Hungary plans to ban 'promoting' homosexuality to under-18s

Hungary’s conservative ruling party has prepared new legislation that bans showing to anyone under 18 any kind of pornographic material, or any content encouraging gender change or homosexuality

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Hungary’s governing conservative party has prepared new legislation that bans showing pornographic material of any kind, or any content encouraging gender change or homosexuality to anyone under 18. The party describes the new legislation as part of an effort to protect children from pedophilia. But LGBT rights activists denounced the bills as discriminatory, with some comparing it to a 2013 Russian law banning gay “propaganda.” Human rights groups have described the Russian law as a tool of discrimination and harassment. Fidesz, the governing party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, tabled the amendments in the Hungarian Parliament on Thursday. They are scheduled to be debated on Monday and face a vote on Tuesday. Fidesz has a majority in the legislature and the bills are expected to be easily approved.