TL;DR
- Ezequiel Doria Medina faced a homophobic smear campaign during his father’s presidential run.
- AI-generated misinformation targeted him on social media.
- Despite the backlash, he found strength in visibility as a gay man.
- Bolivia has legal protections for LGBTQ+ rights but social stigma persists.
- Younger generations are increasingly visible and challenging stereotypes.
In a shocking twist of fate, Ezequiel Doria Medina, a Paris-based designer and son of Bolivian presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina, found himself at the center of a homophobic smear campaign during the 2025 elections. Imagine this: your TikTok videos, filled with bunny ears and heart filters, becoming fodder for national political discourse. Sounds absurd, right? But that’s exactly what happened when Ezequiel’s playful social media presence was weaponized against him.
Growing up in one of Bolivia’s most prominent political families, Ezequiel was no stranger to scrutiny. “There was an unspoken understanding in our family that we should stay careful, stay private and avoid giving people more reasons to talk,” he said. But when he came out at 18, he made it clear that he wanted to live authentically, even if that meant facing the pressures of his family’s legacy.
His foray into TikTok was innocent enough—just a way to express himself and connect with the LGBTQ+ community. But during the election, things took a dark turn. An AI-generated audio clip surfaced, suggesting that Ezequiel’s father needed to distance himself from his “gay son.” From there, a coordinated smear campaign erupted, with fake news and conspiracy theories spreading like wildfire across social media platforms.
“Suddenly, my TikToks were everywhere,” Ezequiel recalled. “Strangers dissected every video I’d ever posted. Fake stories claimed I was secretly meeting ‘LGBT extremists’ from Argentina to rewrite Bolivia’s constitution using gender-neutral language.” The absurdity of it all was staggering. Ezequiel was accused of plotting a queer political takeover while he was simply lounging in bed in Paris.
As the attacks intensified, he found himself the target of a media frenzy reminiscent of a reality TV show gone wrong. “New media personalities appeared out of nowhere – basically Bolivia’s answer to Fox News – talking about me constantly,” he said. Politicians mocked him, and church groups condemned his family. The onslaught of hate comments became overwhelming, but Ezequiel learned to tune them out. “The human brain isn’t built to absorb thousands of people calling you disgusting,” he noted.
In a surreal moment, even the president of Bolivia showcased one of Ezequiel’s TikToks on live television. “I was wearing bunny-ear filters and hearts around my face while explaining how ridiculous it was that people were attacking a politician simply because he had a gay son,” he said. Watching the president stare blankly at his filtered face was a bizarre mix of humor and horror.
https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bolivia%F0%9F%87%A7%F0%9F%87%B4?refer=embed
Through it all, Ezequiel’s relationship with his father remained strong. “He wasn’t ashamed of me,” Ezequiel reflected, despite their silence on the matter. The experience revealed the contradictions within Bolivia regarding LGBTQ+ rights. While legal protections exist, social stigma remains rampant, especially outside major cities.
But change is on the horizon. Younger generations are stepping up, reclaiming their narratives and challenging societal norms. “There are openly gay podcasters reclaiming slurs and discussing HIV publicly. One of Bolivia’s biggest TikTok journalists is a trans woman,” Ezequiel pointed out. Visibility matters, and as more LGBTQ+ voices rise, the narrative is shifting away from scandal and fear towards humanity and acceptance.
Ezequiel Doria Medina never intended to become a political figure. He just wanted to live his life, create, and express himself. Yet, in a world where existence can become political, he stands as a testament to resilience and the power of visibility in the face of adversity.