Cubans march against homophobia in Havana - Soviet-Empire.com U.S.S.R.

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Soviet cogitations: 10769
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53
Ideology: Marxism-Leninism
Philosophized

15 May 2013, 02:25

BBC wrote:
Cubans march against homophobia in Havana

Hundreds of Cubans have staged a protest against homophobia and for gay rights, in the capital, Havana,

The march was led along Havana's central streets by Cuban gay rights campaigner Mariela Castro.

Ms Castro is the head of Cuba's National Sexual Education Centre - an organiser of the march - and daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro.

Before Raul Castro came to power in 2008, no gay rights marches had been allowed in Cuba.

'More inclusive'

Forming a long line and dancing the conga, the marchers wound their way through Havana. Many were carrying rainbow banners and chanting "Homophobia, no! Socialism, yes!".

One marcher, 29-year-old Jesus Rios, told the Associated Press news agency that Cuba "had made great progress over the past years".

"I've noticed it with my father, who has accepted me step by step, and now also with the neighbours and colleagues. I feel more included," he said.

Mr Rios credited Mariela Castro and the work of the National Sexual Education Centre for that change in what he referred to as Cuba's "macho culture".

Ms Castro said she was optimistic that Cuba would eventually legalise gay marriage, but that the hardest part would be overcoming prejudice.

In the 1960s and 70s, gay men and lesbians in Cuba were fired, imprisoned or sent to "re-education camps".

Ms Castro's uncle, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has claimed responsibility for the persecution suffered by homosexuals on the island after the revolution of 1959.

In a 2010 interview he said they had traditionally been discriminated in Cuba, just as black people and women.

There has been a growing acceptance of homosexuality in Latin America, with Uruguay last month becoming the second country after Argentina to legalise gay marriage.

"By what standard of morality can the violence used by a slave to break his chains be considered the same as the violence of a slave master?" - Walter Rodney

Workers Revolution

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Soviet cogitations: 112
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 28 Apr 2013, 20:13
Pioneer

15 May 2013, 03:50

It's nice to see that Cubans are protesting against same-sex discrimination. Hopefully one day, gay marriage will be fully legalized in the country.

Che Burashka

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Soviet cogitations: 3833
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 12 Jun 2006, 02:14
Ideology: Marxism-Leninism
Politburo

17 May 2013, 17:35

I think the french should take notice of this...

"Where Argentina goes, Latin America will go".
Leonid Brezhnev

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Red Rebel

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Soviet cogitations: 10769
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53
Ideology: Marxism-Leninism
Philosophized

18 May 2013, 02:20

Workers Revolution wrote:
Hopefully one day, gay marriage will be fully legalized in the country.

I was going to say that gay marriage is only one piece of the LGBT struggle (at least in the USA the struggle is equal rights for LGBT and straight couples); however, I'm not sure if gay couples have the same rights as straight couples in Cuba. I'll have to look into that in the next couple of days (feel free to beat me to it S-E).

"By what standard of morality can the violence used by a slave to break his chains be considered the same as the violence of a slave master?" - Walter Rodney

LittlePinky

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Soviet cogitations: 1093
Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 06 Mar 2008, 22:11
Party Member

03 Jul 2013, 19:39

I would be interested to see what rights people have in Cuba who are lgbt. It would be interesting to compare to the US who is always touted as "freest nation" and shit. But I'm glad to see people in Cuba who aren't having it since Cuba is religious too (Catholic last time I checked). People can have religion without bigotry and being shitty citizens.