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1/ Why does it matter that Viktor Orbán’s close friend and ally, MEP József Szájer was caught having an orgy with 20+ men? Very simple. While he was enjoying himself in LGBT-friendly Brussels, he made life for LGBT people in Hungary miserable by rewriting the constitution. THREAD
2/ After Viktor Orbán came to power in 2010, Szájer famously drafted a new constitution for Hungary on his iPad (yes, really), becoming the legal architect of Orbán’s regime. There was no consultation with the opposition or anyone outside the government. https://www.intellinews.com/prominent-orban-ally-who-drafted-hungary-s-new-constitution-on-an-ipad-retires-from-politics-197734/?source=hungary
3/ Here’s the English version of Hungary’s (Szájer’s) constitution. 'Article L' on "protecting the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman" was inserted, essentially making it impossible for gay couples to get married. But that’s not all.
https://njt.hu/translated/doc/TheFundamentalLawofHungary_20191213_FIN.pdf
https://njt.hu/translated/doc/TheFundamentalLawofHungary_20191213_FIN.pdf
4/ It’s not just about marriage - this part of the constitution on marriage and families became a reference point for future legislations aimed at restricting the rights and freedom of LGBT people. Moreover, it became the legal justification for Viktor Orbán’s culture war.
5/ Just a few examples (and I’m gonna be using lots of Guardian articles by @floragaramvolgy and @shaunwalker7 on this)... Most recently, a consitutional amendment was introduced that "would ensure that only heterosexual married couples can adopt children” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/11/hungarian-government-mounts-new-assault-on-lgbt-rights
6/ In May - also following up on Szájer's original 'Article L’ -, Orbán’s parliamentary majority "has voted to end legal recognition for trans people (...) The new law defines gender as based on chromosomes at birth”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/hungary-votes-to-end-legal-recognition-of-trans-people
7/ It’s not just about what is included in the constitution drafted by Szájer - it is just as important what’s lacking. For example, there is no constitutional protection against discrimination based on the grounds of sexual orientation. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/01/03/new-hungarian-constitution-comes-into-effect-with-same-sex-marriage-ban/
8/ And then there is all the culture war going on, where the Szájer-drafted constitution always comes up as an argument against anything that is pro-LGBTQ. Look at this story from last year, for example: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/05/pro-lgbt-coca-cola-ads-spark-boycott-calls-in-hungary
9/ The whole anti-gay crusade became such an integral part of the Orbán government’s agenda that it started allying itself with some really weird and scary people. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/hungary-lgbt-world-congress-families-viktor-orban
10/ From last year: "Hungary will not participate in next year’s Eurovision song contest, amid speculation the decision was taken because the competition is “too gay” for the taste of the country’s far-right government and public media bosses." https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/27/hungary-pulls-out-of-eurovision-amid-rise-in-anti-lgbt-rhetoric
11/ Recently, the government's anti-gay crusade reached new levels when even Viktor Orbán spoke out against a children’s book (!) with LGBTQ characters, saying that "there is a red line that cannot be crossed (...) Leave our children alone!" https://time.com/5897312/hungary-book-lgbt-rights/
“The (Hungarian) government that Szájer has loyally served has not only constantly curbed the rights of LGBT people but – especially in recent years – waged an all-out culture war against them.”
@BylineTimes asked me to write my thread into an article: https://bylinetimes.com/2020/12/03/jozsef-szajer-homophobia-hypocrisy-and-the-authoritarian-personality/
@BylineTimes asked me to write my thread into an article: https://bylinetimes.com/2020/12/03/jozsef-szajer-homophobia-hypocrisy-and-the-authoritarian-personality/
“The sex-and-drugs scandal engulfing Hungary’s Fidesz is very different from previous ones (...) The family-oriented, conservative image it has carefully constructed around an increasingly oppressive and corrupt gov't is at stake.”
Read my new piece!
https://balkaninsight.com/2020/12/03/corruption-couldnt-shake-orbans-credibility-a-sex-scandal-just-might/
Read my new piece!
https://balkaninsight.com/2020/12/03/corruption-couldnt-shake-orbans-credibility-a-sex-scandal-just-might/
