On June 28, over 100,000 people joined the Budapest Pride march, defying Hungary's national government ban.
Hungary’s ruling parties had attempted to block the annual event through legal changes, citing child protection. After police denied permits, Budapest’s mayor reclassified the march as a municipal event to bypass restrictions. Authorities declared it illegal and warned of fines and possible jail time, but the massive turnout went ahead regardless.
This show of resistance highlights the growing divide across Europe when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. While some countries have achieved remarkable progress, others have seen troubling waves of regression. Across the continent, queer people are living vastly different realities, and equality is certainly a long way off.
Earlier this year, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) released their annual Rainbow Map that ranks 49 European countries based on how well they safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ people through laws on equality, family recognition, legal gender recognition, hate crime, and asylum. And while some nations have certainly become far more inclusive of their queer community, there are others that have lagged significantly behind.
Click through this gallery to see which countries are at the top (and bottom) of the list.