The 2024 LGBT Pride March in Buenos Aires, Argentina, witnessed a heated defense of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and communism by one participant, who passionately argued that the guerrilla leader was a “revolutionary.”
Influencer Lizard (@lizard__ok) took to TikTok to express his astonishment at the presence of socialist symbols and Che's image at the pride event. He found it contradictory given Guevara's notorious stance against homosexuality and his concept of the “new man.”
“Always present,” declared a young woman waving a red flag emblazoned with Che's black silhouette. Lizard responded, “Did you know Che was totally anti-gay? He despised them.” An older Argentine man replied, “Like all of society.”
Engaging the man further, Lizard asked, “Why carry Che's flag?” The Argentine, admitting his communist beliefs, simply stated, “Because he was a revolutionary.”
The influencer remarked on the seeming contradiction of showcasing Che's likeness at a pride march, given his historical anti-gay views. “If that's the case, you can't talk about Aristotle or anyone. Societies were discriminatory, and leftists were part of and are part of society,” emphasized the Argentine man.
“I am a communist, living in capitalism, and I can't escape it,” he added, stressing that communism cannot be built in just one country but must be an international endeavor.
Despite maintaining respect, Lizard found it paradoxical to defend Che and communism at a pride event. The guerrilla leader was notorious for his homophobia and for imprisoning hundreds of homosexuals in labor camps, while communism, exemplified by its greatest “achievement,” the Soviet Union, persecuted the LGBT community shortly after Stalin rose to power.
The use of Che's image has always sparked controversy. In May, pop icon Madonna paid tribute to Guevara during her historic concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. “Madonna’s show honored the communist terrorist Che Guevara. Note: the audience consisted of thousands of homosexuals, one of the groups most persecuted by the revolutionary in Cuba,” journalist Fernanda Salles remarked on the social media platform X.
Meanwhile, Cuban tattoo artist Anyelo Ametller stirred online debate by declaring he refuses to ink communist symbols, even for thousands of euros, citing moral reasons for his stance.