The streets of Buenos Aires echoed with celebration and resistance on Saturday as Argentina’s largest Pride march made its way from the iconic Plaza de Mayo to the National Congress.
Amidst rainbow flags, chants, and vibrant music, hundreds of thousands rallied in support of the LGBTQ+ community—and in direct opposition to the increasingly hostile rhetoric and policies of far-right President Javier Milei.
Pride in Protest
This year’s march took on a particularly political tone following a string of inflammatory remarks by Milei, who has aligned himself closely with international far-right figures like Donald Trump.
The official slogan of the march, “Against hate and violence: more pride and unity,” underscored the growing concern over Milei’s attacks on gender rights, diversity, and inclusion.
“These days, with the current government, there is a lot of hate. You can see it in the streets and on social media,” said Nahuel Vassallo, a 22-year-old university student.
“That’s why standing here to defend our rights and who we are is so key.”
Legislative Wins for Milei Spark Fear
The march came just one week after Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), scored a major victory in legislative elections—winning over 40% of the national vote and gaining control in 15 of 24 districts. The low voter turnout was seen as a key factor in the surprise result.
This gives Milei veto-proof power in the legislature and boosts his agenda, including a $20 billion Trump-backed bailout to combat Argentina’s economic crisis.
However, this political success has only intensified fears among human rights advocates, especially after Milei’s fiery speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he branded LGBTQ+ “gender ideology” as “child abuse” and called LGBTQ+ people “pedophiles”.
“The mental virus of woke ideology is the great epidemic of our time that must be cured,” Milei declared.
“This is the cancer we need to get rid of, along with feminism, diversity, inclusion, abortion, environmentalism, and gender ideology.”
The speech drew international condemnation and sparked mass protests across Argentina.
Rights Under Attack
Soon after, Milei moved to amend Argentina’s Gender Identity Law—a globally lauded 2012 law that allowed trans individuals to self-identify without medical or psychiatric approval. His changes banned gender-affirming care for people under 18 and dissolved state agencies working on gender equality and anti-discrimination.
Argentina, once considered a regional leader in LGBTQ+ rights, is now witnessing a troubling reversal.
According to a recent report from the National Observatory on LGBT+ Hate Crimes, the first half of 2025 saw a 70% rise in hate crimes, compared to the same period in 2024. Even more alarming, over half of those incidents were reportedly perpetrated by state security forces, doubling last year’s figure.
“Today we are all here to reject the policies of this new government and the persecution that the LGBTQ+ community has been suffering since Milei’s statements in Davos,” said Viviana Cardano, from the ATE state-workers union.
A March for Justice and Visibility
Despite the growing threats, Argentina’s LGBTQ+ community remains defiant and visible. Among thousands of signs carried during the march, one read:
“There is no pride without justice.”
As the crowd reached the Congress building, it became clear that this was not just a celebration of identity—it was a plea for justice, protection, and unity in the face of a political movement that seeks to erase them.
