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But a high-profile gesture of solidarity with
that community from broadcaster MTV, in confirming after the law
came into effect in July that it would hold its Europe Music
Awards in the city on Sunday, offers some hope.
"I am just existing, I am just being myself," said an artist
known as Victoria Rose after performing her vogue dance at the
Crush Bar on Friday night, adding that MTV's show could help
reshape public attitudes.
"I am grateful and thankful... because visibility is going to
make this thing a little bit more clear to people in general."
The law, which has been strongly criticised by human rights
groups and other EU leaders, bans the dissemination of content
in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change.
Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has stepped up
campaigning for what is predicted to be his first tight election
race next year in more than a decade, has said the law was not
aimed at homosexuals but was about protecting children.
Zsanett Szoke, a transvestite in her 40s, said after watching a
show in the bar that the legislation had entrenched negative
attitudes towards LGBTQ people, and she had experienced more
verbal attacks in the street than before.
"One can live with this, but I can clearly feel that things are
moving to a direction that people have become more critical of
us," she said. "...Those who had been negative towards the whole
LGBT+ thing have now been let free to say what they like."
MTV, which is part of ViacomCBS, confirmed last month it would
host the event in Budapest as planned.
In a memo to staff, MTV Entertainment Group Worldwide Chief
Executive Chris McCarthy, said the show should serve "as an
opportunity to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in
Hungary and around the world as we continue to fight for
equality for all."
(Writing by Krisztina Than; editing by John Stonestreet)
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