The mainstream media is outraged: Hungary wants to protect marriage and family through the constitution. For years Hungary has been pursuing a constructive family policy that could serve as a model for the whole of the Western world.

The headlines read terrible: “Hungarian government mounts new assault on LGBT rights” (The Guardian). “Intensified Attack on LGBT People” (Human Rights Watch). “Homosexual and transgender-hostile constitution” (ZDF). “LGBT discrimination by constitution” (ARD). But what had actually happened?

“Hungary protects the institution of marriage”

On November 10, the Hungarian government announced its intention to introduce several constitutional amendments. Two of them also affect marriage and family. These two drafts are verbatim:

“Hungary protects the institution of marriage as the association between a man and a woman and the family as the basis for the survival of the nation. The foundation of the family is marriage and the parent-child relationship. The mother is a woman, the father is a man.” (Art. L, para. 1)

“Every child has the right to such protection and care as is necessary for his or her physical, mental and moral development. Hungary protects the right of children to self-identity according to their gender of birth and ensures education in accordance with the values based on Hungary’s constitutional identity and Christian culture.” (Article XVI, paragraph 1)

The well-being of the child is at the center

The drafts reveal the absurdity of the demagogic accusations made by many media outlets: The Hungarian government wants constitutional protection for marriage and family. In Europe both corresponds to the historical, philosophical and legal tradition. Moreover, the majority of societies worldwide still pursue the model of traditional family.

The passage that the mother is female and the father male also reflects well-known scientific facts. Furthermore, the drafts put special emphasis on the welfare of the child. Growing up with one father and one mother (at best married) and following the child‘s biological sex ensures the welfare of the child at best.

Family support for years

The draft laws are the logical next step in Hungarian family policy. For several years now, the government has been supporting families through transfer payments, tax breaks and subsidies for loans for real estate and car purchases. The seven-point family protection action plan of February 2019 stands out among these measures.

In October, the government committed itself in the international Geneva Consensus Declaration to “support the role of the family as foundational to society and as a source of health, support, and care”. Only a few days earlier, Hungary, together with Poland and the Czech Republic, succeeded in having the term “gender” removed from the final document of a European Council meeting. The government also recognized the danger posed by the gender ideology: In 2018, “gender studies” were removed from the list of Master’s programs approved in Hungary.

Civic politicians should look to Hungary

Despite all this, the work of pro-family and pro-life organizations in Hungary is still necessary: For example to end state support for artificial insemination or to enforce consistent protection for unborn life.

Nevertheless, overall the development of family policy in Hungary is very positive. Therefore it should serve as a model for the conservative parties in the Western world. Hungary is the proof that there is an alternative to yielding to the pressure of gender ideologists and LGBT lobby. A constructive family policy is possible.