Muted reaction to Hungarian government figure's gay confession

Europe News

Jul 6, 2007, 11:47 GMT

Budapest - Political reaction was muted in Hungary on Friday after Gabor Szetey, a high-ranking official in the Prime Minister's Office, admitted he was homosexual. Szetey's announcement came on the same day as junior coalition member the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) announced that it would ask for same-sex unions to be legalized. 'I am Gabor Szetey. I am European, and Hungarian. I believe in God, love, freedom, and equality,' he said in a speech Thursday night as he opened Hungary's annual gay and lesbian film and cultural festival. 'I am the Human Resources Secretary of State of the Government of the Hungarian Republic. Economist, HR director. Partner, friend, sometimes rival. And gay,' he continued. Szetey is the first senior government figure to admit openly to being homosexual, although liberal politician Klara Ungar has previously come out. His admission provoked a muted response, with Tibor Navracsics, Parliamentary caucus leader of main right-of-centre opposition party Fidesz, saying his party considered Szetey's sexuality a private matter. Navracsics also refused to be drawn on the SZDSZ's proposal, saying that his party was yet to discuss it. In the past, however, Fidesz leader Viktor Orban has indicated he would be opposed to such a move. The SZDSZ said it wanted to change the law to allow same-sex couples to enjoy all the same rights as married couples. 'The future of a free, democratic, European state is only secure if it is capable of guaranteeing the right to an inviolable private life and individual happiness for every citizen,' the party said in a briefing. Timea Szabone Meller, an MP for senior coalition member, the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), said that her party supported the SZDSZ's plans. While the main political parties kept their responses low key, extreme right-wing party Jobbik said it would organise a counter demonstration to the Gay Pride parade planned for Saturday. Another right wing group, Movement for a Free Hungary, called the march an offence to public morality. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Your Talkback on this Story

Note posts made on our older Talkback system will still show below. However, new posts can only be made via the new system (above). We will export the old comments to the new shortly. You can still comment as a guest on the new system but it also allows you to login using various social network and other accounts.

Other features coming soon.

Talkback

page: 1

Nathanial ThorneJul 6th, 2007 - 17:39:53

Tell me, why do you call it a 'confession' in your headline, rather than an 'announcement', and why, in your first paragraph do you say that Mr. Szetey ' admitted he was homosexual' rather than 'declared he is gay'? It's not like he committed a *crime* or anything, and he certainly is not displaying any shame. Rather, he is demonstrating his Pride, and I am proud of him. Good on you, Mr. Szetey -- your life begins today!

Report this comment

page: 1

Europe

Muted reaction to Hungarian government figure's gay confession

Europe News

Your Talkback on this Story

Talkback

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Europe

From Sites We Like

Latest PopEater News

Latest Cinema Blend News

Latest Tech Herald News

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print