Hungarians encouraged to report on neighbours raising trans children

The adoption of children by same-sex couples has been effectively banned by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government. Photo / 123RF

Hungarians would be encouraged to report on their neighbours if they suspected them of raising transgender children, under a new law approved by the government of Hungary this week.

People would be able to lodge an official complaint against parents who were found to be infringing their children’s right to “an identity appropriate to their sex at birth”.

Under the country’s constitution, marriage has been enshrined as a partnership between a man and a woman, with the adoption of children by same-sex couples effectively banned by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government.

It has also restricted the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, a policy for which it has been sanctioned by the European Union.

Hungary’s Ministry of Justice said the new law was aimed at protecting “the Hungarian way of life”.

“The law is not about punishment due to reported cases, but about the protection of whistle-blowers,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The government believes it is important that whistle-blowers filing reports … with regard to public interests attached to the protection of the Hungarian way of life should also be able to use the new reporting system.”

The law included measures to ensure authorities investigate complaints over everything from workplace misconduct to corruption.

Orban, who has alarmed Brussels with his brand of nationalist populism, was elected for a fourth consecutive term of office in April last year.

Discriminatory law

Last year, the European Commission brought a lawsuit before the European Court of Justice against Hungary for a controversial law, introduced in 2021, which discriminates against LGBTQIA+ people.

The law has forbidden the “representation or promotion” of homosexuality or gender change to minors.

Fifteen of the European Union’s 27 member states were backing the legal action by Brussels against Hungary.

The concerted action by EU member nations was criticised last week by members of the Hungarian government.

“We will not give in to pressure. We will protect our children!” Judit Varga, the justice minister, wrote on Facebook.

“It is sad that several member state governments have given in to the gender propaganda promoted from Brussels and overseas.”