Cuba: International Day Against Homophobia

Reprinted from the People’s Weekly World, “World Notes” May 24-30, 2008. www.pww.org.

Spain’s La Vanguardia newspaper recently interviewed Mariela Castro, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education. Anticipating change, Castro believes that gay people’s rights will be protected under Cuba’s Family Code and will evolve through an educational and media strategy assisted by the Communist Party. A “legal union” formula will eventually guarantee the rights of homosexual couples.

All societies are patriarchal, Castro suggests, but violence against women has waned as women’s rights advanced under Cuba’s revolution. She envisions a future of reduced prohibitions, easy departures from Cuba, and expanded citizen participation in decision making. That’s the “principal objective of socialism,” she says: “the emancipation of human beings; their well being with fairness and social justice.” To view the entire interview with Mariela Castro, go to www.walterlippmann.com/docs1800.html.

In related development, Cuba’s gay community celebrated unprecedented openness with a government-backed campaign against homophobia on May 17. The meeting at a convention center in Havana’s Vedado district may have been the largest gathering of openly gay activists ever on the island nation.

“This is a very important moment for us, the men and women of Cuba, because for the first time, we can gather in this way and speak profoundly and with scientific basis about these topics,” said Mariela Castro.

Castro joined government leaders and hundreds of activists at the one-day conference for International Day Against Homophobia that featured shows, lectures, panel discussions and book presentations. A station also offered blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

**Wonderful essays on Cuba can be found in Leslie Feinberg’s writing. Essays are numbers 86-100 and can be found by clicking on our side bar. Go to Blog Friends scroll down to “Lavender & Red and give a click.