Hungarian media to publish LGBTI campaign despite risk of fines – EURACTIV.com

Three TV channels and several magazines will publish an awareness campaign to educate about LGBTI families, although the Hungarian media regulator has previously taken legal action against networks on the same grounds, the media partner of EURACTIV Telex reported.

Comedy Central, Paramount Network and MTV will broadcast the Rainbow Family Foundation’s social campaign (Szivárványcsaládokért Alapítvány), despite knowing that the Hungarian National Media and Infocommunication Authority (NMHH) has already opened a investigation against their competitor, RTL Klub, for having done the same.

Last June, the Hungarian parliament passed a law introducing heavy penalties for sex crimes against minors. However, due to last-minute changes submitted by deputies from the ruling Fidesz party, the law now prohibits the “promotion or representation” of homosexuality or gender reassignment among minors and limits sex education in children. schools.

On July 15, the EU executive launched proceedings against Hungary for what it considers to be violations of the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ + people.

The NMHH and its governing body, the Media Council, made up entirely of candidates from the ruling party, will be responsible for implementing the new provisions of the law.

Complaints to Hungarian media authorities soar over LGBTQI law

Since the passage of the controversial law banning the representation of LGBTQI content by minors, the number of complaints from citizens received by the national media regulator has almost sevenfold, Telex reported via Magyar Hang.

The National Media and Infocommunication Authority (NMHH) has…

Media reports in August suggested that after the passage of the controversial law, the number of complaints from citizens received by the national media regulator nearly sevenfold.

#the same

The #thesame (#ugyanaz) campaign, which the Rainbow Families Foundation launched on November 15 to mark International Children’s Rights Day, will continue on more than 200 billboards, in monthly and online newspapers, and on ViacomCBS TV channels, the NGO said.

The campaign will draw public attention to the discrimination children in Rainbow families face under the new law by showing clips featuring conversations between plush characters.

“We thought it was important to spread the voice of love everywhere and finally give people a poster that talks about it. As Christmas approaches, this is particularly important in the lives of families, which is why our campaign will run until mid-December, ”the foundation said in a statement.

In addition to the billboards, short clips will also be shown on TV after ViacomCBS agrees to broadcast them on its national cable channels.

In addition, full-page ads will appear in the December issues of four national magazines: Joy, Glamor, Forbes and ELLE, as well as several major online news sites and magazine sites.

A year ago, the media authority sued RTL Hungary for broadcasting a similar campaign to promote acceptance of LGBTQI families following the approval by the Hungarian parliament of a constitutional amendment which proclaimed that : “The mother is a woman, the father is a man. ” According to Telex sources, the procedure is still in progress.

This is not the first time that Viacom has taken a public stand on the issue.

On November 14, the MTVA EMA Awards Ceremony was held in Budapest, broadcast live to 180 countries, with a strong focus on supporting the country’s gay community.

The event was financially supported by the Hungarian Tourism Agency and, as such, received public funds.