After yet another LGBTQIphobic law passed by Hungary, the mayor of Munich submitted a symbolic proposal to UEFA: to illuminate the stadium which hosted the Germany-Hungary match in the colors of the rainbow.
On Tuesday June 15, 2021, the Hungarian National Assembly voted to ban the “representation” and some “promotion” of LGBTQI + people with minors Yet another discriminatory law in a country which, since 2010 and the return to power of the ultra-conservative Viktor Orbán, has been waging war on this community. Something to inspire the progressive mayor of the city of Munich, where the Germany-Hungary match will be played this Wednesday, July 23, as part of Euro 2021.
Dieter Reiter, mayor of the city’s SPD (social democrat), in fact intended to write this Monday to UEFA, we learn from AFP, to submit to the organizing body of the tournament a motion imagined in the city council and approved by all political groups. “The capital of the Land [de Bavière] values diversity, tolerance and equality in sport and in all of society ”, indicates the motion, and the stadium lighting is intended “A visible sign of solidarity with the LGBTI community in Hungary”.
Political insight
The Allianz Arena in Munich, which belongs to the Bayern Munich club, is a translucent building that can light up according to the colors chosen for the lighting. Playing the Germany-Hungary match in a stadium decked out in the colors of the rainbow would be a symbolic message and a way of amplifying the voice of the European Union. On June 16, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said “Very concerned” by the new Hungarian bill, which could lead to the censorship of all content intended for children on LGTQI + issues, and which is part of a national project to fight against child crime.
As AFP notes, “The ball is now in UEFA’s court”, which should decide after receiving the Munich application. The fact remains that even if it is accepted, in Hungary, the condition of LGBTQI + people continues to deteriorate. In the past year alone, they have had to deal with the passage of laws prohibiting trans people from changing marital status, but also limiting the possibility of adopting a child for same-sex couples or even providing that the gender assigned at birth could not be changed.