Up to 20% of ballots were purposefully spoiled in a Hungarian Referendum this week, which, if passed, would have prevented schools from teaching about sexuality and gender identity.
Although the referendum was largely symbolic, given the Hungarian government’s ongoing negative attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ individuals and issues, the rejection of the referendum by such a large proportion of voters was itself a strong symbol of resistance.
The questions posed in the referendum (translated from Hungarian) show a clear, negative bias in their wording:
- Do you support the teaching of sexual orientation to underage children in public education institutions without parental consent?
- Do you support the promotion of sex reassignment therapy for underage children?
- Do you support the unrestricted exposure of underage children to sexually explicit media content that may affect their development?
- Do you support the showing of sex-change media content to minors?
Laws, motions, policies, and referenda which prohibit teaching about or using content including ‘sexuality or gender identity’ (such as the much publicized ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law in Florida) not only repress Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people in an explicit manner, but also rob children of the vocabulary and context that might allow them to understand their own gender and sexual identities. From this regressive, manufactured linguistic void, a great many children will conceive of themselves not as full, vibrant people deserving of dignity and love, but rather as aberrant and shameful.
In order to faithfully abide by our 8 Principles, we must loudly oppose any such attempts, here and around the world.
