LGBT+ Stars Urged to Boycott Hungary Over Pride Ban

There are calls for high-profile LGBT+ musicians like Chappell Roan and allies like Katy Perry to take a stand against Hungary’s oppressive anti-LGBT+ policies by refusing to perform in the country.

Veteran LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, has issued an urgent appeal to Roan and fellow queer singers Emeli Sandé, and Alanis Morissette, urging them to cancel their scheduled concerts in Hungary in response to the government’s recent ban on Budapest’s Pride march, which is set for 28 June.

A Call to Action

Tatchell has written to the artists, emphasising that their performances risk being manipulated by Hungary’s authoritarian government to convey a false image of tolerance and inclusivity.

“As a much-loved LGBT+ icon and fierce advocate for equality, your voice carries not just beauty but power,” Tatchell states in his letter. “Your planned performance in Budapest—though no doubt born from love and inclusion and agreed many months ago—risks being used by the authoritarian homophobic regime to project normalcy and acceptance.”

Tatchell is urging the artists to either withdraw from their performances or, if they proceed, use their platform to publicly condemn Hungary’s Pride ban and express solidarity with the country’s embattled LGBT+ community.

The Threat to Hungary’s LGBT+ Community

Hungary recently passed a law prohibiting Pride marches, citing the need to “protect” young people. The legislation also authorises the use of facial recognition technology to identify and penalise those who defy the ban.

This new law builds on Hungary’s 2021 “propaganda law,” which restricts any public “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors.

The ruling right-wing government has steadily rolled back LGBT+ rights in recent years, including banning legal gender recognition for transgender individuals and censoring LGBT+ education in schools.

ILGA-Europe has condemned the Pride ban as “an assault on fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and protest, and an attempt to silence the LGBTI community in Hungary.”

The Role of Artists and Public Figures

Tatchell warns that international artists performing in Hungary without speaking out could inadvertently bolster the legitimacy of a government actively persecuting LGBT+ people.

“By performing without criticising the denial of free speech and the right to protest, these artists would be giving comfort to a tyrannical homophobic regime,” Tatchell asserts. “These performers are beloved LGBT+ icons. Their visibility gives hope. That’s why it’s vital they speak out or pull out.”

Hungary is set to host a slew of concerts by globally renowned musicians, including not just LGBT+ artists like Chappell Roan, Emeli Sandé, and Alanis Morissette but also prominent allies such as Katy Perry, Charli XCX, and Nelly Furtado. Meanwhile, Hollywood stars such as Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Olivia Colman, and Timothée Chalamet are also scheduled to film in Hungary this year.

Tatchell maintains that this is not about boycotting the Hungarian people but about preventing the government from using cultural events to “pinkwash” its repression.

A Defining Moment

The international LGBT+ community and human rights advocates are closely watching how artists and public figures respond to Hungary’s escalating crackdown. Will they take a stand or choose to remain silent?

As Tatchell puts it, “Stars like Emeli, Alanis, and Chappell have huge influence. Their voices can help bring global attention to Hungary’s repression and give courage to LGBTs who are being banned from marching.”