Thousands of people marched through central Buenos Aires on Saturday (November 7) in the city's 35th Pride march, celebrating sexual diversity and demanding rights for the LGBTI+ community a day before Pope Leo XIV's arrival in Argentina. Participants danced and sang in the streets as floats with music advanced, women played drums and marchers held signs, including one calling for the separation of church and state.

Javier Diaz Rey, a theater teacher, said he did not mind that some arrangements were changed because of the Pope's visit, adding that he welcomed the visit and asked for the same respect for the march.

Under the slogan "When hate advances, pride in the streets is resistance," organizers demanded a comprehensive trans law, new anti-discrimination legislation and a sexual health emergency declaration, according to local media outlet EFE. This year's march also followed an attack on trans sex workers that shocked Argentine society, according to the agency.

The Buenos Aires city government had initially banned public events between November 6 and 13 because of the logistics and security for the papal visit. City authorities, headed by Mayor Jorge Macri, proposed moving the march to November 21, but organizers rejected the change. Both sides agreed to keep November 7 and adapt the route.

The Pope will visit Argentina from November 8 to 11. Argentina has held its Pride march on the first Saturday of November since 1997.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (NOVEMBER 7, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PEOPLE TAKING TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE PRIDE DAY IN ARGENTINA

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PLAYING DRUMS

3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TAKING TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE PRIDE DAY IN ARGENTINA

4. PEOPLE STANDING IN MOVING FLOAT DURING CELEBRATIONS

5. PEOPLE HOLDING UP SIGNS DURING MARCH

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING AND SINGING DURING CELEBRATIONS

7. PEOPLE STANDING IN MOVING FLOAT DURING CELEBRATIONS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MARCH PARTICIPANT, SOFIA SOFISIS, SAYING:

"I think that in this country and all over the world, free hate speech is becoming fashionable. Violence against anyone who is different is being justified, and suddenly it's cool again to take away rights and go after people who aren't doing any harm to anyone. I'm a lesbian, I'm proud to be a lesbian, and I believe I deserve the same rights and the same respect as anyone else, no matter who I go to bed with or who I love."

9. PEOPLE MARCHING DURING CELEBRATIONS

10. PEOPLE ON FLOAT DURING CELEBRATIONS

11. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING

12. PEOPLE WALKING UNDER AN ARCH IN THE COLORS OF DIVERSITY

13. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATING ON FLOAT

14. PEOPLE MARCHING DURING CELEBRATIONS

15. SIGNS HELD UP ON FLOAT DURING MARCH

16. PEOPLE CELEBRATING ON FLOAT

17. SIGN READING (Spanish): "CHURCH AND STATE, SEPARATE MATTERS"

18. PEOPLE SINGING DURING MARCH

19. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) THEATER TEACHER, JAVIER DIAZ REY, SAYING:

"It's a global event, and I think it's good that the Pope is coming. As long as our march is respected, we understand the logistics and all of that. Personally, I don't mind that some things were changed for the Pope's visit, because I'm also glad he's coming to Argentina. A lot of people here have faith and love him, so that's respected. I'm doing for the Pope what I'm asking people to do for me."

20. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SINGING AND DANCING

21. SIGN READING (Spanish): "March or die"

22. SIGN READING (Spanish): "The planet can't be hotter than you"

23. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SINGING AND DANCING DURING MARCH