Cantus Planus
As Chair, I have received concerns from a number of LGBTQI+ members of Cantus Planus and supporters regarding the decision to hold our next biennial conference in 2024 in Hungary given the current political situation.
As a result, I reached out to the Háttér Society which is the leading organisation in Hungary for LGBTQI+ rights, organising Budapest Pride as well as offering advocacy, legal and mental health services. They have written:
‘We understand the fear of your LGBTQI colleagues due to the political climate, and even though our community struggle with the consequences, we would like to highlight all the support LGBTQI people also receive from their allies. We experience that those who understand LGBTQI people in the country are more likely to express their support since the recent legal drawbacks, and this perspective is often not represented in the media. This tendency occurs especially in the capital, Budapest. Organizations like ours constantly fight against discrimination and for equal rights, and in case of any issues happen, please, feel free to contact us for legal support at the jogsegely@hatter.hu e-mail address.’
I hope that this information is reassuring for our LGBTQI+ members and I am sorry that it was not communicated earlier. If LGBTQI+ members would prefer to stay in Budapest rather than Gödöllő – a commuter town only 30 minutes by train outside Budapest – the Lonely Planet website provides links for places which are welcoming; or else our Hungarian organising committee would be happy to advise. For those who wish to make a donation to the work of the Háttér Society, their website can be found here.
Our LGBTQI+ members have played a vital role in the success of Cantus Planus over the years and we look forward to their active participation in our discussions, events and policy-making in the future as Cantus Planus continues to develop as a dynamic and inclusive study group of the IMS.
Jeremy Llewellyn, Chair
30.vii.2023
