The operator of MoM swimming pool, Hegyvidéki Sportcsarnok és Sportközpont Kft, had been open to rental enquiries until it became clear that the organisation in question was the Atlas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) Sports Association, according to Atlas.

The operator claimed the number of members of the pool’s club had increased and said trainers from outside the club were not permitted, Atlas said.

With the support of a civil organisation, Háttér Társaság, the LGBTQ sports association turned to the equal opportunity authority in February. The authority found that booking and ticket data did not support the swimming pool’s reasons for rejecting Atlas’s application.

HSK voiced its disagreement with the fine and said it would initiate a judicial review of the authority’s decision.

The company said it had presented evidence that due to swimming pool renovations for the World Aquatics Championships, it was forced to turn away other potential contractual partners as well, which it said proved that it had not discriminated against Atlas.

HSK said that over the past year, its priority was to provide space for its established partners and individual clients.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.