Argentina, once a leader in LGBTQ+ rights, has taken a sharp turn under right-wing President Javier Milei, who has banned gender-affirming care for minors. The decree, issued without parliamentary debate, reverses policies that positioned Argentina as a progressive beacon in Latin America.
The move, which aligns Argentina with the UK, Sweden, and Finland’s recent restrictions, was justified by the government with claims of “protecting children” from so-called “gender ideology.” However, there is no evidence of coercion in gender-affirming treatments. The ban not only strips young trans people of access to essential healthcare but also mandates that transgender inmates be housed according to their gender assigned at birth—an additional act of institutional violence.
LGBTQ+ rights groups have condemned the decree as a direct attack on democracy and trans rights. “Argentina was once a model for gender identity laws,” said ILGA World, pointing to the country’s landmark 2012 self-ID law. “This regression is not just a blow to the LGBTQ+ community but to human rights at large.” Activists have called for the country’s Supreme Court to intervene, though it remains unclear whether legal challenges will succeed under Milei’s administration.
The ban arrives as part of a broader conservative pushback against LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and progressive policies in Argentina. Milei, known for his inflammatory rhetoric, has previously called LGBTQ+ activism a “cancer” and dismissed gender identity protections as “leftist extremism.” His administration’s latest move further isolates trans youth, increasing their vulnerability to discrimination, violence, and mental health crises.
While Argentina once stood as a refuge for trans people in the region, this rollback signals a dangerous shift, reinforcing global anti-trans trends that jeopardize lives. The LGBTQ+ community, backed by human rights organizations, now faces the difficult task of fighting for the protections that once made Argentina a leader in equality.