Human rights and LGBTQ groups have publicly criticized the Hungarian government for passing a new law that bans same-sex couples from adopting. The new law amended the country's legal definition of families to favor strict Christian conservative viewpoints.
Under the amendment, which was passed in parliament Wednesday, the definition of a family was strictly confined to only male and female parents. Hungary's conservative ruling coalition specifically defined that the mother of a family should be a woman and the father a man.
The amendment effectively excludes transgender and other LGBT individuals from being legally acknowledged as parents in a family unit.
Hungary's nationalist ruling party Fidesz and Prime Minister Viktor Orban have continually been passing anti-LGBTQ legislation as part of their attempt to build an "illiberal" Christian democracy.
Same-sex marriage was banned in Hungary in 2012 through a constitutional amendment. Civil partnerships are recognized but same-sex couples have limited rights under the country's laws.
In May, Hungarian lawmakers passed a bill that permanently defined a person's sex as their "biological sex determined by their chromosomes." This effectively prevented any individual from petitioning to change their names and gender in official documents. The bill is currently being reviewed by the country's constitutional court.
Human rights group Amnesty Hungary said that the passing of the new law is a "dark day for human rights."
With the new amendment, same-sex couples will no longer be able to legally adopt. Lawmakers said that the changes are meant to protect children as opposed to discriminating against LGBTQ individuals.
In a radio interview in October, Orban implied that same-sex adoption was the same as child abuse. He said that it was a "red line" that must not be crossed.
LGBT rights group Hatter Society said that it is prepared to challenge the amendment. The group said that its passing is clearly a violation of international human rights laws.
"Our legal aid service is prepared to act if any kind of discrimination is reported to us, and we are ready to challenge any unlawful rejections in court," the group said.
