Hungary redefines ‘family’ in constitution, effectively banning adoption for same-sex couples

Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday passed a measure amending the national constitution to effectively ban adoption by same-sex couples, the latest in a series of moves that have raised alarms among international LGBTQ rights advocates.

The amendment enshrines the definition of family as “based on marriage and the parent-child relation. The mother is a woman, the father a man,” according to NBC News.

The European nation currently recognizes civil unions between same-sex couples and previously allowed same-sex couples to adopt if one prospective parent submitted their application as a single parent. Under the revised language, however, “the main rule is that only married couples can adopt a child, that is, a man and a woman who are married,” Justice Minister Judit Varga wrote.

The amendment is the most recent move by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party curtailing LGBTQ rights. The country previously passed legislation banning alteration of the gender listed on personal documents. Orban himself has promoted the myth that gay people target children, saying in October “gays are to leave our children alone.”

“This is a dark day for Hungary’s LGBTQ community and a dark day for human rights,” David Vig, director of human rights group Amnesty Hungary, said in a statement.

We are deeply saddened by the Hungarian Parliament’s decision to pass a bill that restricts the rights of LGBTI people.

Stand with the people in Hungary who are speaking out for their right to live in freedom, dignity and equality. ️‍ pic.twitter.com/8RbfsK5GZ4

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) December 15, 2020

“This attempt to rush through these discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws are part of an ongoing attack on LGBTI people by Hungarian authorities,” added Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director at ILGA, an international gay rights group.