The deputy Sergio Palazzo of Union for the Homeland He contributed to bringing a dose of humor to the legislative chamber when delivering his speech. In his presentation, upon being interrupted consecutively by different colleagues from the ruling bloc, the legislator addressed the president of the Chamber of Deputies and asked him: Can you tell the therians who perceive themselves as lions to shut up a little if you’re so kind?
Faced with the surprising request, the owner Martin Menem He smiled and the lower house burst into applause. A humorous condiment, of which the parliamentarian born in Mendoza and host Banking Association He was categorically recognized by his peers, congratulating him with laughter and clapping for the occurrence.
The term “therian” —derived from “therianthropy”— designates people who claim to experience a deep identification, partial or total, with one or more non-human animals, not in a biological sense but on a psychological, spiritual or identity level. Various academic research and journalistic articles agree that it is a subjective experience in which the individual feels that his “self” includes animal traits, which he calls “theriotype”, and which can correspond to both current and extinct species.
Although the phenomenon has recently become visible on social media — especially through viral videos on platforms like TikTok — its modern origin dates back to the 1990s, when communities on internet forums, such as Usenet groups linked to werewolf culture, began using the term to describe themselves. However, the idea of mixing or identifying between humans and animals is much older: it appears in mythologies, religions and artistic expressions dating back thousands of years, from figures such as werewolves to hybrid representations in cave paintings.
The characteristics of those who identify as therians vary. Some describe their experience as spiritual or linked to reincarnation beliefs; others interpret it in psychological terms, as a form of self-perception. In certain cases, this identity is expressed through behaviors that imitate animals—such as moving on all fours or wearing masks—although not all members of the community adopt these practices.
In recent years, the phenomenon has gained notoriety in Latin America, particularly in the country, where meetings in public spaces and the circulation of digital content have placed it on the media agenda. This visibility also generated controversies, from readings that interpret it as a legitimate expression of identity to criticism that considers it a fashion amplified by social networks.
On the other hand, but almost in parallel and within the political sphere, the figure of the lion has been adopted as a symbol by the president’s followers. Javier Milei. Of course, unlike the therian phenomenon, this use does not imply a personal identification with an animal, but rather a symbolic construction: the lion functions as an emblem of strength, leadership and confrontation with the “status quo.”
The president himself has been nicknamed “the lion” by his supporters, who replicate the image on flags, social networks and political events as part of a collective identity and political communication strategy. An aspect that the opposition takes advantage of for the occasional joke.
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