EU Scream – Ep.117: Countdown to Budapest Pride

Date: June 25, 2025
Host: James Kantor
Guest: Marc Angel, Member of the European Parliament; Co-President of the European Parliament’s LGBTIQ Intergroup

Overview & Main Theme

This episode of EU Scream examines the mounting tensions surrounding Budapest Pride 2025, which has become a critical focal point for broader struggles over fundamental rights, democracy, and the rule of law within the European Union. Against the backdrop of Hungary’s government increasing its anti-LGBTQI measures—including an official ban on the event and deployment of facial recognition technology—MEP Marc Angel discusses the symbolic and practical stakes of pushing forward with Pride, the links to international anti-gender movements, and the EU’s response. The episode places Budapest Pride within historical civil rights struggles and scrutinizes shifting EU political dynamics, raising important questions about political compromise and the defense of core European values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Suppression of Pride Events in Hungary (00:05–04:08)

• Pride events are celebrated globally, but suppressed in countries like Russia (100-year Pride ban) and Turkey (police crackdowns).
• Hungary, an EU member, has mirrored Russia’s repressive tactics, with PM Viktor Orbán pushing to ban Pride in Budapest under the guise of “child protection.”
• Hungarian police implemented the ban along with dystopian facial recognition technology and the threat of €500 fines for attendees, while far-right thugs loom as an additional danger.
• Despite this, Budapest’s mayor insists on moving forward, keeping with nearly 30 years of local Pride tradition.
• Pride’s roots in response to state repression are underscored—recalling the Stonewall Riots’ legacy.

2. Budapest Pride as a Test for European Values (04:08–05:13)

• Marc Angel: “It’s more than LGBTI rights. It’s about rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights, which are the foundations of the European Union.” (04:37)
• The situation in Hungary is framed as a “protest to defend our Article 2 fundamental rights.”
• Worry that Hungary provides a “playbook” for other EU states to curtail rights, making this Pride a Europe-wide issue.

3. Echoes of Stonewall and Ongoing Backlash (05:13–07:09)

• The fight for equality is tied back to Stonewall, inspiring subsequent generations.
• Angel stresses: “There is no LGBTI ideology...Gay rights, lesbian rights, trans rights, intersex rights, or even women’s rights—these are human rights.” (06:38)
• The international anti-gender movement is identified as well-financed, well-organized, and instrumentalized by the far-right to divide society.

4. The Evolution of Repression & Legal Challenges (07:09–08:30)

• Facial recognition at Budapest Pride is a new form of repression, potentially violating EU laws like the GDPR and the AI Act.
• Angel references European Court of Human Rights rulings condemning such technology in peaceful protests, drawing explicit parallels to Russia.

5. International Networks Targeting Democracy (08:38–10:33)

• Anti-LGBTQI efforts are part of broader international networks, with links stretching to US conservative organizations (e.g., Heritage Foundation) and coordinated legislative attacks across Europe.
• Religious extremists from different faiths join forces to attack LGBTI and women’s rights.

6. Defending Democracy by Attending Budapest Pride (10:33–12:32)

• Attendance by MEPs, including Angel, is positioned as a direct statement in support of democracy and the right to assembly.
• Marc Angel: “You can never ban people coming together and protesting on the street. This is a bad sign.” (11:01)
• Expresses support for local Hungarian activists and politicians who uphold European values.

7. Legal Grey Areas around the Ban (12:32–13:54)

• There is ongoing legal ambiguity: mayor’s workaround to proceed with Pride, conflicting police interpretations, and pending legal disputes.
• The need for security briefings for visiting MEPs is noted, underscoring heightened risks.

8. Risks, Immunity, and Support (13:54–17:08)

• No immunity from prosecution for EU officials attending Pride; all risk fines.
• The major concern: organizers face potential prison sentences—“Can you imagine in 2025, in a member state of the EU, organizers...have to go to prison. This is unbelievable.” (16:36)
• EU institutions lack specific budgets for legal or financial support in these circumstances.

9. Threats from Far-Right Groups & Protest Security (17:08–18:56)

• Acknowledgement of possible provocations by far-right elements and neo-fascist splinter groups.
• Angel expresses trust in Hungarians and the peaceful intentions of Pride participants, citing past successful events.

10. EU Political Dynamics & Discord (18:56–25:47)

• EU Commission President von der Leyen reportedly discouraged Commissioners from attending Budapest Pride, prompting accusations of “pink-washing.”
• Angel suggests this may have been a misunderstanding, noting positive signals from other Commissioners post-controversy.
• Von der Leyen’s political maneuvering is linked to Hungary’s upcoming elections, specifically relating to conservative challenger Peter Magyar, and attempts to avoid antagonizing right-wing partners.
• Angel laments: “It is a political game...But I do not agree with Peter Magyar’s position of being totally neutral on these questions.” (22:11)
• Cautions against allowing fundamental rights to become bargaining chips within broader coalition politics.

11. The Emerging ‘Whitewashing’ and Far-Right Normalization (25:47–26:42)

• Angel recounts the normalization of far-right parties in EU governance compared to previous decades—“And now you have these member states, governments where they work together. And this is a bit of whitewashing of the far right. And that becomes very dangerous.” (24:13)
• Calls for traditional parties to find common ground to push a pro-European agenda and protect civil rights.

12. Conditional Red Lines & Defense of Social Europe (26:42–27:08)

• Emphasizes importance of maintaining EU’s cohesion and social policies, as well as the Union of Equality.
• Warns against “too much” redirection of cohesion funds into defense at the expense of healthcare and people-centric projects.

13. European Parliament vs. Commission: Ongoing Pressure (27:08–28:44)

• European Parliament will keep pushing the Commission to act on infringement procedures against Hungary for violating EU law regarding freedom of assembly and civil society.
• Angel highlights the importance of responding quickly and not allowing processes to be bogged down by excessive caution.

14. Civil Society, Transparency, and Tech Regulation (28:44–31:04)

• Stresses the need to protect NGOs and free press against efforts to restrict them via new laws (likened to Russia’s “foreign agent” law).
• Insists on balancing regulation and civil liberties in the digital age: “Regulation per se is nothing bad if it’s done in a smart way...we cannot deregulate.” (30:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Marc Angel on Pride as Protest:
  “This year, this Pride is a huge protest to defend our Article 2 fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy within the European Union.” (04:39)
• On Stonewall:
  “The fact that I had never a problem as a gay man, I owe it to those who fought for Stonewall. And this is why I continue this fight...” (05:49)
• On ‘LGBT Ideology’:
  “There is no LGBTI ideology...If you fight for gay rights, lesbian rights, trans rights, intersex rights, or even women’s rights—these are human rights, and it has nothing to do with ideology.” (06:38)
• On International Networks:
  “They have offices in Brussels. They are trying to come and influence. They’re having actors in the member states...And these are tactics—there is a lot of research about this anti gender movement. Now we know how they are financed, how they are being organized.” (09:27)
• On legal jeopardy for organizers:
  “Can you imagine in 2025, in a member state of the European Union, organizers of a peaceful demonstration of Pride have to go to prison. This is unbelievable. And therefore we have to be there to support them.” (16:36)
• On far-right normalization:
  “This is a bit of whitewashing of the far right. And that becomes very dangerous.” (24:13)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:05–00:45 — Global context for Pride, repression in Russia and Turkey
• 00:45–01:50 — Hungary’s crackdown, references to “child protection” and echoes of Russia’s anti-LGBT law
• 03:37–04:08 — Introduction of Marc Angel and European Parliament context
• 04:08–05:13 — Why Budapest Pride 2025 matters for Europe
• 05:34–07:09 — Connecting Stonewall legacy to 2025 struggles; reframing ‘ideology’ debate
• 07:09–08:30 — Facial recognition and EU legal frameworks
• 08:38–10:33 — International anti-gender networks and their strategy
• 12:32–13:54 — Legal ambiguity and mayor’s workaround for Budapest Pride
• 14:27–16:36 — Legal risks, fines, and the threat of imprisonment for organizers
• 17:08–18:56 — Hooligan threats and security considerations
• 18:56–20:46 — EU Commission’s stance and episode of ‘pink-washing’
• 21:06–23:55 — Political calculations around von der Leyen, Peter Magyar, and the EPP
• 25:47–26:42 — Grand coalitions and whitewashing the far-right
• 27:43–29:21 — Parliament’s push for action vs. Hungary, civil society risks
• 29:21–31:04 — Role of EU tech legislation in supporting democracy

Conclusion

Budapest Pride 2025 encapsulates a continental struggle over democracy, civil rights, and the soul of the European Union. Marc Angel details how attempts to suppress Pride are backed by international conservative networks and enabled by political gamesmanship within the EU. Despite mounting legal and physical dangers, MEPs and activists persist in their protest—insisting that freedom, equality, and European values must be defended on the streets of Budapest and in the halls of European power alike. The episode serves as both a warning and a rallying cry in the face of a rising authoritarian and anti-gender tide.