Argentina, South America

Argentina is the second largest country in South America by land area, and eighth in the world. Homosexuality in Argentina is not a criminal offence. The Constitution includes a paragraph that bans some anti-gay discrimination. The age of consent is 16 years, gay or straight. There is no clear public policy about health issues like AIDS-prevention programs. There are many taxi boys (rent boys) in certain streets at night who do not have AIDS exam certification cards (prostitution is not legal in Argentina). There is a large number of public baths and gay cinemas without sanitary restrictions.

The law approving Civil Unions in Buenos Aires and Río Negro Province for homosexual couples was endorsed in 2003, and in the town of Villa Carlos Paz in 2007. These unions provide many of the same rights and privileges as that of married couples, however adoption of children is not among them. Despite such laws, Argentina is a machismo Catholic culture and homophobia runs high especially beyond the major cities. Nevertheless, in 2010 gay marriage was made legal and offficial in Argentina.

 

News & Reports:

 

13+ heartwarming images of 2018 Marcha del Orgullo in Buenos Aires

Activists called for laws to protect trans workers and legalize abortion Thousands took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Saturday 17 November to celebrate the annual Marcha del Orgullo. Buenos Aires Pride is the largest LGBTI event in Argentina and attracts tourists and locals every year. Particularly, the local LGBTI community called for a… Read more »

Buenos Aires dedicates Subway station to LGBTI rights activist

Is this the world’s gayest Subway station? Buenos Aires has dedicated its newest Subway station to an Argentinian gay icon. On Monday (20 March) the new station, now called Santa Fe – Carlos Jaúregui, opened on the city metro system’s H-Line. It’s considered to be the world’s first station to be named in the honor… Read more »

The UN is set to assess violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Argentina

A UN expert is set to assess discrimination against LGBT people in Argentina. Vitit Muntarbhorn, the human rights expert who specialises in investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual and gender identity for the UN, will carry out the study which will see him visit the country. Muntarbhorn has said that he will look in-depth… Read more »

NGOs: attacks on LGBTI people persist

Local activists concerned by continuing violence against minorities, echoing IACHR report Despite Argentina standing at the forefront of progressive legislation protecting LGBTI rights and its reputation as something of a “gay Mecca” for tourists in Latin America, there are worrying signs that the country may be taking backward steps in terms of violence, discrimination and… Read more »

Argentina Gay Pride and Gay Soccer Championships Combination Weekend

A Double Dose of Gay Celebrations in Buenos Aires Agentina is a leader in LGBT rights issues in Latin America, and indeed the world. In 2010, the country made same-sex marriage the law of the land. I was fortunate enough to be a witness to the signing of the law, having been there for the… Read more »

Argentina grants first refugee status to Russian gay, victim of President Putin’s non tolerance policies

A young 28 year old became the first Russian gay to be given refugee status by Argentina, because of discrimination and violence at his home country. The positive reply to the year-long request was sponsored by Argentina’s Federation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans, FALGBT. The refugee status was extended by Argentina’s Refugee Committee, Conare,… Read more »

150,000 march in Buenos Aires Gay Pride Parade

It is estimated that nearly 150,000 turned out for Saturday’s annual Buenos Aires Gay Pride Parade, the third since Argentina legalized same-sex marriage Massive crowds came out to take part in the 22nd Buenos Aires Gay Pride Parade on Saturday, starting with a group kiss before 150,000 took to the streets. The parade wound its… Read more »

Gay Characters Go Mainstream on Argentine Primetime TV

A love story between two men and a transvestite day-time host fight for the top of the ratings in Latin America’s most gay-friendly TV slate. Buenos Aires – A pink-colored full spread in Sunday’s edition of Argentina’s most conservative newspaper, La Nacion, promoted a turning point in last Monday’s episode of El Trece’s Farsantes, the… Read more »

Enorme preocupacion de la FALGBT por expresiones discriminatorias de funcionarios rusos en Argentina tras reunion en la Embajada

La Federación Argentina de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Trans se reunió con funcionarios de la Embajada de Rusia en Argentina para expresar preocupación por la creciente violencia y preocupación contra el colectivo LGBT en ese país. De la reunión participó también María Rachid, legisladora de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y Secretaria General de la… Read more »

New pope ‘is a bad sign’ for equality, says Argentine LGBT rights group

Argentina’s leading LGBT rights organization ‘expresses its deep regret’ at the appointment of a new pope, a former archbishop of the City of Buenos Aires, with an anti-gay record Newly-elected Pope Francis has received a frigid welcome from Argentina’s leading LGBT rights group. In a statement released yesterday by the Argentine LGBT Federation (FALGBT), the… Read more »

Pope Francis Against Gay Marriage, Gay Adoption

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a 76-year-old Argentinean, was chosen as the first Latin American pope on Wednesday. He will lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics as Pope Francis. While his selection may be historic, it may also mean more of the same when it comes to gay rights in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis is… Read more »

Incidents in the Pride Parade in San Rafael

More than 150 people for sexual diversity toured the city center. A Catholic protester was arrested by police when he tried to attack some of the marchers after a verbal exchange. San Rafael lived this afternoon their first march for sexual diversity. It was organized by the Association for Southern Equality (Axis) and for several… Read more »

Argentina: New ID’s for 1,720 transgender individuals since 2012 law; 5,839 same-sex marriages since 2010 law

In 2010 Argentina became the first Latin American nation to adopt a nation-wide marriage equality law. This summer, Argentina continued its bid to become the most LGBT-friendly country in the world when it also passed what some call the most progressive gender identity law in the world. The law requires the public health system to… Read more »

How Argentina is bringing the fight for gay marriage to you

Gay Star News speaks to Esteban Paulón, president of the Argentine LGBT Federation (FALGBT), about how the LGBT rights group is pushing for marriage equality, gay parents’ rights and transgender rights beyond its borders Is same-sex marriage not yet legal in your country? Consider coming to Argentina, where since May 2012, gay couples from abroad… Read more »

In Tucuman, Argentina, Gender Identity Is Now Respected

Resolution Nr 60/14 gives trans persons the right to be treated according to their appearance Celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, trans activists and INADI (National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism) of Argentina presented on May 17th the Administrative Resolution Nr. 60/14 of the Secretary of Justice of Tucuman province about physical… Read more »

Documentary about Argentina’s gay parents and their families begins national tour

Familias Por Igual (The Same Families) will begin a national tour October 1, showcasing footage of five same-sex parents and their families two years after gay marriage was legalized in Argentina A documentary on the legalization of same-sex marriage in Argentina will be shown nationwide starting tomorrow (October 1). Familias Por Igual follows the stories… Read more »

Argentina Officially Recognizes Gay Couple’s Son

Argentina has for the first time officially recognized a gay couple as the parents of a child. Alejandro Grinblat and Carlos Gustavo Dermgerd, who have been together 13 years, are reported as being the first gay couple in Latin America to be legally recognized as the fathers of a baby. The couple’s son, Tobias, was… Read more »

Argentina Celebrates Two Years Of Gay Marriage

A law giving gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in Argentina celebrates its second anniversary this week. Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage after President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner signed the law on July 21, 2010. Lawmakers approved the law on July 15 over the strong objections of… Read more »

Argentina Adopts Landmark Legislation in Recognition of Gender Identity

New York – In Argentina, human rights advocates worldwide are celebrating the passage of the most progressive gender identity law in history. The law gives self-identified trans people access to critical services without the need for medical intervention and provides for specific human rights protections. Argentina’s Senate passed the law on May 9th, with 55… Read more »

Argentina makes sex-change surgery a legal right

Argentina –  Adults who want sex-change surgery or hormone therapy in Argentina will be able to get it as part of their public or private health care plans under a gender rights law approved Wednesday. The measure also gives people the right to specify how their gender is listed at the civil registry when their… Read more »

Argentina Leads World in Ground-Breaking Identity Law

Argentina has led the world again in LGBT rights, this time focusing on the transgender community. Yesterday, legislation passed allows a legal change of gender by simply filling out a form. This is a progressive step – To change your gender, most countries require a medical diagnosis, letters from therapists, and often medical intervention. But… Read more »

Little is known about these men who offer sex for money

Mishe in Brazil, Chapero in Spain in Peru Freight, Prepayment in Colombia, New York Muster, taxi boy in Argentina. Many are the names by which they are known, but little is known about these men who offer sex for money. “Creatures of the Night”, a film by Hernan Aguilar, delves into the lives of four… Read more »

Festival kicks off 4th Patagonian Festival of Sexual Diversity

El Bolson (Télam) – Families and young people living in Patagonia, as well as domestic and foreign tourists of all ages took part Thursday in the opening quarter of the Patagonian Festival for Sexual Diversity. The festival, which runs until Saturday morning, the entity was organized by the South Open and sponsored by the National… Read more »

Argentina – Gender Identity Law (English translation)

Gender Identity Law – Buenos Aires, November 30th. Article 1 – Right to gender identity. All persons have the right, a) To the recognition of their gender identity; b) To the free development of their person according to their gender identity; c) To be treated according to their gender identity and, particularly, to be identified… Read more »

Argentine Chamber of Deputies approves Gender Identity Law

Last night, Argentina took one step closer in becoming the first country in Latin America to legally recognize transgender people’s right to their gender identity. During the last regular session of the year, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved the “Gender Identity Law” by a vote of 167-17 (with 7 abstentions). “We can’t believe that… Read more »

Gay Argentina News & Reports 2011

    1 Gay Marriage In A Small Argentine Town 2/11 2 Inauguran Centro de Alfabetización para Trans en Tucuman 2/11 (Literacy Center for Trans People Opens in Tucuman, Argentina) 3 30 noches, 30 camas 2/11 (Documentary Film on Intimacy and Sexual Diversity) 4 Hunger Strike by Trans in the Ezeiza Federal Jail 3/11 5… Read more »

Gay Argentina News & Reports 2008-10

1 Argentine gay couple defies country’s civil union ban, braces for legal battle 1/08 2 Argentine couple seeks recognition of Spanish marriage 2/08 3 Widowed gays win rights in Argentina 8/08 4 Argentina: Ban on gay soldiers is lifted, effective today 2/09 5 TV AD in Argentina 9/09 6 Argentine Congress considers same-sex marriage 10/09… Read more »

Gay Argentina News & Reports 2000-07

1 Buenos Aires Legalizes Same-Sex Unions 12/02 2 Gay ex-priest-turned-model pens life story 4/03 3 Argentina: Gay rights landmark 3/03 4 Buenos Aires softens legal opposition against homosexual couples 7/03 5 Wary of past abuses, Argentine capital approves gay rights 7/03 6 Argentine Gays Legalize Union, 1st in Latin America 7/03 7 Using New Law,… Read more »