Háttér Society

Háttér Society (Háttér Társaság in Hungarian, háttér means background) is an NGO representing LGBTQI people in Hungary. It operates a telephone hotline, a legal aid service, an HIV/AIDS prevention program and an archive. Besides its core activities, Háttér participates in research and training projects^[1] and lobbies for the rights of LGBT people through legal change, including against the 2021 Hungarian anti-LGBT law.^[2] Háttér is a founding member of the Hungarian LGBT Alliance, and an active member of ILGA-Europe.

History

Háttér was founded in 1995.^[3]

Activities

Háttér Society ran a survey of 2,000 people showing that 42% thought about suicide while 30% had attempted it. Suicide thoughts occurred mostly among teenagers, about 64% of respondents, Háttér said.^[4] The Society has conducted other surveys and research, in part funded by ILGA Europe.^[5] They have written shadow ("parallel") reports for the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2015 and 2021.^[6]

The Society's lobbying activities include efforts in 2017 to achieve inheritance tax equality for gay widows and widowers.^[7] In 2018, Háttér Society released a short film intended for parents of gay children.^[8]

After the Orbán IV government passed the Hungarian anti-LGBT law in 2021, Háttér and Amnesty International were among a group of NGOs condemning the law in a joint letter.^[2][9][10] Háttér stated that discrimination and violence against LGBT people increased after the law was passed.^[11]

Háttér Society runs its own archive, the Háttér Archive.

References

1. "Research". Háttér Society. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
2. "Hungary passes law banning LGBTQ content for minors". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
3. "About us". Háttér Society. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
4. "Orban's tighter laws stoke taboos, fear among Hungary's LGBT people". Reuters. 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
5. "Research". Háttér Society. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
6. "Publications". Háttér Society. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
7. "Ombudsman: meleg és leszbikus pároknak is járnak az adókedvezmények". 24.hu (in Hungarian). 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
8. "Én még azt hittem, hogy börtön jár a melegségért". Abcug.hu (in Hungarian). 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
9. "Hungarian government launches Russian-style attack on freedom of speech and children's rights". Háttér Society. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
10. "Háttér Társaság: Minden létező jogi eszközzel megtámadjuk a jogsértő és embertelen törvényt". hvg.hu (in Hungarian). 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
11. Imre, Patthy Loránd (2021-07-18). "Háttér Társaság: megnőtt a melegellenes inzultusok száma". index.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2021-08-28.