ILGA-Europe

#PécsPride has been banned under Hungary’s Assembly Act. Organisers plan to march tomorrow, 4 Oct despite real legal risks. Freedom of assembly is an EU right and cannot be denied. We stand in solidarity and are monitoring developments closely.

Rainbow Digest September 2025 | ILGA-Europe Freedom of assembly on the line in Hungary with new Pride ban On 5 September, authorities in Pécs, Hungary, invoked Section 13/A of the Assembly Act to prohibit the Pride march. Organisers are determi...

Your monthly LGBTI rights update:
🟣 Pécs Pride in Hungary has been banned
🟣 Slovakia pushes through anti-rights amendment
🟣 Kazakhstan plans to adopt anti-LGBTI laws
🟣 Landmark CJEU opinion demands legal gender recognition across EU
🟣 Enes Hocaoğulları is free

Letter EU President von der Leyen on freedom of assembly in Hungary ILGA-Europe urges the European Commission to act against Hungary's bans on Pécs Pride, highlighting ongoing violations of the fundamental rights and rule of law

Letter to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu: the EU must act urgently for freedom of assembly after Hungary banned Pécs Pride. The organisers and marchers will face real risks. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental EU right and cannot be denied https://bit.ly/3ILS9Wc

Hungary assembly act timeline | ILGA-Europe Track Hungary's evolving restrictions on freedom of assembly and LGBTI rights. Learn about the 2025 law, EU legal action, and ongoing challenges to civil liberties

Follow our live Hungary Assembly Act timeline for updates. www.ilga-europe.org/blog/hungary...

We call on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to act immediately, opening infringement proceedings and requesting interim measures to protect organisers and participants.

This ban shows how Hungary’s Assembly Act is being used to suppress fundamental freedoms. Freedom of assembly is guaranteed under EU law and cannot be denied in any member state.

Authorities in Pécs, Hungary have used Section 13/A of the Assembly Act to prohibit Pride. Organisers are still planning to march on 4 October, but unlike Budapest Pride, they have no local support – putting organisers & participants at serious risk.

Another Pride has been banned in Hungary. This can’t go on.

We are deeply concerned that the Slovak parliament has adopted a constitutional amendment threatening fundamental rights. It undermines the rights of women, children, families, and LGBTI people, including making legal gender recognition impossible.

This summit co-hosted by ILGA-Europe and Ljubljana Pride Association and co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland in the framework of our partnership with ILGA World.

Applications are open for Unstoppable: Pride Organisers’ Summit 2025 in Ljubljana, 24–28 Nov. A fully funded space for organisers to connect, strategise & share lessons. For movement-based Prides only. Travel & accommodation covered. Apply by 27 Oct
www.ilga-europe.org/news/call-fo...

Black Sex Worker Collective documents queer homelessness in Germany.

“Decriminalising sex work is only a small piece of the pie - we must decriminalise people’s entire existence.” – Akynos, The founder and director of Black Sex Worker Collective

The EC cannot stay silent as Orbán dismantles fundamental freedoms in a member state and bans peaceful protests. President Von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu must open infringement proceedings immediately. The time to act is now.

#BiVisibilityDay reminds us that bi+ people are vibrant and resilient yet often overlooked. This October, activists from 25 countries meet in Vilnius. You can be part of it online: https://www.biplusequal.org/conference

Enes Hocaoğulları defends free expression as trial highlights crackdown on human rights in Turkey | ILGA-Europe Representatives from civil society, political parties, and parliamentarians came to observe the trial of Enes Hocaoğulları.

Enes Hocaoğulları defended his Council of Europe speech as free expression. The court released him pending trial. Our blog recaps the hearing and why his case matters for democracy and LGBTI rights: www.ilga-europe.org/blog/enes-ho...

Is your organisation actively working to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms? Join us as a grantee partner for a 2-year programme. Deadline is 28 September! https://www.ilga-europe.org/news/the-democracy-lab/

Rising violence and harassment against intersex people in the EU

Today @fra.europa.eu released the report ‘Being Intersex in the EU’, highlighting the barriers intersex people continue to face in everyday life. While there is a long way to go to ensuring the full human rights of intersex people, this is an important step in the right direction!

We’ll remember Ymania for her leadership, warmth & the generations she inspired. ILGA-Europe extends our deepest condolences to her loved ones. Her legacy lives on in the continued work she devoted her life to.

From grassroots work in Samoa, NZ & Australia to global leadership with @tgeuorg.bsky.social & @ilgaworld.bsky.social, Ymania’s compassion & commitment to dignity, safety & justice transformed our movements.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tuisina Ymania Brown, friend, colleague & tireless advocate for trans & gender-diverse people worldwide.

Are you interested in applying for The Democracy Lab? Join our online session on 16 Sept to get answers to your questions and get ready for your application.

Register here: ilga-europe-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/cPKoM37bRbOS5rjQaNvaEg
Read about the call: ilga-europe.org/news/the-democracy-lab/

This Weds the EP plans a debate framing the ending of mass migration as "protecting women & children”, ultimately justifying xenophobia, racism & islamophobia. We call on @president.europarl.europa.eu & @europarl.europa.eu: cancel this debate. Women’s rights are not political weapons.

We welcome the Opinion of the Advocate General in CJEU saying that EU Member States must allow legal gender recognition! Read the full joint statement on our website: https://www.ilga-europe.org/news/joint-statement-landmark-cjeu-opinion-demands-legal-gender-recognition-across-eu/

Are you interested in applying for The Democracy Lab? Join our online session on 16 Sept to get answers to your questions and get ready for your application.

Register here: ilga-europe-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/cPKoM37bRbOS5rjQaNvaEg
Read about the call: ilga-europe.org/news/the-democracy-lab/

We welcome his release, but the charges remain unjust. Freedom of expression must be protected. We call for all charges against Enes Hocaoğulları to be dropped.

Enes’s presence in court is itself a reminder: a delegate reporting on democratic issues now faces violations of his own rights.

The courtroom was nearly full, with strong representation from civil society, political parties, and MPs, showing broad concern and solidarity.

His case comes amid wider targeting of LGBTI people. This year alone, three Istanbul Pride attendees were jailed for 40 days and activist Yildiz Tar spent 98 days in prison.

The judge ruled Enes will not remain in prison during the trial. Instead, he must report monthly under judicial control. He had been detained for just over a month after returning to Turkey.

Today in Ankara, the first hearing took place in the case against Enes Hocaoğulları, charged with “disseminating misleading information” and “inciting hatred” after his Council of Europe speech.