A Gay Pride march in Budapest on Saturday was spared the violence it has seen in years past thanks to a massive security force which kept extremists at bay, UK Gay News reports:
"Neo-Nazi’s and
other extreme right-wing groups had threatened to disrupt the march.
But, while there were a few scuffles for the police to deal with,
they were at least 100 metres from the route of the march. There was,
however, a ‘price to pay’, apart from the nervousness of the Budapest gay
community. There were no
onlookers and well-wishers along the route which was cordoned off a block
each side of Andrássy Road, one of the main streets of the city. So the 'Gay
Dignity' march became more of a TV event, as far as any campaigning directly
to the public for LGBT rights is concerned.
And TV news later in the day covered the march in considerable depth. "
Europe World News reports that there were a few incidents security had to deal with: 
"Riot police were able to quickly disperse the several hundred
demonstrators through sheer force of numbers and the occasional volley
of tear gas. During one fracas, an English man was punched
after getting into a row with a group of some 20 anti-gay protestors,
police told the local news agency MTI. Riot police broke up the altercation, and the man was taken away for medical attention. A
sixty-year-old man among the anti-gay demonstrators was knocked down as
the crowd was pushed back by riot police, and had to be taken by
stretcher to an ambulance."
Early last week, Whoopi Goldberg taped a message of support to the LGBT people of Budapest. Watch it, HERE.
A video clip showing riot police staged near the Oktogon station of the Budapest metro, AFTER THE JUMP...
what are they saying?
qequality4@aol.com
Posted by: rick | Sep 6, 2009 1:37:12 PM
They are shouting filthy f.gs at the beginning of the video. They couldn't throw anything at the marchers, although one woman was beaten on the way home, because she was wearing the Budapest Pride T-shirt. She was waiting for a bus alone after the march. Aside from that nothing serious happened and many straight people marched in solidarity. Even the previous president Ferenc Gyurcsany showed up with his wife.
Posted by: sgeza | Sep 6, 2009 2:09:55 PM
The riot gear is fetish fashion par excellence!
Go on Budapest with your bad selves! Congrats!
Posted by: Derek Washington | Sep 6, 2009 2:34:51 PM
Even if there were few observers, there were 1500-2000 people participating in the march itself, including the former prime minister Gyurcsany -- very good turnout for central Europe!
Posted by: Kevinvt | Sep 6, 2009 3:50:48 PM
LOL
derek
I was thinking Their riot gear looks sexier than US riot gear
almost s/m cluby schtick gear as vs real riot gear
Oh, and congrats to Budapest gays
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Sep 6, 2009 7:59:38 PM
I gotta say, that giant codpiece is REALLY distracting...
Posted by: RJ | Sep 7, 2009 12:25:24 AM
That dude with the grundgy long hair, backpack and cigarette is a hottie
Posted by: John in Boston | Sep 7, 2009 1:59:04 AM
Those countries shouldn't belong to Europe like Poland !
Posted by: kiwi | Sep 7, 2009 1:48:52 PM
Hungary undertook to adopt and abide by western European standards prior to being allowed to join the EU. I, for one, regret voting to allow them in........they should have demonstrated more tolerance before joining......there are enough homophobic Neanderthals about already.....including the Poles, who also seem to be homophobic......yes, not all the populations are but there are sizable groups of Nazi right wing extremists out there in these countries. Now what did that asshole Rumsfeld call them; "New Europe"....what a fucking ignorant bollox. Of course Glen Beck would probably approve and call them tea party express !
Posted by: JackFknTwist | Sep 9, 2009 9:29:51 AM
The problem in Hungary is a strong right-wing neo-Nazi faction. It is not the majority of the people.
Poland is more complicated, since it has a much more monolithic population now and a VERY strong Catholic Church. If the Catholic Church is the problem, are you, kiwi and Jack, suggesting that it doesn't belong in Europe? Good luck with that idea!
Posted by: KevinVT | Sep 9, 2009 10:03:07 AM
Yes, kiwi and Jack, I'm sure that kicking these countries out of the European Union would hasten greater acceptance of gay people. Have you ever given any thought as to how a more open and tolerant society develops or that it might take more than a few years? Isolated and impoverished societies usually aren't paragons of social inclusiveness.
Posted by: Vlad | Sep 9, 2009 2:27:15 PM
I have made this video in Budapest. It was terrible to be in Oktogon....pfff that is my shame! Please forgive to Hungary, there are not only stupid neo nazis here!
Posted by: barneee | Sep 15, 2009 4:59:19 PM