A Show of Strength Against Government Overreach

On November 1st, Buenos Aires witnessed a powerful display of solidarity and resistance as the Pride March took over the streets in clear opposition to President Javier Milei’s administration. Rallying under the banner “In the face of hate and violence: more pride and unity!”, demonstrators condemned the government’s rollback of human rights protections. The protest came just weeks after Milei consolidated power with a strong showing in the midterm elections, accelerating the implementation of his aggressive ultra-libertarian agenda.

Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has drastically reshaped Argentina’s institutional framework for combating discrimination. Key agencies and policies have been dissolved or stripped of power, including the elimination of the Ministry of Equality, the National Institute against Discrimination, and the cancellation of thirteen Justice Ministry programs aimed at combating gender-based violence. María Paula García, Equality and Diversity Coordinator with Amnesty International, warned that “these dismantlings are unfolding in a climate of intensified hate speech—even from the highest levels of government.”

Hostile Rhetoric and a Toxic Climate

Earlier in the year, President Milei drew international criticism following a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he railed against what he called the “woke virus”, “radical feminism”, and the “gender ideology”. He provocatively referred to some expressions of queer identity and activism as “child abuse”, and accused LGBTQI+ advocates of engaging in “perpetual victimhood” to “silence those who speak out against these excesses”. He also criticized international institutions for their alleged complicity in promoting such agendas.

The president’s inflammatory remarks ignited widespread protests across Argentina by the end of January, sparking a civic wave of resistance and renewed demands for equality and justice.

A Surge in Violence Against LGBTQI+ Communities

The government’s ideological shift appears to have coincided with a sharp increase in violence targeting LGBTQI+ individuals. According to the National Observatory on Hate Crimes, homophobic and transphobic assaults rose by 70% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.

A particularly harrowing incident in May 2024 punctuated this alarming trend. Four lesbian women were attacked with an explosive device in what has been described as an act of “queericide”. Three were killed, and the sole survivor continues to demand justice. The tragedy became a focal point of the November 1st march, with demonstrators chanting a resounding call: “No Pride Without Justice!”

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