Orbán tries to win votes in the elections with a referendum on homophobic law

In addition to deciding whether to end or extend the 12 years of government of the ultranationalist Viktor Orban, Hungary will vote this Sunday in a referendum on a law that the Government promoted as a supposed defense of minors but linked homosexuality with pederasty.

The approval of the law caused the European Union (EU) to open an infringement procedure against Hungary, considering it homophobic, discriminatory and contrary to community values.

The binding consultation refers to a law that was initially proposed to fight against the abuse of minors but to which Fidesz, Orbán’s party, added at the last minute clauses with pederasty and that prohibit talking about homosexuality or gender change to minors.

“TRICKY” QUESTIONS

The referendum contains four questions worded in such a way that it makes it difficult for a good part of the Hungarians to oppose the law.

Do you support that talks about sexual orientations be held in public education centers without parental consent?” and “do you support the promotion of sex change therapies in minors?” are two of the questions.

Added to them is another on allowing the “uncontrolled” dissemination of sexual content that “may influence the development of minors” and a fourth on informing children about sex change in the media.

The Council of Europe has described the questions as “ambiguous and misleading”.

In the unlikely event that the majority of people vote “yes” to these questions, the law would remain in force but the possibility of having to apply all those options that the Government raises in its questions would open up.

The government, which has asked Hungarians to answer “no” to everything, says it only wants to defend minors from what it sees as an attempt by the EU to spread ideas about sex change or sexuality in schools.

The referendum is held alongside the general elections in which Orbán faces the possibility of losing power for the first time in twelve years.

GROWING HOMOPHOBIA

Fidesz’s attitude towards homosexuality has been approaching in the last decade to those of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Donald Trump’s USA or Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil.

This is what Luca Dudits, from “Háttér”, the largest organization for the defense of the rights of the LGTB + community in Hungary, denounces to Efe.

“Orbán had identical statements to some of Putin. Like when he assured that Hungary is tolerant towards minorities, but that there are red lines that they cannot cross either, “explains Dudits, who stresses that” this is not a coincidence, but rather an intentional importation “of ideas.

Orbán introduced in 2011 in the new Hungarian Constitution the definition of marriage as the exclusive union of a man and a woman.

Subsequently, he vetoed both the registration of transsexual name changes and the adoption of children by homosexual couples.

CAMPAIGN FOR THE INVALID VOTE

“Invalid answer to invalid questions” is the slogan of a Háttér campaign together with Amnesty International, joined by 12 other NGOs, for Hungarians to cast invalid votes.

Within this initiative, posters, photos and videos have been published -viewed more than a million times- in which families and LGTB+ people talk about how the law affects them.

“I mean, all this is not only about the LGTB + community, but it affects everyone,” emphasizes Dudits.

OPEN SOCIETY, CLOSED GOVERNMENT

Contrary to the government, Hungarian society is increasingly tolerant of homosexuals, with the majority supporting same-sex marriage or legal recognition of gender and sex change.

Thus, the government seems to have created a controversy on a subject on which the Hungarians have fewer and fewer problems.

A strategy that has been followed in the past on issues such as immigration, presenting it as a threat in a country that not only hardly receives immigrants, but also sees how many of its citizens go abroad.

In February, that is, before the start of the invalid vote campaign, the Medián Institute registered that 41% of the population does not want to participate in the referendum and that 16% will cast an invalid vote.

Thus, it is possible that 50% of electoral participation will not be reached, which would invalidate the referendum, something that would be a symbolic blow to the Government, but that would cause the law to remain in force.

“There could be a positive change”, trusts Dudits, who warns, however, that if Orbán wins the elections again “the situation will get worse”.

Source: Elcomercio

Deshawn