The Hungarian government made the headlines with its recent proposal regarding a ban on same-sex adoption.
Hungary’s government drafted the new change in the country’s constitution. Certainly, this means same-sex couples will no longer have the freedom of adoption. In Hungary today, there is a ban on same-sex marriage. Therefore, it is illegal to marry members of the same gender.
Now, this proposed amendment specifies that in order for couples to adopt, “the mother should be a woman, while the father should be a man.” At the same time, the law permits only those couples who are married to adopt kids.
Previously, same-sex couples carried out adoption by only one partner applying on their own. However, this new rule in place nullifies the latter’s effect.
The recent proposal went to the Parliament on Tuesday, after getting approval from the governing Fidesz party. Furthermore, the new law requires children’s upbringing to be done by “Christian interpretation of gender roles.”
Undoubtedly, the Hungarian government made a series of sweeping changes towards the constitution, ever since Prime Minister Orban came into power. In the document, the institution of marriage is defined as that between “a man and woman,” alongside “the basis of family and national survival.”
With this latest proposal in place, single people will only be able to adopt, after taking special permission from the country’s head of family affairs. Meanwhile, the draft is sparking outrage amongst plenty of critics and citizens. They condemn it as an attack on the LGTB community and single-parent households.
While the proposals are meant to reinforce the exact definition of a family, it is getting viewed as discrimination across the country. In particular, LGBTQ groups claim that the change is drafted deliberately during a time when mass protests aren’t possible, due to the recent pandemic.
The new amendments will most likely get voted into effect by the current ruling Fidesz majority, by early December.