July 13th 2023.
A major Hungarian bookseller has been hit with a huge fine for selling the popular LGBT romance comic Heartstopper. The government issued the fine, citing a 2021 "child protection" law which prohibits the depiction of homosexuality to minors.
Lira Konyv, Hungary's second-largest bookstore chain, was fined 12 million forints for placing the young adult graphic novel in its youth literature section and for failing to place it in sealed packaging as required by the law.
The Budapest Metropolitan Government Office, which issued the consumer protection fine, said an investigation had been conducted into the store's selling of the title. They found that the books depicted homosexuality, but were placed in the category of children's books and youth literature without being distributed in closed packaging.
The law also prohibits LGBT+ content from being taught in schools, and forbids the public display of products that depict or promote gender deviating from sex at birth. Hungary's government insists the law is necessary to protect children, but it has been criticized as an attempt to stigmatize LGBT people.
In April, the European Union backed legal action against the law in the European Court of Justice, and the bloc's top executive, Ursula von der Leyen, called it "a disgrace."
The fine against Lira Konyv comes just two days before the Budapest Pride march, an annual event that draws thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their supporters in Hungary's capital. In a statement, the Budapest Metropolitan Government Office said it had ordered the bookstore to ensure the lawful distribution of the book, and that they "will always take strict action against companies that do not comply with the law."
Initially a series of graphic novels, Heartstopper follows the relationship between two boys, Nick and Charlie, as they navigate the complexities of high school, friendship, and their own identities. It was later adapted into a popular Netflix series, and has become a beloved story for many in the LGBT+ community.
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