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COMING OUT TO HUNGARY This brochure’s aim is to provide you with information about the situation of LGBT people in Hungary. We will begin with delivering some concise back- ground information about the latest Introduction developments concerning the situation of LGBT people in Hungary. Further Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender information can be found in the reports (LGBT) people in Hungary experience of the FRA (European Union Agency for discrimination on different levels - Fundamental Rights). In the main part mostly through lack of visibility and of the brochure we present our inter- education of the general population view results, subdivided into the per- concerning sexual diversity and un- sonal, social and political dimensions. derstanding. While Ireland and other In the last part you will find additional member states of the European Union information about the panel discussion are increasingly supporting the LGBT on 9th July 2015, like main questions rights movement, Hungary remains and information about our guests. a rather conservative country with a homophobic atmosphere. Our aim is to find out whether there are discernable overlaps or differences between the personal, social and political dimension regarding the discrimination of LGBT people. Let’s Get Beyond Taboos! is an initia- tive started by students of the Freie Universität Berlin, who are enrolled in the Eastern European Studies master program with a focus on politics and history of eastern Europe. Team Let‘s Get Beyond Taboos! To gain an overview about the situation Johanna Seeger, Franziska Meyer, Stelian Dumitrache, Carsten Spandau, Nóra Szabó, Maria Dziobek of LGBT-people in Hungary, Lets’s Get Beyond Taboos! visited Budapest in Ap- ril 2015 and conducted interviews with members and activists of the LGBT- community, like Szimposión or Háttér Társaság, as well as with representati- ves of politics, science, media and the 2 church. 3 of the European Union prohibits “discri- The clear „Yes“ vote in the Irish referen- mination on grounds of sex [...] or sexual dum on same-sex marriage signalized that Background orientation.” social change can be achieved by partici- pating in campaigns for social justice. In this sense, we aim to remove consisting By signing the Charter as part of its taboos about lesbian, gay, bisexual and Amidst the European progress/ accession to the EU in 2004, the Hunga- transgender people (LGBT), who‘s legal rian state has pledged to unconditionally and social equality can especially be Current developments. comply with that principle. But with the reached by an increased visibility and inauguration of the current Prime Minister representation in society. The UK and Luxembourg passed marriage Viktor Orbán in 2010, further attempts equality laws in 2014 following nine other against discrimination of homosexuals countries in the EU, while Ireland recently came to an abrupt end. In 2013 the pro- became the first country in the world in tection of the family has been expressly which the opening of marriage for homo- limited to heterosexual couples through sexuals was determined by a referendum. a constitutional amendment. The increa- The clear „Yes“ vote in the referendum on sing discrimination against LGBT people the same-sex marriage shows how stron- is being driven primarily by the far-right gly the idea of endowing people from the party Jobbik. In April 2012 Jobbik introdu- Let‘s Get Beyond Taboos! LGBT community with the same rights is ced two parliamentary bills, according to supported by the electorate. In Dublin which homosexuals making their sexuality and many other cities, the streets were recognizable in public can be punished by filled with people fighting for liberalizati- up to eight years in prison. Furthermore, on and social change – a movement that the bills included a ban on gay bars and has sparked a lively debate in Europe and clubs, meetings and festivals similar to resulted in the legalization of registered the „Christopher Street Day“ parades, as partnerships in Andorra, Croatia, Estonia well as the positive representation of gays and Malta. and lesbians in the media. Such populist Regardless of such liberal developments, rhetoric has had a considerable impact human rights defenders in some countries on the public opinion so that the social such as Hungary signaled developments acceptance for any distinct sexual orien- which risk violating basic human rights. tation has noticeably begun to decline. In accordance with the EU law, the prin- According to a report of the “European ciple of equal treatment is a fundamental Union Agency For Fundamental Rights” value of the European Union, which en- (FRA), respondents in Hungary report the sures both the respect for human dignity highest levels of both same-sex couples and the full and equal participation in avoiding holding hands in public and even economic, cultural and social life. Article avoiding certain locations for fear of being 4 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights assaulted or harassed (81%). 5 accept their own sexual identity and many felt lost. We heard many stories describing how energized and relieved they felt when they finally met other gay people and Personal Dimension realized that they are not alone. Most of the people had their coming out around the age of 18. Normally they would prefer to tell it to their closest friend first before Family, Friends, Society. they would involve an extended group of friends they trust. Families handle the We posed 11 questions regarding the issue of homosexuality in different ways. consequences of being gay in Hungary and There are as many “liberal” families as how being gay affects the lives of the peo- “conservative” ones. Nevertheless there is ple on a personal level. Our interest was a generation factor. In general, a decisi- focused on finding out how people who on is made not to tell the grandparents are gay perceive their situation, what ex- that their grandchild is gay, because they periences they had made so far, whether would not accept it. The possibility to Meeting with: Kulka János they feel that they are an accepted part of open up to the own family is crucial. How- society and what, in their opinion, would ever the decision whether to tell everybo- be a good way to further improve the dy in the family or not is often influenced still favored, which is heavily affecting the years, but Hungary remains a very conser- acceptance of gay people in the Hungarian by the fear that the own family could be discourse about the topics of family/mar- vative country. society. stigmatized. Interviewees with a rural riage/adoption of children. There are two groups fighting either for The group of interviewees was compo- background often live a double life and try or against LGBT positions while the vast sed of only gay men who currently live in to keep up appearances when they travel The last group of questions revolved majority of society takes a rather indiffe- Budapest. This fact has to be taken into back home from Budapest. around possibilities to improve the rent stance. There is a consensus that the account when interpreting the answers situation of gay people in Hungary. One best way to tackle the indifference is by given to us during the interview process. Another group of questions aimed at point that has been mentioned a lot was addressing LGBT topics early on in schools, However, the fact that we managed to get finding out how well gay people are integ- education. Most people agreed that it is of increasing the visibility of those topics in interviewees with rather different back- rated into society and how the LGBT com- utmost importance to teach and to inform the public discourse, and improving the grounds, aged between 20 and 50, helped munity is perceived in Hungary. In general pupils as early as possible about LGBT perception of them. us to avoid the danger of getting an overly there is a consensus that Hungary is still topics. The Hungarian educational system biased view on the topic. a very conservative country. LGBT topics is in parts very homophobic. Homopho- „One of the most dangerous things in One group of questions revolved around became more visible in the last years but bia can be found at all levels of educa- Hungary that happens now is that people the way the interviewees perceived the there is still no profound discussion in tion from middle schools to universities. don‘t act because they are afraid of being issue of homosexuality. The answers Hungarian society. Most participants feel Another point mentioned equally often is punished or being rejected...so instead of differed in many ways according to the that they would have to face negative concerning the legal equality of same-sex doing anything they do nothing. It‘s like different backgrounds of the people, consequences if they decided to live out relationships and of homosexuals in ge- a self censoring and that‘s terrible. And but there were common aspects in all their homosexuality. Some of them even neral. The last point stressed the fact that I think it‘s the same situation in the gay answers. Most of the interviewees started come up with elaborated tactics how to LGBT topics have to become more visible community so they hide. One of the most to realize that they are gay around the discuss their sexual orientation during a and that they have to be discussed more important reasons I chose to come out is age of 15. Their perception on the issue of job interview for example. All interview- evenly. Lately negative statements given to show some kind of bravery or to show 6 homosexuality during that age was influ- ees feel pressured by society to live in a by the political leadership of Hungary have that you don‘t have to be afraid.“ 7 enced by the dominant educational view heterosexual relationship.

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