Today, June 28, LGBT+ Pride Day is celebrated, a date of great relevance both internationally and locally. In Santa Cruz, the Provincial Government, through the Ministry of Social Development, Equality and Integration, reaffirms its commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of the community through inclusive public policies and a dedicated professional technical team.
The Social portfolio continues to deepen initiatives to accompany and protect the rights of LGBT+ people, these public policies in addition to including awareness programs, psychological support, legal advice, educational activities to promote equality and respect for diversity; includes all support in emergency and critical situations. “It is essential that as a government we work to guarantee that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, live in a society free of discrimination and with equal opportunities. Our technical team since we merged the ministries of development and the equality, is working on serious projects that are related to generating possibilities of progress for the economic inclusion of the people of this community,” highlighted Minister Jazmín Macchiavelli.
International History of Pride Day
June 28 is an iconic date that commemorates the Stonewall riots that took place in New York in 1969. In the early hours of that morning, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a bar frequented by the gay community, sparked a series of protests and clashes that lasted for several days. These events marked the beginning of the modern LGBT+ rights movement worldwide, giving rise to the first Pride marches and establishing a crucial precedent for the fight for equality.
Pride in Argentina
In Argentina, the first Pride march was held on July 2, 1992 in Buenos Aires, with the participation of approximately 300 people. Since then, the LGBT+ movement in the country has made significant progress. In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, followed in 2012 by the approval of the Gender Identity Law, one of the most progressive in the world.
Celebrations and Engagement in Santa Cruz
In Santa Cruz, Pride Day celebrations have been gaining strength. Cities such as Río Gallegos and Caleta Olivia have begun to organize their own Pride marches, promoting a space for visibility and demand. Through various local organizations and activism groups, cultural and educational activities are carried out, such as talks, film debates and art exhibitions, which seek to raise awareness among the population and promote respect for diversity.
The Provincial Government, aware of the importance of these celebrations, has implemented public policies that include support for these activities and the establishment of diversity offices in several municipalities. These offices work closely with LGBT+ organizations to ensure the implementation of programs that promote equality and combat discrimination.
An Inclusive Future
Pride Day in Santa Cruz not only celebrates the achievements, but also reaffirms the commitment to continue building a more just and inclusive society, through the joint work of the Provincial Government, the Ministry of Social Development, Equality and Integration, and community organizations, Santa Cruz advances in adding productive possibilities for the progress of all people; with work, with dignity, with respect and full equality of rights. Today’s celebration is a reminder of the importance of visibility and claiming rights, and an opportunity to reflect on the challenges that still persist in the fight for equality.
