On Sunday, after 16 years of two-thirds majority rule, the Orbán regime collapsed. This is certainly a cause for great joy, as this regime has done immense harm to Hungarian society as a whole, and to the Hungarian LGBTQ community in particular. It also did a great deal of damage to women and the status of women, and since we lesbians belong to both groups, we felt the burn twice as hard in many ways (and let us reiterate it here: in qLit, we refer to everyone as a lesbian who identifies as a lesbian, bisexual, or queer – or belonging to another sexual minority – woman, cis or trans).
Alongside the joy, many of us are also plagued with doubts regarding the future and the next government. But let’s start with a positive message. In his victory speech (and in several speeches in the weeks leading up to it), Péter Magyar specifically addressed the LGBTQ community:
“Hungary wants to be a country (…) where no one is stigmatized for thinking differently, loving differently than the majority, or believing in something other than the majority.”
Then, on Monday, he was asked a question on the subject at the international press conference, at which point he replied as follows to the Hungarian and international press:
“In Hungary, everyone has the right to freedom of expression and assembly. Everyone is free to live as they choose, with whomever they choose, and to love whomever they choose, as long as they do not harm others. I am a conservative, but these rights belong to everyone.”
Of course, we know that these words can mean anything. Fidesz has also said many things on many occasions. But it is also certain that over the past 16 years they haven’t specifically and positively addressed LGBTQ people or have spoken about them in a single victory speech (or perhaps any speech at all). We must also not overlook the fact that the Tisza government will not consist solely of Péter Magyar. Their ranks include several people who have worked tirelessly for human rights in recent years or even decades. Kriszta Bódis, for example, is a role model not only because she has done so much for marginalized and poor communities, especially the Roma and those living in extreme poverty, but also because she wrote one of the forewords to the Labrisz Lesbian Association’s highly successful (right, Dóra Dúró?) storybook titled ‘Meseország Mindenkié’ (Fairyland Belongs to Everyone).
“Human beings are magical, divine creatures, endowed with the diversity of the colours of the rainbow and the responsibility that comes with freedom. Our most important task is to learn to accept one another. It is never too early to begin practicing this. That is what stories are for—for children and adults alike.”
For now, it is still difficult to draw any major conclusions about the next four years; we can only speculate. Although LGBTQ rights are unlikely to be the first issue on the government’s agenda, if a new constitution is indeed drafted, quite a few provisions harmful to our community could be removed from it. LGBTQ and other civil society organizations in Hungary will likely be able to continue their dedicated work under much better conditions, free from stigmatization and government persecution.
Let’s celebrate together now that we can breathe a little more freely, walk the streets more freely, and feel the breeze of hope once again. But let’s not think for a moment that the situation is resolved from here on out. A new phase of the work is just beginning! Let’s keep our eyes open, stay informed, continue to stand up for the issues that matter to us, and support all the organizations that can finally have more space to carry out their advocacy work for the LGBTQ community.
One final thought: I can’t even begin to describe how long I’ve been waiting for the day when I could once again hold my head high and be proud to be Hungarian. A day when I wouldn’t have to make excuses, but would instead be congratulated. That day has finally come.
Translated by Zsófia Ziaja
