Hungary “has not place” in the European Union, after passing a controversial bill that bans LGBTQ content in schools. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated on Thursday.
Hungary’s parliament approved legislation earlier this month banning all educational materials and programs that promote homosexuality, gender reassignment, and the idea of sexuality differing from that given to a person at birth.
Opposition parties and human rights groups were furious at the move. Protests were held outside Budapest’s parliament on the day the bill passed.
This legislation is just one of many divisive policies that Victor Orban, a hardline nationalist who previously attacked LGBTQ people and immigrants, has championed.
Rutte, who was speaking to journalists prior to attending the EU summit in Brussels with Orban, stated that Hungary “has no place in Europe anymore.”
He said: “But unfortunately, in our system that we have. I can’t make it on my own. But [with] 26 member states saying: you have to go. You hope they will adjust.
Orban defended the new legislation as he arrived at the summit.
He said, “It’sn’t about homosexuals. It’s about children and parents.”
“I am a fighter to protect the rights. Orban said, “I am a freedom fighter under the communist regime.”
“Homosexuality was slapped and I fought to protect their freedom and rights. This law does not protect the rights of homosexual men. It’s about the rights of the children and their parents.
In a joint declaration by Belgium, 14 of the 27 EU countries expressed concern over the law on Tuesday.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also condemned the bill
Von der Leyen stated that the bill discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation during Wednesday’s press conference in Brussels.
She stated that it was against all values, the fundamental values in the European Union. This is human dignity, equality and the human fundamental rights.
Von der Leyen stated that she had directed EU Commissioners to send letters to Hungarian authorities to express concern about the bill.
Similar legislation has been passed in Hungary before.
The country’s parliament voted in December 2020 to redefine “family” as a concept in its constitution. This effectively bans same-sex couples from adopting children. Human rights groups were also outraged by this move.
When Orban was asked if he would withdraw the current bill, he replied that it had been announced and published.