We didn’t expect to find ourselves inside a civil rights protest in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. After a day at the top of Cerro Catedral and enjoying the beauty of Puente Arroyo La Angostura and the Patagonia Brewing Company, I was hankering for some hot chocolate from Rapanui. Exiting the chocolate store, we heard music and the chanting of a crowd from a side street. The next thing we knew, we were in the midst of it.
The protest was orderly and celebrative. According to the Buenos Aires Times, “Protests took place at dozens of cities across the country, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Bariloche, Salta, and Jujuy. The demonstrations on 1 February, 2025 even went international, with rallies in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Mexico City, Cologne, Geneva, London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, among others.”
In Bariloche, the roads had been cleared of traffic for their arrival, and the throngs moved easily through them. It was exhilarating to watch. And I have to say, it was remarkable to witness free speech in action outside of my own country. I also took some video of the event, so I could remember the sounds too. I’ll never forget this serendipitous encounter.
And the sign below spelled out the reason for this civil rights protest. The placard uses graphic language, so if you’re easily offended, you should stop reading here.
“We are LGBT refugees from Russia, and we know a lot about dictatorship. It always starts with some words and verbal hate toward our community. They tell you, “You can do whatever you want, but in your own home.” The next step is imprisonment, torture, and murder. Right now, in our homeland, we’re officially labeled terrorists and extremists without any rights. Is this what Argentine society wants for its sons, daughters, parents, friends, acquaintances, etc.?
But why are we hearing from Milei the same authoritarian crap that Putin has been spewing for many years? We moved to Argentina to live free and safe, not to be told again that we’re lesser people because of our sexuality, that we can’t have civil rights, can’t get married, can’t have a family, that we’re sick. Fuck off to everyone who tries to silence and hide us! Fuck off to Milei and his followers! We won’t go back to the closet!“
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