Argentina: Gay Pride Marchers Demand Trans Rights

Thousands of people celebrated Argentina’s 27th LGBTQ Pride March in Buenos Aires. The main focus this year was to demand measures to include transgender, transexual and transvestite people among those benefiting from worker’s rights.

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As a backdrop to the celebrations, Argentina has a law, called the Comprehensive Law on Trans People, or Law 14783 which would guarantee 1% of public administration posts be reserved for people identifying as transgendered, transexual, or transvesite.

Many trans people often have fewer options for work since society tends to discriminate against them at all levels. Many transgendered woman turn to prostitution to earn a living, which can bring a higher risk of HIV infection, drug addiction, and even violent death as a result of their vulnerable positions in society.

The law, also called the Diana Sacayan law after a transgender woman and rights activist who was murdered and whose killer was the first in Argentina to be charged with a hate crime, was introduced in August 2018, but has not been implemented. Marchers are demanding for the law to be applied to protect trans people and provide a better quality of life for them. 

Pride events kicked off early Saturday with a festival in Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo, with musicial artists such as Mimi Maura and Jimena Baron, among others. People then marched to the Plaza de los Dos Congresos.

However, not everyone was happy about the march, and some mischaracterized the focus on the trans law as people asking for special rights above and beyond other people have. This attitude is not surprising in a place where marginalized people become so invisible that some people in that society don't have a clue what it actually does to them.

 More rights? The human rights that we already have aren't enough for you? Or maybe this is just about the conquest for special privileges????