Move Sparks Backlash as LGBTQ+ Groups Condemn Rollback of Gender Identity Rights and Accuse Government of Discrimination
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — President Javier Milei has signed a decree banning gender-affirming care for individuals under 18, a move that has sparked backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and human rights groups.
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni confirmed the decision on Wednesday, stating that the decree repeals a provision in Argentina’s 2012 Gender Identity Law that previously allowed minors to access hormone therapy and other gender-affirming treatments with parental or guardian consent.
The government justified the ban by labeling gender-affirming care for minors as a form of “child abuse.” A statement from Milei’s administration argued that
“children do not have the cognitive maturity to make decisions about irreversible processes”
and claimed that gender ideology, when applied to children, constitutes “psychological coercion.”
Backlash from LGBTQ+ Groups and Human Rights Organizations
The announcement comes just days after massive protests by LGBTQ+ activists, who gathered across Argentina to condemn Milei’s recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. During the event, the far-right president criticized “wokeism” and feminism and made inflammatory remarks, referring to homosexuals as “pedophiles.”
Human rights organizations and LGBTQ+ advocates have denounced the new policy as a severe rollback of transgender rights in Argentina, a country that has long been considered a leader in LGBTQ+ protections in Latin America. The 2012 Gender Identity Law was widely praised for granting individuals the right to self-identify their gender and access medical care without legal or bureaucratic obstacles.
“This is a devastating attack on trans youth,”
said a spokesperson for an Argentine LGBTQ+ rights group.
“It denies them access to vital healthcare and reinforces harmful stereotypes that put them at greater risk of discrimination and violence.”
Support from Conservative and Religious Groups
While the move has been met with outrage from progressive groups, it has been welcomed by conservative and religious organizations, who argue that gender-affirming treatments for minors should be restricted. Supporters of the ban claim that such procedures are irreversible and should only be considered once an individual reaches adulthood.
“Milei is standing up against dangerous gender ideology,”
said a conservative lawmaker who backed the decree.
“Children should not be making life-altering medical decisions under the influence of activists.”
The ban is expected to face legal challenges from LGBTQ+ organizations and human rights lawyers, who argue that it violates international human rights agreements and Argentina’s own legal protections for gender identity. Advocacy groups have vowed to fight the decree in court and continue mobilizing protests.
Meanwhile, healthcare professionals warn that the ban could push transgender youth toward unsafe, unregulated alternatives, exacerbating mental health issues and increasing the risk of suicide.
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