Argentina’s President Javier Milei has emerged as a divisive figure, celebrated by financial markets for his bold economic policies but condemned by human rights activists for his attacks on social progress. While many Argentines credit his libertarian reforms for taming inflation and stabilizing the economy, his recent comments linking “gender ideology” to child abuse have sparked outrage among LGBTQ activists and their allies. Thousands took to the streets in Buenos Aires, condemning what they see as an alarming rollback of hard-won rights.
In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Milei cited a case of a same-sex couple convicted of child abuse in the U.S. and used it to support his claim that “in its most extreme versions, gender ideology constitutes child abuse.” His words ignited fierce backlash, with LGBTQ leaders warning that such rhetoric emboldens discrimination and violence. “Since Milei’s campaign, we have seen a marked rise in hate incidents against our community,” said María Rachid, president of the Argentine LGBT Federation. Despite this, Milei remains defiant, positioning himself as a champion of “traditional values” in a country that once led Latin America in progressive policies.
Milei’s administration has taken concrete steps to undo these policies. His proposed “equality before the law” bill would erase the legal category of femicide and remove non-binary recognition from official documents. He has already dismantled key institutions that once protected LGBTQ rights, including the Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity and the National Institute against Discrimination. His government insists these moves are about fairness, arguing that identity-based protections distort justice. However, activists and legal experts warn that they will disproportionately harm marginalized groups.
For many in Argentina, the contradiction between Milei’s economic pragmatism and his social conservatism is becoming harder to ignore. “This government has done some positive macroeconomic things,” said statistician Alberto Nigro, “but on social issues, it’s taking us backwards.” Polls suggest the nation is split: while over 50% of Argentines support Milei’s handling of the economy, his stance on LGBTQ rights is opposed by a majority. Whether his ideological crusade will ultimately undermine his political support remains to be seen, but for Argentina’s LGBTQ community, the battle for equality is far from over.