AfD Saxony Proposes Adopting Hungary’s Anti-LGBTQ Law in Germany

Far-Right AfD Party Pushes for Repeal of German Self-Determination Act, Citing Hungarian Anti-LGBTQ+ Law as Model

Jörg Urban, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group in Saxony, has submitted a formal motion to the state parliament calling for the repeal of Germany’s 2024 Self-Determination Act. The motion, dramatically titled “Prevent Abuse, Protect Children, Safeguard Safety, Fairness and Privacy — Stop the Self-Determination Act,” represents another escalation in the party’s campaign against LGBTQ+ rights.

In a statement released Monday, the AfD faction explicitly praised Hungary’s controversial “Child Protection Law,” widely known as the “Homo-Propaganda” law, which has been in effect for approximately five years. The Hungarian legislation prohibits any depiction of homosexuality or transgender identities in media, educational materials, or school settings.

To promote their position, the AfD shared an AI-generated image on social media platforms depicting a queer person with makeup and long pink nails as a witch attempting to lure children, in a disturbing reimagining of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale.

“While Hungary passed in 2021 a ‘Law for the Protection of Children’ that bans LGBTQ+ propaganda in schools, the Federal Republic of Germany is steering the opposite direction with the so-called Self-Determination Act,” the AfD stated in their official communication. The party claimed that under current German law, “youths aged 14 and older could change their gender once a year, even against the will of their parents.”

The faction further cited testimony from Professor Jorge Ponseti of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, claiming that “nine out of ten youths regret their gender transition later” and that “trans people also bear a five-times higher suicide risk.” Based on these assertions, the AfD concluded: “Child protection like in Hungary, not trans ideology!”

However, the AfD’s statement omits critical scientific context and contradicting evidence. Multiple peer-reviewed studies indicate that the risk of suicide among transgender youth actually decreases significantly when they receive appropriate hormone treatment and gender-affirming care. One comprehensive study found that 96 percent of transgender youth who pursued gender-affirming medical interventions did not experience regret.

Medical experts have also challenged Professor Ponseti’s methodology, noting that his conclusions may rely on older studies that often included children who exhibited gender-nonconforming behavior but did not have diagnosed gender dysphoria. The current scientific consensus among researchers in the field generally supports affirmative approaches to transgender care, recognizing that appropriate early support and medical interventions can substantially reduce psychological distress.

This motion continues the Saxon AfD’s pattern of targeting the LGBTQ+ community. In a ZDF television interview, Urban characterized Pride demonstration participants as “extremists” and has consistently opposed educational programs addressing sexual diversity. He has advocated that schools should primarily promote “the family ideal of father, mother and children.”

The issue has sparked contentious debate in the Saxon state parliament, with some arguments veering into alarming territory. In 2023, former AfD member Rolf Weigand warned ominously that “trans people would be sent to schools,” a statement that was widely criticized as fearmongering.

Germany’s Self-Determination Act, which the AfD seeks to repeal, was designed to simplify the legal process for transgender individuals to change their gender marker and name, replacing an outdated procedure that required extensive psychological evaluations and court approvals. The legislation represents Germany’s efforts to align with human rights standards and medical understanding of gender identity, contrasting sharply with Hungary’s restrictive approach that has been condemned by international human rights organizations.