When Mate Hegedus heard Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warn Pride organizers in late February not to bother preparing for this year¡¯s parade in the capital Budapest, he was initially shocked.

¡°Then, the reality of his words set in, and the fear started,¡± said Hegedus, who watched Orban¡¯s state of the nation address, where he made the remarks, on television. Hegedus is one of the 15-strong team of Pride organizers.

¡°It¡¯s such a prominent person for these words to come from,¡± said Hegedus, who is nonbinary.