Hungary's Justice Minister Judith Varga said Budapest will fight in the EU Court of Justice to defend an education law that Brussels says discriminates against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 This is reported by Reuters.

 Judith Varga said she has filed a counterclaim at the EU Court because the government will stick to its position that education is a matter for national governments.

 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's anti-LGBT campaign intensified in June 2021 when parliament, dominated by his Fidesz party, passed a law banning the use of material seen as promoting homosexuality and gender reassignment in schools.

 The government said the law was aimed at protecting children, not against the LGBT community.

 "Just as we have done so far, we will stand as a wall when it comes to protecting our children," Varga said, adding that the legislation must be supported and that further measures will be taken. She did not specify exactly what these measures would be.

 The standoff comes as Brussels has suspended billions of euros in much-needed EU funds for Hungary until Budapest implements reforms aimed at increasing the independence of the judiciary and fighting corruption.

 The European Commission referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU against an anti-LGBT law in mid-2022.

 The Commission believes that the law violates the rules of the EU internal market, fundamental human rights and EU values.

 In a speech last month in defense of the law, Orbán said: "Gender propaganda is not just ... rosy talk, but the biggest threat to our children. We want our children to be given peace... Such things have no place in Hungary , and especially in our schools."

 Hungary will reportedly amend its legislation in March to address Brussels' concerns about the involvement of government-linked politicians in university councils and restore European Union funding for students and teachers.