The Discursive Construction of the Relationship Between Hungary and the European Union in Light of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation

Abstract

This paper investigates how the relationship between Hungary and the European Union, particularly regarding the diffusion of social norms and values, has been discursively constructed in the Hungarian media in relation to the adoption of Act LXXIX of 2021, frequently referred to as the “child protection Act” or “homophobic Act” in the Hungarian political and media discourse. The Act introduced stricter regulations aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse while also restricting the dissemination of media content portraying sexual minorities, asserting that it is harmful to children. The adoption of the law intensified tensions between Hungary and the European Union, sparking discussion in the Hungarian media about the EU’s role in promoting LGBTQ rights among its Member States, as well as the specific relationship between the EU and Hungary. Therefore, this study focused on media content discussing the European Union and the new Hungarian anti-LGBTQ law. The analysis identified nine dominant discourses and found that anti-EU discourses connected to the Hungarian government called for weaker enforcement of the social norms and values enshrined in various EU documents, labeling the diffusion of such norms as external oppression and as the violation of national sovereignty. In contrast, only a few discourses advocated for the European Union to monitor, disseminate, and enforce the norms enshrined in its own founding documents more rigorously.