Hungarian lawmakers have approved changes to a controversial 2021 law that restricted the portrayal of LGBT content to minors, marking a significant shift since the country's recent change in government. The parliament passed the amendments with 139 votes in favor and 51 against, effectively removing the specific prohibitions on “promotion” or “portrayal” of sexual and gender diversity in media accessible to children.

The original legislation, introduced under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s administration, was widely criticized for its stringent approach to LGBT rights, drawing condemnation from the European Union and human rights groups. The law classified certain sexual and gender diverse content as harmful to minors, banning its exposure under a so-called “child protection” rationale.

The new amendment revises that framework, replacing outright bans with language that focuses on shielding under-18s from material that could “seriously impair the child’s physical, intellectual, emotional or moral development.” This adjustment reflects the priorities of the current government led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who took office in May following a decisive electoral victory in April that ended Orban’s 16-year tenure.

Magyar’s government has signaled a more moderate approach on LGBT issues, though the prime minister has emphasized that the changes are intended to enhance child protection overall rather than explicitly restoring rights curtailed under the previous regime. During the campaign, Magyar did not highlight LGBT rights as a central issue but has since adopted a more conciliatory tone toward revisiting Orban-era policies.

The European Union welcomed the parliamentary vote as a positive development, interpreting it as a reaffirmation of shared values after finding aspects of the previous law incompatible with EU regulations. Meanwhile, Orban’s Fidesz party opposed the amendments, criticizing the government for what it described as “neutering” the child protection law.

The legislative change represents the first major rollback of Orban’s restrictive policies toward the LGBT community since Magyar’s pro-European alliance assumed power. Observers view it as an early indication of the new administration’s willingness to adjust Hungary’s approach to human rights and its relationship with EU institutions.