Milei’s economy is supported by many Argentineans. More polarizing is his attack on diversity

Carlos Kambourian, a homosexual doctor from Argentina, identified as a supporter of the libertarian economic changes proposed by President Javier Milei. That is, until last month, when the vocal right-wing politician seemed to link sexual assault and homosexuality in a speech.

Economist and former media commentator Milei has won a stunning election in 2023 and has been widely praised by investors and analysts for his harsh economic policies that have boosted markets, reduced triple-digit inflation, and helped reverse a significant budget deficit.

However, in a nation that has set the pace for liberal changes in the region, his fervently conservative social ideas are becoming increasingly polarizing. He is anti-feminist, anti-abortion, and has blasted the “woke agenda”—a phrase used by conservatives to denigrate progressive programs but referring to an emphasis on racial and social justice.

He mentioned a case of a lesbian couple in the United States who were imprisoned for mistreating their adopted children at a speech in Davos, stating that “gender ideology, in its most extreme forms, is child abuse, plain and simple.” They are sexual predators.

Conservative organizations frequently utilize the nebulous phrase “gender ideology” to describe concepts that support unconventional perspectives on sex and gender. The word is seen by rights advocates as demeaning and a cliche that is anti-LGBTQ and anti-feminist.

This month, hundreds of people marched against Milei in Argentina in response to his remarks. Even while they give him credit for stabilizing the struggling economy, polls reveal that many Argentines disagree with his social ideas.

“If someone accuses me of being a pedophile because I fell in love with a man, I cannot stand by them. Kambourian, who participated in a large-scale demonstration against Milei’s remarks on February 1, declared, “I cannot stand that.”

A new “equality before the law” initiative that would eliminate “femicide”—murder made worse by the victim’s gender—from the penal code and delete non-binary identities from records is being pushed by the administration and is anticipated to be presented to Congress next month.

Even though Milei has been the target of intense anti-austerity demonstrations, statistics from the local pollster Opina Argentina and the consulting firm Analogias indicate that slightly more than half of Argentineans support Milei in general and his economic management.

Opina claims that just 40% of people agree with his views on homosexuality, compared to 50% who disagree, and that 51% of people opposed the proposal to remove femicide from the criminal code, while 43% supported it. Only 44% of persons who opened a new tab supported the recent march at the same time.

Milei, a strong ideological ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, contends that gender-specific legislation and quotas distort his support for freedom and equality. The office of the president declined to respond.

However, Patricia Bullrich, Milei’s Minister of Security, told Reuters in a recent interview that the president’s remarks had been misunderstood.

“For our government and for the president, the private life of people is a decision for each individual, everyone can have the sexual choice they want,” she stated. “The president did not say that he was against homosexuals; that was distorted.”

Tests Following Remarks

Thousands of Argentineans participated in “anti-fascist” demonstrations against Milei’s remarks earlier this month in Buenos Aires and other cities. The march drew support from LGBTIQ+ activists, unions, opposition lawmakers, and students.

“We cannot permit the erasure of variety. At the march, 42-year-old teacher Cintia Vignot told Reuters, “It’s very serious that the president is speaking in these terms.” “As a citizen, as a teacher, as a mother, I say no.”

In recent years, Argentina has loosened prohibitions on abortion, enacted laws pertaining to gender identification and equality, and reinforced safeguards against gender-based violence. In the meanwhile, Milei has shut down a number of organizations, such as the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism (INADI) and the Ministry of Women, Genders, and Diversity, in order to save expenses.

The head of the Institute against Discrimination in the Buenos Aires Ombudsman’s Office and president of the Argentine LGBT Federation, María Rachid, stated Milei’s remark had the possibility of inciting actual acts of violence, according to a new report.

“Since Milei’s campaign, even before taking office, we have registered a lot of violence, discrimination and hatred towards our community,” she stated. Naturally, there have been incidents like this previously. They happen more often now.

According to the government, a larger security and anti-crime campaign last year resulted in a 10% decrease in Argentina’s femicide rate. Women’s organizations dispute the assertion, pointing to their own independent statistics that indicates a modest increase in femicides.

Many of the individuals Reuters spoke with on the streets stated that Milei’s administration should concentrate on addressing poverty and the economy rather than undermining freshly acquired rights in the nation.

According to 65-year-old statistician Alberto Nigro, “this government has done some positive macroeconomic things, but I really think on social things; it’s backwards.”

“A president, in my opinion, has other responsibilities. Our priorities are more significant today.