Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
According to local advocacy groups, homophobic displays are on the rise in recent times
Empty tables with rainbow-coloured candles and a message saying that an LGBTQ couple is missing graced restaurants in Budapest yesterday. The initiative was launched by Budapest Pride and the Háttér Társaság (Background Society) to draw attention to the thousands of couples that could not celebrate Valentine’s Day in public, out of fear.
A total of 35 restaurants in the Hungarian capital have joined the initiative, leaving a seat at the table. Furthermore, 50 celebrities and influencers have picked up the message, spreading it on social media.
The Background Society is the oldest Hungarian LGBTQ non-governmental organisation and they provide legal help, as well as information on coming-out, family, school or work conflicts. They also have an HIV/AIDS programme and a research team.
According to their research, hate crimes in Hungary are on the rise in recent years. In 2021, people looking for legal help from the Background Society have risen by 25%.
Moreover, the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency conducted a survey, that claims that, in 2019, 72% of Hungarian same-sex couples avoided public spaces due to fear. At the same time, 25% of couples said they had not experienced discrimination in the hospitality sector until last year.
Luca Dudits, administrator of the Background Society was quoted in a press release, saying: “We tend to forget how LGBTQI people suffer everyday discrimination. We work for a Hungary where everyone can walk freely and safely in the park or sit in for dinner with their partner.”
LGBTQ rights have become a heated political topic in Hungary recently, especially with the national election coming up on 3 April. The election will also come with a referendum on the controversial anti-LGBTQ law, banning the promotion or portrayal of same-sex couples in school.
With Victor Orban’s Fidesz party looking for support among the Hungarian public and the opposition’s coalition uniting in a bid for the government, this election would try to tackle multiple hot topics at once.
Here are the questions for the anti-LGBTQ referendum:
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital