A Fairy Tale for Everyone
The book, called A Fairy Tale for Everyone, was published by the Lesbian Association Labrisz and caused a huge storm. In the volume, Hungarian children can meet gay men, lesbians, transgender people, Roma people, adoptees, the hearing impaired and old heroes, among others. The book is about diversity and supporting people to help them excel. Several Hungarian writers, poets, storytellers and translators also took part in the campaign around the book's publication.
The book contains 17 stories featuring characters who are gender diverse and come from ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds that are often not represented in children's stories. The stories touch on themes ranging from health disadvantage to poverty. They are written by amateur and professional authors, some of whom are queer. This is probably the very first children's book about LGBTQ+ people in the Hungarian language.
Eventually, a crossfire in Hungary hit the author and project manager of the book, and thanks to her, Labrisz Lesbian Association was able to publish A Fairy Tale for Everyone. The Labrisz Association has run LGBTQ+ education programmes mostly for secondary schools over the past two decades, but has faced hostility from far-right groups in recent years. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the book's authors and their colleagues decided to expand and adapt their educational activities, both in response to the crisis and to the growing hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. "Because of the current social situation in Hungary, there is a lot of hatred and frustration, and children are growing up in this atmosphere." They say. "We thought it would be important to reach out to children at an early age with questions about acceptance and diversity."
Still, A Fairy Tale for Everyone seems to have generated significant public support from parents, teachers and booksellers across Hungary, which its publishers see as a small sign of hope in the darker backdrop of LGBTQ+ rights in the country. "The book seems to be becoming a symbol of resistance against oppression and discrimination," say its authors, adding that they have been inundated with responses and requests, including suggestions for an audiobook and e-book adaptation of the book, a board game, and potentially more translations. "A lot of people seem to have realized the importance of having this kind of book," says one of the book's authors, adding that a large bookstore chain has donated funds to get the book to underprivileged children. And while one of the book's authors says Hungarian President Orban's political party has managed to exploit people's fear and frustration, both hope that this episode could help make Hungary a better place for the next generation.