EU to Hungary's Orban: Respect LGBT Rights or Leave
2021-06-26
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1European Union leaders are in a dispute with Hungary over a law the Hungarian parliament passed last week.
2The law bans sharing information about homosexuality or sex change operations with people under 18 in school sex education programs, movies or advertisements.
3EU leaders clashed with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban Thursday during an EU leader's meeting in Brussels.
4A majority of the EU's 27 leaders said Hungary's law is discriminatory and goes against EU values.
5Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Orban to respect LGBT rights or to consider leaving the EU.
6"It was about our values; this is what we stand for," Rutte told reporters on Friday.
7"I said 'Stop this, you must withdraw the law and, if you don't like that and really say that the European values are not your values, then you must think about whether to remain in the European Union.'"
8Several people told The Associated Press that the meeting in Brussels got very tense and emotional.
9Hungary's president signed the law Wednesday.
10The government says the law will protect children.
11But critics say it is unfair to homosexuals. The law will take effect in about two weeks.
12Speaking in Brussels, Orban said he would not withdraw the law.
13He said it does not target gay people.
14"It's not about homosexuality, it's about the kids and the parents," Orban said.
15"I am defending the rights of homosexual guys but this law is not about them."
16Orban has been in power since 2010 and is facing an election next year.
17He has pushed laws that support what he says are traditional Catholic values.
18EU members Hungary and Poland have disagreed with other EU countries before.
19Their governments often support policies considered conservative by other EU members.
20The EU has disapproved of laws that Hungary has passed affecting reporters, judges, immigrants and academics.
21Xavier Bettel is the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and is openly gay.
22He said the EU should fight the law.
23He also said Hungary should be subject to an EU rule that decreases money for countries that pass anti-democratic laws.
24The new rule has not yet been tested.
25Seventeen out of 27 leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, signed a joint letter stating their support of protecting gay rights.
26"We all made it very clear which fundamental values" we follow, she said.
27Bettel said the only country other than Poland to support Orban during the meeting was Slovenia.
28He said it was time for the EU to use its new rules.
29"Most of the time, money is more convincing than talk," Bettel said.
30I'm Dan Novak.
1European Union leaders are in a dispute with Hungary over a law the Hungarian parliament passed last week. 2The law bans sharing information about homosexuality or sex change operations with people under 18 in school sex education programs, movies or advertisements. 3EU leaders clashed with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban Thursday during an EU leader's meeting in Brussels. 4A majority of the EU's 27 leaders said Hungary's law is discriminatory and goes against EU values. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Orban to respect LGBT rights or to consider leaving the EU. 5"It was about our values; this is what we stand for," Rutte told reporters on Friday. "I said 'Stop this, you must withdraw the law and, if you don't like that and really say that the European values are not your values, then you must think about whether to remain in the European Union.'" 6Several people told The Associated Press that the meeting in Brussels got very tense and emotional. 7Hungary's president signed the law Wednesday. The government says the law will protect children. But critics say it is unfair to homosexuals. The law will take effect in about two weeks. 8Speaking in Brussels, Orban said he would not withdraw the law. He said it does not target gay people. 9"It's not about homosexuality, it's about the kids and the parents," Orban said. "I am defending the rights of homosexual guys but this law is not about them." 10Orban has been in power since 2010 and is facing an election next year. He has pushed laws that support what he says are traditional Catholic values. 11EU members Hungary and Poland have disagreed with other EU countries before. Their governments often support policies considered conservative by other EU members. 12The EU has disapproved of laws that Hungary has passed affecting reporters, judges, immigrants and academics. 13Xavier Bettel is the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and is openly gay. He said the EU should fight the law. He also said Hungary should be subject to an EU rule that decreases money for countries that pass anti-democratic laws. The new rule has not yet been tested. 14Seventeen out of 27 leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, signed a joint letter stating their support of protecting gay rights. 15"We all made it very clear which fundamental values" we follow, she said. 16Bettel said the only country other than Poland to support Orban during the meeting was Slovenia. 17He said it was time for the EU to use its new rules. 18"Most of the time, money is more convincing than talk," Bettel said. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story based on reporting from The Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 21________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23homosexuality -n. being sexually attracted to people of the same sex 24LGBT -acronym Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender 25academic - n. a person who is a teacher in a college or university 26fundamental - adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something 27convincing- adj. causing someone to believe that something is true or certain