Argentina: Progressive in LGBTQ Rights
I learned some things about Argentina this week that are pretty cool and pretty surprising.
- Rosario is a huge city.
- Winter here means 80 degrees and 87% humidity.
- There are ice cream stores all around my temporary apartment.
- And crema is the best thing that could ever be added to pasta. Ever.
Aside from the usual culture shock and assimilation into another culture, I discovered how progressive Argentina is in terms of LGBTQ Rights. I mean, Argentina is really kicking ass here.
Here are some pretty cool things that Argentina has done for LGBTQ Rights:
Two years ago it was the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage
- Gay couples have the same marital rights, adoption rights, and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples.
Buenos Aires and Rosario are two of the LGBTQ friendliest cities in South America
- They each have a lot of safe spaces for LGBTQ communities including lots of clubs, restaurants, and even hotels.
In Buenos Aires on May 3rd, 2012 the Gender Rights Law was passed:
- This law allows transgender individuals to change their name and gender in public records legally WITHOUT going to court
- It also prohibits private and public health care companies from denying transgender individuals coverage of sex-change surgeries or hormone therapy.
- It states that sex-change surgery is a legal right
In 2010, the President of Argentina (a woman, btw) waged a war with the Roman Catholic Church about gay marital rights, a bold move that many wouldn’t have bothered to fight for.
These kind of rights are HUGE. Especially in a country that is so torn over religion. Argentina is really doing great things and is on the right track in terms of rights for LGBTQ communities.
They really put our homophobic law makers to shame.
(via pauliporcupine)

