US Ambassador in Budapest David Pressman has accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of using a ‘machinery of fear’ against the LGBTQ community, citing personal experiences of stigmatization and the government’s legal actions. The Hungarian government has not issued a response to the accusations.
On June 23, 2024, David Pressman, the US ambassador in Budapest, accused Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of employing a “machinery of fear” against the LGBTQ community. The statement was made during a speech at a family Pride event at the ambassador’s residence, where Pressman decried the Hungarian government’s legal and rhetorical attacks.
In 2021, Hungary passed legislation banning the display and promotion of homosexuality in materials accessible to minors. The European Commission has since referred Hungary to the EU’s top court, arguing the law violates fundamental rights. Pressman, who is gay and raising two children with his partner, recounted personal experiences of stigmatization in Hungary, notably during a Pride march in Pécs, where government-controlled media portrayed his interaction with children in a sinister manner.
Originally scheduled to speak at the Hungarian parliament, Pressman was blocked by a senior member of Orbán’s ruling party. He criticized the Hungarian government’s portrayal of critics and drew parallels to tactics used by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The Hungarian government has not responded to these accusations.
