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# Hungary bans same-sex adoption
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/hungary-bans-same-sex-adoption/
- Published: 2020-12-19T10:10:59.000Z
- Updated: 2020-12-18T15:39:36.000Z
- Description: The Hungarian government has officially prohibited same-sex couples from adopting amid a national crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Europe, Hungary, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ rights, same-sex adoption, Zsolt Semjen

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/parenting-same-sex-relationship-1.jpg)

The Hungarian government has officially prohibited same-sex couples from adopting amid a national crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. Approved on **Tuesday December 15**, the new regulations will prevent unmarried couples from legally adopting, with same-sex marriage still being outlawed in the country, and will become effective as soon as January 2021.

According to [**NBC News**](https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/hungary-amends-constitution-redefine-family-effectively-banning-gay-adoption-n1251251?ref=scenemag.co.uk)*,* Hungarian justice minister, **Judit Varga**, claimed there would be exceptions made in certain cases, such as if a child’s parents passed away meaning an unmarried family member could adopt them, but said: *“the main rule is that only married couples can adopt a child…that is, a man and a woman who are married.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hungary-pride-1.jpg)

The bill was initially proposed last month by Varga, and was backed by deputy prime minister, **Zsolt Semjen**, who said: *“They \[same-sex couples\] should not adopt children, because children’s right to healthy development is stronger than homosexual couples’ need for a child.”* Varga argued children must be guaranteed an upbringing based on the values of the country’s ‘Christian culture’, saying they should be taught: *“The basis for family relations is marriage. The mother is a woman, the father is a man.”*

In response to the adoption ban, **David Vig**, director of **Amnesty Hungary**, said: *“This is a dark day for Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community and a dark day for human rights”*. **Katrin Hugendubel**, advocacy director at LGBTQ+ rights group, **ILGA**, said the changes meant *“LGBTQ+ children will be forced to grow up in an environment which restricts them from being able to express their identities.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/lgbt-rights-600-400.jpg)