Hungary bans adoption by homosexuals
Hungary's parliament has stripped homosexual couples of the right to adopt. "The mother is a woman, the father is a man," according to a resolution passed last Tuesday. Exceptions can only be granted by the Minister for Family Affairs. The ban has become one more in a series of restrictions imposed on LGBT people under the Orbán government. Commentators voice concern and outrage.
A new dividing line in the EU
The ban opens up a new area of conflict between old and new EU states, writes Alexandra Kharchenko, editor of website Strana:
“Budapest's decision will be another blow to relations with European officials in Brussels, who stand behind LGBT-friendly politics. Furthermore, Hungary's move has already triggered a movement against homosexual families in other Eastern European countries. ... The trend is clear: Eastern Europe has opened up a new front of resistance to the LGBT aspirations of 'old Europe'. Incidentally, the mood in countries aspiring to join the EU - for example Serbia - is similar. That means that LGBT rights could potentially become a bone of contention within the EU.”
A slap in the face for Brussels
This decision, just a few days after the EU summit at which Poland and Hungary committed to democracy and the rule of law, is nothing but a mockery, Dagens Nyheter fumes:
“With the new laws, Orbán is giving the EU the finger. For him, the EU isn't an association to which he belongs, but - as in the refugee crisis - an opponent that must be fought. And, natürlich, a cash dispenser. ... Of course Hungary belongs in the European community. But Viktor Orbán and his cronies are doing everything they can to make it clear that they do not consider this to be the case.”
Nothing but a diversion
Polityka believes Orbán would rather provoke criticism and outrage here than on broader issues:
“The prime minister is drawing attention to the subjects of adoption and same-sex marriage by creating an unjust division in society and playing a game called 'Who should be able to adopt orphans?'. As a result, a far more important political issue - narrowing the definition of public funds - is being pushed into the background. With a stroke of the brush, Orbán lets agencies under his control decide how these funds are to be spent. At the same time, he benefits from his majority in parliament which enables him to amend the constitution. He is already preparing for an intense campaign in the 2022 elections.”