Last year, Buenos Aires hosted the first Queer Tango Festival, which drew about 500 people from around the world. Buenos Aires has become a very popular destination for gay travelers. According to Hector Aguilar, an architectural historian who gives lectures for Lugar Gay, "It now rivals Rio as the gay destination in South America."

Augusto Balisano (showing back) and Miguel, a gay couple, dance the tango at La Marshall. Known as "milongas," tango socials are a longstanding part of Argentine culture. La Marshall is the first in Buenos Aires to host a gay milonga. Photo: Ali Burafi

Augusto Balisano (left) tours internationally to teach gay tango. When he's in the capital city, he teaches at Lugar gay, a guesthouse exclusively for men. Photo: Ali Burafi

At La Marshall, women dance with women and some mixed-gender couples can be seen, but the majority of dancers are men with men. Photo: Ali Burafi

The traditional dance is full of gender-specific rituals, like hand placement and nods of the head -- known as "el arte de cabeceo" or, "the art of the nod." Gay and queer couples are re-inventing. Photo: Ali Burafi