Amnesty International Fuels Gender Conflict in Budapest’s Working-Class District
Amnesty International, an organization founded in 1961 to advocate for prisoners of conscience worldwide, has recently become the center of controversy in Budapest’s 9th district. The organization’s campaign to paint one of the public benches in rainbow colors, symbolizing LGBTQ rights, has sparked a reaction from local football fans who keep repainting the bench in the green and white colors of their club.
The 9th district, historically known as Ferencváros, used to be a traditional and somewhat run-down working-class area. However, it has now become a fashionable part of the capital, attracting wealthy young professionals who are moving into newly built apartments.
The decision by Amnesty International to choose this district for their LGBTQ campaign is not surprising given that the district is led by Mayor Krisztina Baranyi, a member of the socialist party. However, the mayor has faced criticism for her offensive remarks and has been accused of anti-Semitism.
Gender ideology, which the rainbow colored flag represents, is not widely popular among ordinary Hungarians. A majority of Hungarians believe that this ideology should only be taught in schools with parental consent. Despite the lack of support for LGBTQ ideology, incidents of removing or damaging rainbow symbols are rare in Hungary. The controversy over the rainbow bench seems to be an artificially generated conflict that will likely be featured in Amnesty’s next annual report on Hungary as an example of anti-LGBTQ sentiments.
In response to Amnesty’s campaign, local ultras from the Hungarian football league’s leading team, Fradi, have taken it upon themselves to repaint the bench in the district’s traditional colors. They have also alleged that Amnesty hired a Serbian bodyguard to protect their activists during the repainting process.
Amnesty International has filed a report with the police, claiming that a criminal act has occurred. However, they also state that the bench will be repainted because “everyone has a place.” The clash between two opposing ideologies, the far right and the far left, in Ferencváros is causing concern among some who believe it will only reflect negatively on Hungary and potentially weaken the current conservative government.
Despite the controversy, Budapest remains a welcoming city and should not become a battleground for divisive ideologies disguising themselves as tolerance or patriotism. Some argue that human rights organizations such as Amnesty should focus more on their original mission of advocating for prisoners of conscience, while football fans should return to enjoying their sport.
Overall, the incident surrounding the rainbow bench highlights the ongoing debate over LGBTQ rights in Hungary. It remains to be seen how this controversy will be resolved and whether it will have any lasting impact on the country’s stance on these issues.
Featured Photo: Facebook/Kristztina Baranyi
