Argentina: Gay couple attacked by group in the name of Pope Francis

A gay couple was reportedly assaulted by a group of people in the Argentine city of San Isidro last Saturday, with the attackers allegedly defending their actions due to the nationality of the new Pope.

A translation of diarioregistrado.com indicates the victims were told that being gay is a “sin” and since there is now an Argentine Pope, gay people should not be present in Argentina.

The incident took place at a private party, with around 200 people attending – it was sparked after one of the victims kissed his male partner.

Before being physically assaulted, one of the victims was told: “Homosexuality is a sin, and now that the Pope is all Argentines (sic), you are a disgrace to Argentina.”

The pair were also told that the party was taking place in a “Catholic home”.

76-year-old Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on 13 March 2013.

Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis has a hostile view on gay rights and in the past described same-sex marriage and gay couples adopting children as a “destructive attack on God’s plan.”

Pope Francis also privately stood up for civil unions in Argentina in 2010, in a bid to stop the country from legalising equal marriage.

In 2010, Argentina’s Senate voted 33-27 to support a bill to legalise equal marriage. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner backed the legislation, making Argentina the first Latin American country to allow same-sex marriage, and full adoption.

• Nov 29 2023

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