Other Events

  • Status East. European LGBTQ+ Rights Post Orban Era

    The Status of Eastern European LGBTQ+ Rights in a Post-Orban Era 

    CHAIR/DISCUSSANT: Robert Tanner Bivens (Illinois College). DISCUSSANTS: Hadley Zaun Renkin (Central European University), Kathryn Butterworth (University of Idaho), Michael Sweigart (Democracy International/George Mason University), Marton Gera (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Anna Grzywacz (Polish Academy of Sciences).


    THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2026

    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)
    4:00 PM - 5:30 PM​ (UTC)

    In 2026, right-wing populist leader Viktor Orbán was voted out of office in a resounding defeat. The former Hungarian Prime Minister is often considered the leading figure in the right-wing populist movements that have risen around the world since the early 2010’s and has often been cited as inspiration for right-wing populist to adopt similar strategies to maintain power. Core to Orbán and the populist’s platform has been a resounding rejection of LGBTQ+ rights with Orbán and his party Fidesz creating numerous anti-LGBTQ+ legislation within Hungary and advocating for similar actions to be taken in states with similar populist leaderships.


    Orbán’s 2026 defeat comes at a time when populist leadership in Eastern Europe is potentially receding with states like Poland and Slovenia removing their populist leaders preceding Orbán’s defeat. These defeats came with a potential respite for LGBTQ+ communities in Eastern Europe long embattled by these leaders and their anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. However, issues still remain with leaders like Donald Tusk in Poland being hesitant to agree to pro-LGBTQ+ decisions despite assurances that it would be center of his party’s platform and Caucus states like Georgia signaling a push to be more Russian friendly which comes part and parcel with Russia's anti-LGBTQ+ diplomatic strategy.


    Even with his defeat, the specter of Viktor Orbán's policies remains for LGBTQ+ communities in Eastern Europe and potentially abroad. This virtual roundtable is meant to unpack these issues in greater detail by discussing the legacy that Orbán has left behind for LGBTQ+ communities, what that legacy means for Eastern European states when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues, and whether we can expect a progress or recession of LGBTQ+ rights in the region in our current political climate.

    n

    Register

    n
    For more information, contact: ISA at programming@isanet.org

Looking for internships or jobs in government? Check out negovjobs.com, a free regional job board built by a UConn professor that lists over 5,000 state and local government openings across New England and the Hudson Valley — including positions you won’t find on Indeed or Handshake. No login required, updated weekly, and great for anyone curious about a public-sector career.

Other stories from the Soapbox for Friday, June 12, 2026 >>

If you have any questions, please contact Jessamy Hoffmann at 860-486-0462.