Ildikó Juhász

lesbian icon in communist Hungary

In communist Hungary, homosexuality was not accepted, and therefore silenced. Ildikó Juhász became a lesbian icon, as she founded a place where the lgbtq+-community could be themselves. Juhász was the manager of the Ipoly Cinema in Budapest. The cinema was owned by the communist regime, and the state censorship board decided which films people could see. Despite this strict state control, Juhász organised legendary parties, performances and screenings for the lgbtq+-community in the cinema’s secret bar.

Ildikó Juhász’s parties couldn’t be advertised. Everything needed to be hidden, because of the risk of  police raids, though this didn’t often happen. The authorities kept a close eye on people suspected of being queer anyway. The police kept dossiers and spied on them. There were very few safe spaces for homosexuals to gather, and no places specifically for lesbians. Ipoly was the first, and for a long time the only place that also organised meetings solely for lesbians. Juhász played a pivotal role in creating lesbian networking opportunities.

The status quo in Ildikó Juhász’s time:

During communism, lgbtq+-people were not able to participate in public life. The had to hide their sexual orientation and faced discrimination and repression.

In communist Hungary, same-sex acts were decriminalised in 1962.

However, places where homosexuals gathered were often still raided by the police. Visitors had to show ID and they were persecuted by the secret police. Gay people could lose their jobs if they were outed.

THE PRESENT