Bookshop fined for displaying LGBTQ+ graphic novel

The Government Office of Budapest has levied a “consumer protection fine” of 12 million forints (EUR 32,070) on book chain Líra Könyv for breaking the law by displaying Heartstopper by British author Alice Oseman.

The office said it had established that the book “depicts homosexuality, and, even so, was displayed among books for children classified as youth literature; neither were the books distributed in closed packaging.” Its statement said the office took strict action to protect children “against businesses that do not comply with the law in all cases”. Here is the book (and the Párbeszéd deputy mayor of Újbuda, Budapest’s 11th district):