In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize gay marriage. The Senate passed the bill by a narrow margin (33 votes in favor, 27 against, and 3 abstained). Argentina was the tenth country in the world to enact marriage equality.

In La Rioja, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Decree 62/2025 signed by President Javier Milei, in force since February 7, 2025, replaced article 11 of Law No. 26,743 on Gender Identity, with the following:

ARTICLE 11.- Right to free personal development. All persons over EIGHTEEN (18) years of age may, in accordance with article 1 of this law and in order to guarantee the enjoyment of their comprehensive health, access total and partial surgical interventions and/or comprehensive hormonal treatments to adapt their body, including their genitalia, to their self-perceived gender identity, without the need to request judicial or administrative authorization.

To access comprehensive hormonal treatments, it will not be necessary to prove the will in the surgical intervention of total or partial genital reassignment. In both cases, only the informed consent of the person will be required.

The public health system's effectors, whether state, private or part of the social security subsystem, must permanently guarantee the rights recognized by this law.

All health benefits contemplated in this article are included in the Mandatory Medical Plan, or the one that replaces it, as regulated by the implementing authority.

Persons under EIGHTEEN (18) years of age will not be able to access the interventions and treatments referred to in this article.

Law 10,374 of the province of La Rioja, on Guaranteeing and Promoting the Full Validity of the Principle of Equality and Non-discrimination, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.