
Argentine President Javier Milei took the international far-right’s “war on woke” to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week in a fiery speech declaring that LGBTQ+ “gender ideology constitutes plain and simple child abuse. They are pedophiles.”
“The mental virus of woke ideology” is “the great epidemic of our time that must be cured,” Milei said. “This is the cancer we need to get rid of.”
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The attacks on LGBTQ+ people accompanied a restatement of the Argentine president’s longstanding assaults on feminism, immigration, and the fight against climate change.
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Milei wrapped his far-right agenda in language cribbed from his fan and fellow warrior in the fight against “woke”, President Trump.
“It is essential to break these ideological chains if we want to usher in a new golden age,” Milei said, echoing language used in Trump’s inauguration speech.
Argentinian President Javier Milei: "Gender ideology constitutes plain and simple child abuse. They are pedophiles."pic.twitter.com/Mjev7r5ace
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) January 23, 2025
To illustrate what he called a direct link between LGBTQ+ “gender ideology” and its harmful effects, the Argentine leader used the example of a gay couple in Georgia arrested last month for abusing and prostituting their young adopted sons to a pedophile ring. He also falsely claimed that 5-year-old children regularly undergo sex-transition surgeries.
“I want to be clear when I say abuse,” Milei said. “This is no euphemism.”
In response, Argentine Congressman Esteban Paulón, a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist, filed a criminal complaint against the president, arguing Milei employed discourse that promotes negative stereotypes and encourages violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
“Milei radicalizes hate speech based on lies and fabricated truths,” Paulón told the Washington Blade. “He raises harmful stereotypes against the LGBTQ+ community, which generates fear and anguish in our communities. We have filed a criminal complaint, understanding that his statements constitute several crimes aggravated by his presidential investiture.”
Paulón said LGBTQ+ families are living in fear as a result of Milei’s selective and unfounded claims.
“There are fathers and mothers afraid of being denounced for allowing their children to express their gender identity. LGBTQ+ couples fear that their children will be taken away from them,” he said. “This type of discourse activates ultra-conservative groups that politically support Milei, but do not reflect the feelings of the majority of Argentine society.”
Following the speech, LGBTQ+ activists and human rights groups in Argentina have organized a march under the banner, “For a country without hate,” scheduled for February 1 in the country’s capital, Buenos Aires.
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Source: LGBTQ Nation