The Hungarian government is considering easing restrictions on LGBT content in educational institutions

Hungarian authorities are preparing legislative changes that could significantly ease the country’s current restrictions on the dissemination of information about gender identity and homosexuality. The initiative is being developed in accordance with a ruling by the European Court of Justice and may be approved by the government in the near future.

According to a statement by Christian Democratic politician Bence Retvari, the planned amendments would restore access to schools for LGBT organizations and groups that support gender transition. It is expected that these organizations will be able to conduct educational activities without prior approval from students’ parents. In addition, the issue of lifting age restrictions on books and media materials on related topics is being considered, which would make it easier for minors to access such content.

The process of changing education policy has already begun: in early October, the Hungarian Ministry of Education mandated that private and church schools amend their personnel records to include information on registered same-sex partnerships on an equal footing with traditional marriages. In addition, experts are actively discussing the revision of adoption laws, which could pave the way for allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. The country’s previously strict restrictions on the promotion of non-traditional relationships among children have repeatedly been criticized by European Union institutions.

As a reminder, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, recently held a meeting with representatives of LGBT organizations to discuss possible amendments to the draft of the new Civil Code. Activists stated that certain provisions of the document concerning the definition of family needed to be revised and proposed enshrining provisions related to the protection of the rights of the LGBT community in law.