Minister dismisses Hungarian National Museum’s leader over controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation
Minister of Culture and Innovation Dismisses Director of National Museum
László L Simon, the director of the National Museum, has been sacked by the Minister of Culture and Innovation, announced the ministry on Monday. However, L Simon denied the allegations that the museum had deliberately violated any laws by hosting the World Press Photo exhibition, particularly in relation to the law that prohibits under-18s from accessing LGBTQ-related content.
In response to the dismissal, L Simon expressed his disagreement with the ministry’s decision while acknowledging it. He emphasized that the museum had followed the ministry’s previous instructions by clearly informing under-18s that they were not allowed to view photographs depicting life in an elderly home for LGBTQ individuals. Additionally, he firmly rejected the notion that children should be protected from him or his institution.
As we previously reported, an opposition party in Hungary has advocated for the ban of the World Press Photo 2023 exhibition due to its alleged LGBTQ propaganda. For more details on this matter, refer to the previous article linked HERE.
Furthermore, as we mentioned earlier, books in Hungary are now required to be wrapped in transparent foil due to the implementation of an anti-gay law.
This recent dismissal has sparked discussions regarding the limits of artistic expression and individual rights in Hungary. The decision to remove László L Simon from his position as director of the National Museum is seen by some as an infringement upon freedom of speech and artistic freedom. It remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold and whether any further actions will be taken.
