BUENOS AIRES — Argentine President Javier Milei has issued a decree banning gender-affirming medical care for individuals under 18, a move that has sparked criticism from human rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni announced the decision on Wednesday, confirming that the government has repealed a provision of the 2012 Gender Identity Law that previously allowed minors to access gender-affirming treatments with parental or guardian consent.
The announcement comes just days after large-scale protests by LGBTQ+ organizations condemning Milei’s recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
During his address, the president strongly criticized “wokeism” and feminism and made controversial remarks linking homosexuality to pedophilia, drawing backlash both locally and internationally.
In a statement following the decree, Milei’s far-right administration defended the ban, arguing that minors lack the cognitive maturity to make decisions about gender-affirming treatments, which it described as irreversible medical interventions.
“Gender ideology taken to the extreme and applied to children by force or psychological coercion simply constitutes child abuse,” the government stated.
The repeal of the Gender Identity Law provision marks a significant shift in Argentina’s approach to transgender rights.
The 2012 law was considered a landmark piece of legislation that recognized the rights of transgender individuals to self-identify and access gender-affirming healthcare without legal or medical barriers.
With this new policy, Argentina joins a growing list of countries where conservative governments have sought to restrict access to gender-affirming care, particularly for minors.
Critics argue that the decree violates fundamental human rights and could have serious consequences for transgender youth who rely on medical interventions for their well-being.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and legal experts are now considering possible legal challenges against the government’s decision, which they say undermines Argentina’s long-standing commitment to gender equality and inclusivity.