There isn’t a single place on Earth that’s a hundred percent free of homophobia. If there is, please tell us so we can move there. Joking aside, for the most part, Argentina is a relatively safe haven for gay, lesbian, and transgender people. As of this post, neither my spouse nor I have encountered any type of homophobic discrimination.
Cultural Perspective
Physical appearance (style of clothing, hairstyle), financial, and social standing are what defines most people in the United States. Argentine society isn’t guided by any of these categories. People here tend to respect your differences and leave you alone even if you're holding hands with someone of the same sex or you're wearing a rainbow bracelet. There might be a couple of glances or a cackling here and there, but nothing too alarming.
How Businesses Treat Gays
Unfortunately, you won't find stores with the rainbow flag on the doors or windows, which is a sign that the store is gay owned or gay friendly, like in the States. But it doesn't mean that you'll find yourself being mistreated either. My spouse and I have not encountered a lot of homophobia while visiting shopping centers, supermarkets, video stores, or government establishments. They acknowledged our homosexuality and remained quite friendly for the most part.
Immigration
My spouse and I have had to visit the immigration building in Cordoba City a few times in order to get his residency paperwork going. Never once did we hesitate to point out that we had gotten married back in New York, and we never got any indication that the immigration staff was condescending.
Misunderstanding
If you run across a nasty store owner or supermarket attendee, it’s most likely the result of them being rude or disgruntled and not necessarily because you’re gay. It may also be the result of a misunderstanding or language barrier. Argentines are quite bipolar in their behavior. One minute they're friendly and the next they're turning on you.
Gay Rights in Argentina
President Kirchner legalized gay marriages, and passed a handful of laws that protect gay, lesbian and transgender people from violence and discrimination in Argentina.
Conservative Views
You’re bound to run into people who are homophobic. Older Argentinians (those born in the 1940s) tend to cling to their old ways. The same goes with overly religious fanatics. Unfortunately, these types of people are everywhere in the world.
Gay Bars
There are gay bars in Cordoba City. I haven't gone to one as of this post mainly because I never really liked the scene. However, a Google search told me that they have a few and even more in the capital of Buenos Aires (La CABA). On the other hand, gays and lesbians congregate openly and I have not seen anyone take issue with this whether they are at a plaza, a restaurant or a shopping center.
Conclusion
For the most part, we've found that Argentinians are quite accepting. So I encourage anyone, gay or straight, to move down here to live a less stressful life, mostly free of judgment. You won’t regret it especially if you live in a country where being gay is a death sentence.
(UPDATE: 08-27-2020: In light of a hate crime in 2020, I interviewed a local member of the LGBT community named Maxi Tassi so he could give us his perspective of what gay people face in Argentina. Click here to read it.)
(Update 2017: There are some people who will make whistling noises that are similar to bird calls. My spouse and I have had employees at certain privately owned supermarkets, and owners of newspaper kiosks on the streets, whistle in this manner. We're told that this is the way some homophobes react when someone that's gay approaches them.)
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