Cuba, Caribbean

Sexual relations between same-sex consenting adults 16 and over have been legal in Cuba since 1979, although same-sex relationships are not presently recognized by the state. In Cuba, people's organizations and public assembly must be state-approved, and LGBT associations and events were previously not permitted, however, Havana now has a lively and vibrant gay scene. Public antipathy towards LGBT people is high, reflecting regional norms. This has eased somewhat since the 1990s. Educational campaigns on LGBT issues are currently implemented by the National Center for Sex Education, headed by Mariela Castro. Read More. 

 

 

Gay activists in Cuba demand that parliament respect their rights

Just days before Cuba’s second annual Gay Pride march on Sunday, gay rights activists demanded respect from Cuban lawmakers. Cuban gay activists held a kiss-in demonstration and presented a demand for respect to the country’s parliament on Thursday, as they prepared for the upcoming island’s second annual Gay Pride parade. Fifty people — mostly gay… Read more »

Cuba: President’s daughter praises Barack Obama’s support for equal marriage

The daughter of Cuba’s president praised US president Barack Obama yesterday after he came out in support of equal marriage rights for gay couples. in the island nation and niece of Fidel Castro, said she hoped Mr Obama’s announcement, making him the first sitting president of the US to support marriage equality, would have legislative… Read more »

Revolutionizing gender: Mariela Castro MS, director, National Sex Education Center, Cuba. Interview by Gail Reed.

Abstract Medicine, social conditions, culture and politics are inextricably bound as determinants of health and wellbeing. In Cuba, perhaps this is nowhere more evident than in the arduous struggle to consider non-discriminatory analysis of gender-sensitive components as fundamental to population health, medical practice and research; national policy; and above all, public consciousness. Among the standard-bearers… Read more »

The right to health care for transsexual people in Cuba.

Source – National Sex Education Center, Havana, Cuba. aroqueg@infomed.sld.cu Abstract Gender identity is a sociocultural construct based (in nearly every society) on a binary norm: female and male. Transsexual individuals suffer from intense family and social discrimination because they express a dissident sexuality incongruent with this norm. They assert they feel trapped in a body that… Read more »

The U.S. Government Concerned about the LGBT movement in Cuba

Havana will host from 23 to 26 January next the Sixth Congress of Sexology, in its usual venue of the Conference Center, under the slogan “Sex education in the processes of social transformation.” About this event and educational work which for decades has conducted the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), Mariela Castro Espin, director… Read more »

Cuba may legalise same-sex civil unions this year

Cuba’s first daughter, Mariela Castro, said the country’s lawmakers will consider legalising same-sex civil unions this year. Mariela Castor, daughter of President, Raul Castro and the director of the National Sex Education Centre told Cuba Si that the Cuban Justice Minister (Maria Esther Reus) announced that “… it is going to be discussed in the… Read more »

Gay Cuba News & Reports 2010-11

1 Statement On Despathologization Of Transsexualism 1/10 2 Cuba Performing State-Sponsored Sex Change Surgery 1/10 3 Cuba pays for gender reassignment surgery 3/10 4 Cubans Hold First March Against Homophobia 5/10 5 Cuban drag queens take to the stage 5/10 6 Castro takes responsibility for Cuba persecuting gays 9/10 7 Ten Years Fighting HIV/AIDS and… Read more »

Gay Cuba News & Reports 2008-09

also see: Caribbean Anti Violence Project 1 Cuban law may recognise same-sex partners, say officials 1/08 2 Gay marriage? Unrestricted travel? 2/08 3 Castro’s departure brings hope for gay Cubans 2/08 4 Castro champions gay rights in Cuba 3/08 5 It begins Saturday the 17th with a broad public program: Cenesex 5/08 6 Raul Castro’s… Read more »

Gay Cuba News & Reports 2003-07

Also see: Caribbean Anti Violence Project Travel Special for Dec-Jan 2007-08: Queers to Cuba Tour (non-profit educational agency) Click here 1 Cuba Libre? Guess Again! (A Criticism of Travel to Cuba) 1/03 2 Sleeping With the Enemy? Tourism and Gay Cuba’s Changing Face 2/03 3 Gays struggling to find a place in macho Cuba 8/02… Read more »

Gay Cuba News & Reports 1997-2002

Also see: Caribbean Anti Violence Project 1 Havana Boys: Interviews with gay men and a mother 2001 2 Book review: ‘Drag Queens and Macho Men in Cuba’ by Ian Lumsden" 10/97 3 Book Review:  ‘Machos. Maricones, and Gays–Cuba and Homosexuality’ 1/01 4 Whorehouse of the Caribbean (Con) 6/01 5 Gays Wed In Cuba (con) 6/01… Read more »