I would make several amendments to the proposed text, which seems to be trying to do two different things – 1) assuage any fears and 2) defend Hungary and Hungarians from accusations of prejudice. The second of these aims will defeat the first, when it is very obvious that the government of Hungary is anti-LGBTQ (and particularly anti-trans), particularly since the passing of Act LXXIX in 2021. For that reason, too, official statistics on hate crimes are unlikely to be trusted, or trustworthy.
LGBTQ visitors will already be aware of the dangers in public displays of affection in most non-Western European countries. Meanwhile, trans colleagues will certainly already know about the anti-trans legal decisions and laws of recent years, so any language that seems to suggest that this isn’t the case comes close to gaslighting.
I would strip out nearly all of the political discussion, leaving you with:
Being Safe in Budapest
In general, the city of Budapest is as safe and accommodating as any capital city in continental Europe. As in many countries, our capital is cosmopolitan and used to welcoming and serving visitors from around the world. Robust tourism also attracts some folks who want to prey on people having fun. Accordingly, you want to take your usual common-sense precautions against petty crime, including being aware of your surroundings, and looking after your valuables at all times. Be aware in particular of the ‘money changer’ scam, which has targeted tourists in the past, and as in other European countries it is a bad idea to take an unofficial taxi from the street.
Disabled access has improved greatly in recent years, including to the metro and museums.
Budapest is a capital city that welcomes many tourists each year, and it is particularly cosmopolitan and generally welcoming to foreigners. However, visitors who want to venture solo outside the tourist areas might want to bear in mind that the country as a whole has experienced a rise in anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric in recent years, and that anti-Roma prejudice is particularly common.
As regards gender and sexualities, homosexuality is legal in Hungary, while gender reassignment is not protected by law. The period of the lead-up to Budapest Pride on July 23, 2023 will be one of heightened visibility, and possibly controversy as well.
For more on being safe in Budapest and Hungary, please see the country’s risk assessment of a British travel agency here (attached, or upload to website). We hope that you will be able to enjoy Budapest in safety.
Dr James Mackay (he/him)
Assistant Professor of British and American Literatures
European University Cyprus
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From: committee <committee-bounces@list.american-indian-workshop.org> On Behalf Of journal@american-indian-workshop
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2023 10:17 AM
To: Gyorgy Toth <gyorgy.toth@stir.ac.uk>; committee@list.american-indian-workshop.org
Subject: Re: [Committee] Text on safety in Budapest - for AIW 2023 website
Dear Gyorgy,
a lot of detailed work, thank you very much. Although I wonder if we should start political descriptions of hosting countries at the official AIW page. The paragraf „Hungary, along
with leaders from Poland, blocked the EU budget and forced EU leaders to compromise…“ is misleading in my understanding because Hungary is gaining money from the EU (4th position of the net recipients among the EU members in 2021). Means the EU blocked money due to the ongoing subordination of law by politics in Hungary (as it is the case in Poland) which is a serious failure in a democratic and power-balanced structure. Further main concerns in the relationship between EU and Hungary are the „moderate“ position of Hungary against the attacker Russia and the continously disruption of an EU refugee strategy in general as you pointed out already. And, of course, as you underlined already, the supremacy of only one party is not really helpful for plurality which is absolutely needed within a democracy.
The insights for traveling and safety are very helpful on the other hand, as is the separate paper „being safe in…“
with best regards,
Sonja Ross, Munich/Germany
Von: Gyorgy Toth
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 22. März 2023 09:11
An: committee@list.american-indian-workshop.org
Betreff: [Committee] Text on safety in Budapest - for AIW 2023 website
Dear AIW Committee Members -
As the off-site AIW 2023 conference organizing assistant, I have developed some language on safety in Budapest. This tries to address concerns about safety, including by our LGBTQ and otherwise abled members. The text, attached here, should be accompanied by a much more exhaustive assessment of safety for the whole country, by a British travel agency, also attached here. This should give our colleagues a chance to get informed more thoroughly .
If you feel that this language is adequate, I am proposing that it be added to the AIW 2023 conference website. It can also be added to the program, if you feel that is needed - with a link to the country report on the website.
Kindly let us know if you think that this is acceptably addresses issues of safety in Budapest for AIW 2023.
With personal and collegial greetings -
Gyorgy "George" Toth, M.A., Ph.D., FRHS, FHEA
(He/him)
Lecturer in Post-1945 US History & Transatlantic RelationsDivision of History and Politics
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland, United Kingdom
Email: gyorgy.toth@stir.ac.uk
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