Hungary has a very mixed LGBT history. While the country allows same-sex marriage, its LGBT Pride marches have most recently ended in violence.
In response to the violence and in anticipation of next week’s Pride in Budapest, thirteen embassies (Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States) have issued a joint statement expressing support:
On the occasion of the 2009 Budapest Pride Festival, we express our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Hungary. We support the right of these communities to use this traditional occasion to march together peacefully and lawfully, in order to express their desire to end the silence surrounding the specific issues that affect them.
Also issuing a statement in support of Budapest’s Pride? The always-impressive Ms. Whoopi Goldberg. Watch her passionate announcement. (And you know who her short speech reminded me of a little bit? Obama. Same cadence, same call to listen to one’s better angels.)
Twitter Users: You can also leave a comment using your Twitter account by clicking the button below.