Hungary bookstore to fight fine for selling LGBTQ+ graphic novel Heartstopper
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.
