EU launches legal action against Hungary and Poland for anti-gay discrimination

[andy]

A Gay Pride parade in Warsaw, Poland, last month, comes amid rising tensions

Hungary and Poland are facing legal proceedings for their treatment of gay people.

In Poland 100 towns and villages have been declared ‘free of LGBTQ ideology’ with pride parades and other gay-friendly events being blocked.

In Hungary schools have been ordered not to use materials that feature gay people, which critics say conflates paedophilia and pornography with LGBT issues.

The EU says the laws are restrictive, discriminatory and infringe on human rights.

The body said in a statement: ‘The two member states now have two months to respond to the arguments put forward by the Commission.

‘Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send them a reasoned opinion and in a further step refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.’

Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, said the LGBT issue was a matter of national sovereignty.


Activists in Budapest, Hungary, flew a giant heart balloon in rainbow colors to protest against a new law on July 8

Poland’s government in June denied having any laws that discriminated against people based on their sexual orientation.

Previously, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatised: be it because of whom they love, because of their age, their ethnicity, their political opinions, or their religious beliefs.’

Last month thousands turned out at a pride event in Warsaw in defiance of Poland’s actions. In Hungary, activists flew a giant balloon in rainbow colours through the streets of Budapest.

If the legal action is successful, both countries could face significant financial penalties.

[InbetweenDreams]

Do you think that Poland and Hungary will end up leaving the EU? I don't see how legal sanctions would make those nations all warm and fuzzy about the being part of the EU. Not saying sitting on their hands while this sort of stuff is going on is the thing to do but kind of makes you wonder what good it does to tell another country to do something regardless of what agreements, treaties, international laws there are. I don't think it will change Poland or Hungary is what I am saying...

[andy]

I don't think that either of them could afford to leave the EU because of subsidies and trade deals etc. They're quite small countries in the scheme of things and couldn't make it on their own. UK had a long and hard struggle forcing Brexit but our GPD is $2.829 trillion whereas Poland's is $595b and Austria's is $445.1b. Hopefully, the fines (and threat of future ones) will force them into changing their ways - at least in legislation.

[InbetweenDreams]

I just wonder if say China or Russia will start dangling a carrot of sorts... Seems China for instance invests a lot in African countries... Of course I am talking apples and oranges and probably completely out of left field... However, I'd say you're probably right, if they're getting a lot of benefits from the EU then they're probably better off sucking it up and acting like a civilized nation.