Some weeks ago I blogged about the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This week (11-19 June) the Budapest Pride Festival is taking place, with the annual March due tomorrow. The police have pledged that the March will be secure and safe (though there has been an announcement about a possible far right counter-demonstration in Heroes’ Square) and so far this year there have been no unpleasant incidents during the week directed against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) communities. And there are some wider, positive signals. A recent survey co-ordinated by the Central European University demonstrated that homophobia in Hungary, though widely present, is declining in the long term. In 1982 almost 90% of Hungarians said homosexuality could not be justified in any way. That figure had fallen to 50% by 2008.
The British Embassy has been supporting and sponsoring Budapest Pride for some time. This year, our main contribution has been to host an all-day-long LGBT Business Leaders’ and Human Rights Forum, which I opened. We also facilitated a joint press release, in Hungarian and English, by 19 Embassies in support of the March.This activity was covered positively in several parts of the online and print media. Tomorrow staff from some Embassies and their families will be present at the March and the British Embassy will display the Rainbow Flag. The LGBT communities have said that they are grateful for this support. We have been happy to give it.