m urging them: don’t carry on with business as usual. This is not about boycotting the Hungarian people, it’s about challenging a homophobic regime that uses culture to sanitise and pinkwash its repression.”
Other celebrities thought to be preparing to perform in Hungary this year include Katy Perry, Charli XCX and Nelly Furtado, while Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya are reportedly set to shoot the next Dune film in Hungary.
Demonstrators on the streets of Budapest held up signs reading: “The first Pride was a riot” and “If you take our human rights, be ready for human wrongs.” Thousands of them gathered again on Tuesday (25 March), this time blockading bridges in the capital.
Supporters of the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony’s, have backed a proposal to project LGBTQ+ colours on to the Church of Our Lady of Sarlós, in Kolosy Square.
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