[View the story "Gay Argentines react to Pope Francis" on Storify ]Gay Argentines react to Pope Francis LGBT community shares mixture of optimism and scepticism as first Latin American leads Catholic Church. Storified by The Stream · Thu, Mar 14 2013 14:00:53
Let's not be naive: This is not a simple political fight; it is a destructive proposal to God's plan. This is not a mere legislative proposal (that's just it's form), but a move by the father of lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God… Let's look to St. Joseph, Mary, and the Child to ask fervently that they defend the Argentine family in this moment… May they support, defend, and accompany us in this war of God.buzzfeed.com
Many expressed their frustration with the Vatican's pick for pope. Using the trending hashtag #LosArgentinosDominamosElMundo, or "Argentines dominate the world," the head of Argentina's LGBT Federation Esteban Paulon, wrote:
@epaulpnlgbt: #ArgentinesDominateTheWorld because we export equality and rights everywhere. As for #Bergoglio we apologise sincerely.
#LosArgentinosDominamosElMundo porque exportamos igualdad y derechos a todas partes. Por lo de #Bergoglio les pedimos disculpas sincerasEsteban Paulon
Others, however, argued for more dialogue between gay rights leaders and the Catholic church. LGBT rights activist Jose Maria Di Bello, who
made history when he and his partner Alex Freyre became the first same-sex couple to marry in Latin America, tweeted his thoughts on the new pope.
@josedibello: I have mixed emotions, a Latin American pope, Argentine pride but this man was the one who prevented my marriage in the capital, it was because of him that I had to go to Ushuaia to get married, it was he who called [gay marriage] the "war of God", for now I only have reason to criticise him, but in the end he is Argentine, we should on the other hand engage in dialogue with him, millions of LGBT brothers in the world need a church that's inclusive and egalitarian...
Tengo emociones cruzadas, un Papa latinoamericano,argentino,orgullo, xo ese hombre fue el q freno mi matrimonio en capital x el q me tuve...José María Di Bello
...q ir a Ushuaia a casarme, él q llamo a la "guerra de Dios", por momento ganas solamente de criticar, pero es justamente un argentino...José María Di Bello
...debemos por el contrario lograr dialogar con él, millones de hermanos LGBT en el mundo necesitan una iglesia + inclusiva e igualitaria...José María Di Bello
...millions of our LGBT brothers are victims of hate and violence and have been killed and this has also been heightened by the church [...] I now feel that an Argentine who's in a position such as his will have the opportunity to make a big difference, and [...] it's now time for dialogue.
...millones de hermanos LGBT son victimas de odio y violencia q mata y q ha sido también alimentado por la iglesia, x eso ahora siento...José María Di Bello
..q un argentino esta en el lugar en el q podría hacer la gran diferencia,eso me hace pensar,mas allá d las diferencias es hora d dialogar..José María Di Bello
So, as the first Latin American Equal Marriage, we ask the first Latin American pope for an audience
Por eso, como 1er Matrimonio Igualitario Latinoamericano le solicitamos audiencia al 1er Papa Latinoamericano @Pontifex_es @PontifexJosé María Di Bello
Bello's partner added the following:
@AlexFreyre: Hopefully Francis will renovate the church and enable it to return to a path of spirituality. Soon we'll see for sure, with an Argentine leading a powerful world organisation and I hope this will take us to a better place, for the benefit of all.
ojalá q sí, q sea cierto, q Francisco 1 le dé a la iglesia una renovación que le haga retomar la senda de la espiritualidad. pronto sabremosAlex Freyre
en definitiva, un argentino liderará una organización mundialmente poderosa y espero que la lleve a un lugar mejor, por el bien de todxs.Alex Freyre
While the couple tweeted their optimism, some remained cynical about the potential for change from the church's top leadership.
@pablitofracchia: Now, if you really think that the pope is going to be on your side and can intercede so that the church stops attacking LGBT people, you need therapy.
Ahora, si realmente crees q el Papa va a recibirte y podes interceder para q la Iglesia Catolica frene el ataque LGBT, necesitas terapia.Pablo Fracchia
