Lira, Hungary’s second-largest bookstore, has announced plans to take legal action after being fined for selling ‘Heartstopper’, a graphic novel with LGBTQ+ themes.
The bookstore was ordered to pay 12 million forints (£27,570) for having ‘Heartstopper’, among other books for minors, on sale without them being wrapped in plastic foil.
Krisztian Nyary, Creative Director of Lira and a well-known author, described the fine as disproportionate and criticised the law being enforced for being vague.
“As this is a resolution about a fine it cannot be appealed, it can only be attacked – in what way, our lawyers will assess,” he told Reuters.
“We will use all legal means at our disposal.”
READ MORE: Will EU show of strength against Hungary deter anti-LGBTQ+ laws?
Nyary also said that some publishers had been voluntarily wrapping their books in a bid to comply with Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, though they were uncertain of whether or not this would be enough to have the books on shelves with literature for adults.
In 2021, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government passed a law prohibiting the “display and promotion of homosexuality” among those under the age of 18.
His administration generally promotes a right-wing, Christian agenda that has been met with fierce criticism from the European Union.
Hungary does not recognise same-sex marriage and only heterosexual couples are allowed to legally adopt children.
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