From the margins to the mainstream: promoting the equality and well-being of LGBTQI people by strengthening Háttér Society

Háttér Society is Hungary’s largest and longest-running lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTIQ) organization. They work toward a society in which everyone is equal, no one faces disadvantage due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, all members of the LGBTIQ community can freely live out their identities, and individuals receive appropriate support to address the challenges they encounter. Their goal is to achieve equality and well-being for LGBTIQ people by (1) providing support services; (2) fostering awareness and self-organization among LGBTIQ individuals; and (3) shaping a legal system, public services, and social attitudes that take the needs of LGBTIQ people into account.
Their initial activity was the operation of a helpline, which was later expanded to include other services—available free of charge to the community and their loved ones—such as a legal aid service, a HIV support service and hotline, and a personal support service. Their range of services continues to grow; recent additions include the regular provision of HIV/STI testing and a social support service that assists with access to employment, housing, and healthcare. A significant achievement of their organization is their active participation in the drafting of the 2003 Act on Equal Treatment—which, upon its adoption, prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity across all areas of life. They also contributed to the adoption of the 2007 and 2009 legislation on registered partnerships, which grants same-sex couples rights nearly identical to those of married spouses. Furthermore, they played a role in amendments to the Criminal Code that specifically mandate the punishment of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes and hate speech.

Over the years, they have won hundreds of cases before various authorities and courts, including the Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
In addition to providing support to LGBTQI individuals, they place great emphasis on shaping public attitudes. While in 2019 only 17% of respondents fully agreed that same-sex couples could be just as good parents as opposite-sex couples, that figure has since risen to 55%.

Organizational Development: Enhancing the organization’s communication identity. Introducing a standardized foundational training program for new volunteers. Conducting internal training sessions through the "Háttér Academy," as well as providing supervision for staff members. Implementing a grant management system and upgrading the IT infrastructure.
Civil Society Networking and Knowledge Transfer: Maintaining regular contact with domestic and international organizations, and participating in their programs.
Ongoing Services: Providing legal aid, psychological support, and health screenings; operating a library; facilitating community and self-help groups; and conducting training sessions for LGBTQI+ youth and their parents as part of the Mental Health Program.
Advocacy: Reviewing draft legislation and policies concerning LGBTQ rights, participating in the development of public policies, and preparing reports.
Engaging in strategic litigation and research; producing publications; organizing training sessions, conferences, public events, and workshops; and carrying out campaigns and community-building initiatives.
 

The legal situation as it existed in 2010 is restored; provisions in the Fundamental Law that emphasize a gender binary are removed; legal gender recognition becomes available; LGBTQI individuals are no longer discriminated against in the context of single-person adoption; and restrictions on minors’ access to LGBTQI-related content, as well as restrictions on LGBTQI gatherings, are lifted.
An LGBTQI and HIV/STI strategy of acceptable quality is developed, incorporating several of the proposals put forward. Certain strategic framework documents, action plans, and professional protocols—at both the national and local levels—address the specific challenges faced by LGBTQI individuals and include substantive, targeted measures to resolve them.
Topics concerning human rights and equal opportunity are integrated into the graduation requirements and curricula—as well as the textbooks—for most professional fields. In several of these fields, LGBTQI-related content is also included in the curriculum, though often without sufficient depth. Professionals are able to apply the knowledge they have acquired in their day-to-day work.
The majority of LGBTQI individuals are aware of their rights and know of organizations that provide legal assistance; some are prepared to initiate legal proceedings in the event of a rights violation. Most are also aware of risks related to sexual and mental health—as well as methods for mitigating these risks—and are informed about available services; the proportion of individuals undergoing health screenings is on the rise. In this area, the gap between the more vulnerable and the more privileged members of the community is narrowing.
They provide services to over 20,000 people and offer training to more than 1,000 professionals. They produce 60 new resources and publications, and reach 2,600,000 people through their campaigns.