In a bold and defiant move, the Hungarian edition of Elle magazine has chosen to feature a loving image of a gay couple and their baby daughter on its front cover. This act of solidarity comes at a time when Hungary’s LGBTQ+ equality record is increasingly under threat.
The cover stars, Hungarian restaurateur Hubert Hlatky Schlichter and his husband, neurosurgeon Laszlo Szegedi, are captured in a tender moment as they lovingly kiss their baby daughter, Hannabel, on the head. Elle Hungary took to Instagram to share this significant cover, declaring its commitment to “contribute to the acceptance of rainbow families” and to advocate for love and all forms of family across the country.
The magazine’s post continued with a powerful message, stating that “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, caring and supportive environment, and no one can prevent this based on their parents’ gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Inside the issue, the two fathers share their experiences of discrimination in Hungary, particularly as they welcomed their baby girl into the world. Hungary, under the leadership of right-wing prime minister Viktor Orbán since 2010, has implemented a series of policies aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ equality.
Orbán’s government has amended the Hungarian constitution to define families strictly as “based on marriage and the parent-child relation, whereby the mother is a woman, the father a man.” Same-sex marriage remains illegal in the country, and a law passed in 2020 effectively prohibited same-sex couples from adopting children.
Earlier this year, Orbán attempted to introduce a concerning law allowing citizens to report LGBTQ+ families to authorities, which was ultimately vetoed by the country’s president, Katalin Novák. This marked an unusual rebuke from an ally of Orbán’s government.
The trans community has also faced discrimination, with Hungary banning transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals from legally changing their gender in 2020, effectively erasing their existence. In 2021, the government passed a law preventing LGBTQ+ topics from being discussed in schools or the media to shield queer content from minors. Even books depicting LGBTQ+ relationships are required to be wrapped in foil, with bookshops fined for failing to comply.
In the context of Hungary’s increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, Elle Hungary’s decision to feature a same-sex couple and their child on its cover is a landmark step toward positive queer representation in the media.
The magazine’s Instagram comment section has been flooded with messages celebrating this milestone. Hungarian model Ági Pataki praised the cover, stating, “They are wonderful, and you are the same for showing it.” Others expressed hope and gratitude, emphasizing that love, togetherness, and happiness radiate from the photo and serve as a source of inspiration for similar couples.
In a country where LGBTQ+ rights are under threat, Elle Hungary’s cover represents a powerful message of love, acceptance, and defiance against discrimination, offering hope for a more inclusive and compassionate future.
