Germany To Defy Hungarian Repression By Lighting Up Allianz Arena In Pride Colours

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Germany - Allianz Arena, Munich lit up in Pride colours.

After the country’s enactment of anti-LGBTI legislation, Hungary’s final group game at the European Championship could be played in a stadium lit up in rainbow colours.

The Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter has consulted UEFA to ask for permission to fill the Allianz Arena with colour on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with the LGBT community.

The city council wants to take a public stand against a law passed by the Hungarian parliament that took all mention of gay and trans issues off the school curriculum.

People are also barred from sharing any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment with under-18s.

The law has been denounced as discriminatory by human rights groups.

In its application, the council accused Hungary “of following the example of Russia’s homophobic and transphobic legislation“.

It added: “This legislation represents a new mark in the invisibility and disenfranchisement of lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) and adds to the systematic restriction of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms that practised for years in Hungary.”

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer wore a captain’s armband in rainbow colours for his team’s opening group games against France and Portugal.

The move prompted UEFA to investigate, but the body confirmed it had dropped the case on Sunday evening.

UEFA did however confirm that they were investigating “potential discriminatory incidents” at the two European Championship games played in Hungary.

Budapest is the only Euro 2020 host city to allow full crowds for games.