The drag queen son of Argentina’s new President-elect was among the hundreds of thousands who took part in Buenos Aires Pride on Saturday.
Argentina held elections last week and a coalition led by Alberto Fernàndez took power. He will be sworn in on December, 10th. Fernàndez has spoken in support of LGBTI rights and has also praised his 24-year-old son, Estanislao Fernàndez, who is a drag queen and cos-player with a large social media following.
Related: Gay Buenos Aires: Heart Beat of Latin America
Estanislao rode upon one of the 30 floats at the Pride festival – the Marcha de Orgullo – and posted a message to his Instagram. Translated from Spanish to English, it read: “Today we send a message of love and acceptance from Buenos Aires to the world.
“The most important day of the year arrived, the one in which we remember with affection and pride all those who fell so that we can be free and happy.
“It’s also a day to celebrate and celebrate being proud of being who we are but also a day of claims, we have advanced a lot as a society and we are on a very good path, but until discrimination, violence, hatred and impunity against us cease to exist, the claims continue.”
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This was the 28th Buenos Aires Pride parade. When the first one took place back in 1992, only about 300 people took part. It’s come a long way since then, and organizers of Saturday’s event estimated around 300,000 took to the streets – including plenty of international visitors.
“The city’s open-mindedness and cosmopolitan culture, together with Argentina’s pioneering equal marriage and gender identity laws have established Buenos Aires as a top destination city,” Marcelo Costa, of tourism group Grupo GEA Argentina, told Gay Cities.
The crowds assembled in Plaza de Mayo – the city’s iconic square, overlooked by the iconic, pink-hued Casa Rosada building. They then set off alongside floats down the grand Avenida de Mayo towards the National Congress.
Argentina boasts progressive LGBTQ rights. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the South American country since 1887, it’s recognized same-sex marriage since 2010 and it’s one of the best countries in the world in regards to trans rights.
However, advocates say more can still be done, with some marchers carrying banners demanding more inclusive LGBTQ education in schools, abortion rights, and an end to hate crimes.
Many in the LGBTQ community have welcomed the new government, and its new President tweeted a message of support for Pride on Saturday.
“We are going to build an Argentina with more rights, in which love and equality reign. We are going to build an Argentina for everyone, everyone, and everyone.”
Check out more images of Buenos Aires Pride below.
