On July 15, 2010, Argentina made history as the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. The landmark legislation was the result of more than three decades of tireless advocacy by LGBTIQ+ organizations. But beyond the concrete legal rights it guaranteed—such as inheritance, pension benefits, and shared health coverage—the law carried a far deeper significance.
As reported by Agencia Presentes, its true power lay in the message it sent: a formal recognition of equality by the state. Moreover, the LGBTIQ+ community was recognized as a relevant social actor in the nation. That recognition became a crucial tool in the ongoing fight against discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTIQ+ community in Argentina and around the world. Without such a clear and institutional affirmation of equal dignity, medical discrimination would have persisted towards the community.
According to the General Direction for Statistics and Census in Argentina (GCBA), between 2010 and 2024, nearly 700 LGBTIQ+ couples have married thanks to the law.
Compiled From: Maby Sosa, “Matrimonio igualitario en Argentina: 15 años de la ley que fortaleció la democracia”, Agencia Presentes, Jul 12, 2025.