Budapest: Distributors and publishers of books in Hungary have raised concerns that a decree that limits LGBTQ-themed book sales can cause self-sensor and make these items more difficult to obtain in small cities.
The government has booked a shop to sell seals and wrapped all books aimed at the 18s which are seen as promoting homosexuality or gender changes, or containing descriptions of “explicit” sexuality.
It also prohibits the sales of all such books, both intended for children or adults, within 200 meters (220 yards) of schools or churches.
The decision is part of the Anti-LGBTQ drive which has set the Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Loggerheads with rights and European Union groups.
Catalin Gal, Head of the Hungarian Book Publisher Association and distributor, said more than 100 Hungarian bookstores were within 200 meters of a church or school, many in small cities.
“It quietly encourages publishers to self sensors.
If they make it very difficult to sell these books, why did they score it at all?” He said on Friday.
“It is clear that from now on if I write a book with LGBTQ characters, it will reach a much smaller audience,” said Tibor Racz-Stefan, a young adult novelist, featuring same-sex partner.
Orders are the first direction to spell the implication of the laws that are passed in June materials that are seen as promoting homosexuality and gender rear assignments at school.
Orban, in the pre-election crusades to protect what he calls traditional Christian values, said the law was intended to protect children and that their parents had to educate them about sexuality.
With the scope of the decree it was unclear, the book association on Thursday asked for a list of books below it from the government.
“If the government truly wants to implement this law, the sensor must review the entire history of literature,” said Ildiko Katona, who has a publisher and bookstore.
The government did not immediately respond to a comment request.