In a controversial move, the Hungarian government has dismissed László Simon, the director of Budapest’s National Museum, for allowing under-18s to visit a World Press Photo exhibition featuring images of LGBTQ+ people. The collection, “Home for the Golden Gays,” follows the lives of residents of a community-run elderly care home for LGBTQ+ people in Manila, Philippines.
Simon, a former secretary of state for culture and member of parliament for Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, had voted for the law banning the “promotion of homosexuality” to minors. After the exhibition opened, the far-right Mi Hazank party launched a government inquiry into whether the museum violated the law.
In response to the inquiry, the museum said it had no right to ask visitors for ID to determine their age but added a message on its website calling on under-18s not to visit the exhibition. However, the government deemed this insufficient and dismissed Simon, citing his failure to comply with “the legal obligations of the institution.”
Simon has defended his decision to allow under-18s to see the exhibition, arguing that it was essential to protect freedom of expression. He also pointed out that the museum had taken steps to restrict access to the exhibition following the law.
The dismissal of Simon has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and censorship in Hungary. Critics of the government argue that the discharge is an attempt to silence dissent and impose Orbán’s right-wing ideology on the country’s cultural institutions.
The international community has also expressed concern about the dismissal. The EU has criticized Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the United States has called on the country to respect freedom of expression.
The dismissal of Simon is the latest in a series of moves by the Orbán government to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary. In recent years, the government has passed legislation banning same-sex marriage and adoption, and it has also restricted the ability of transgender people to change their legal gender.
These moves have been met with widespread condemnation from human rights groups and the international community. The EU has launched legal action against Hungary over its anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and the United States has imposed sanctions on Hungarian government officials responsible for human rights abuses.
The dismissal of Simon is a worrying development for freedom of expression and LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary. It is important to remember that art and culture should be free from censorship and everyone should have the right to express themselves freely.