Hungary fines bookstores for selling LGBT comic book “Heartstopper”

The Budapest government office fined the Lira Konyv bookstore chain 12 million forints (36,000 USD) for selling the graphic novel “Heartstopper” without a protective film. It was reported last week by NBC News.

In 2021, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban introduced the “child protection” law, which bans the “demonstration and propaganda of homosexuality” to people under the age of 18. According to the law, it is considered propaganda to show homosexual content to minors in media, including literature. It is also prohibited to cover LGBTQ+ content in school education programs or to publicly display products that depict or promote gender deviating from sex at birth.

“The investigation found that the books in question depicted homosexuality, but they were nevertheless placed in the category of children’s books and youth literature, and were not distributed in closed packaging,” the Budapest Metropolitan Government Office said.

In a statement, the Office said that it had ordered the bookstore chain to ensure the lawful distribution of the graphic novel. In addition, the authorities promised that they would “always take strict action against companies that do not comply with the law.”

“Heartstopper” is a modern graphic novel about LGBTQ+ for young people, written and illustrated by British writer Alice Osman.

As a reminder, Moscow libraries withdraw books by Murakami and Fry.

Image: Amazon