r/InformedTankie • u/Prudent_Bug_1350 • Jan 29 '24

Cuba LGBTQ+ Rights In Cuba

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LGBTQ+ RIGHTS IN CUBA

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Like many other Caribbean and Latin American countries, Cuba's LGBT+ community have faced historical discrimination and homophobia and there is still work to be done to achieve equal rights for all.

Hundreds of years of Spanish colonialism, the influence of the Catholic church, and a culture of machismo helped to entrench homophobic attitudes deep in society which LGBT+ people are still fighting against today. However, in recent years there have been significant steps to rectify the mistakes of the past, to legislate to protect LGBT+ rights in society and try and educate the wider population to end discrimination and homophobia.

Following the decriminalization of same sex relationships in 1979 a number of education initiatives and changes in the law marked the beginning of changes in government and societal attitudes, including the new Family Code passed in September 2022 which legalizes same sex marriage and adoption.

“Supporting LGBT+ Rights and the LGBT+ community in Cuba” - Cuban Solidarity Campaign (2021) [arrow pointing right]

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Central to lobbying, raising awareness and educating against homophobia in the country has been the work of the government funded National Centre for Sexual Education (CENESEX). CENESEX campaigns for sexual equality and LGBT+ rights and is headed by director, Mariela Castro Espin, daughter of feminist revolutionary Vilma Espin.

CENESEX was established by the Ministry of Health in 1988 and has been instrumental in changing legislation and attitudes, including changes to the Family Code in 2022 which recognised same sex marriage and adoption. CENESEX recognises that there is still much work to be done, however huge achievements have been made both in terms of reforming legal structures and challenging cultural norms. These achievements are not only impressive in themselves, but especially so when the regional context of Latin America and the Caribbean is considered which is heavily influenced by generations of ‘machismo’.

“Supporting LGBT+ Rights and the LGBT+ community in Cuba” - Cuban Solidarity Campaign (2021) [arrow pointing right]

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The impact of the blockade and aggressive US policy on the LGBT+ community and all Cubans should never be forgotten or played down. It impacts on all areas of Cuban society, access to healthcare, essential medication and education materials.

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“Supporting LGBT+ Rights and the LGBT+ community in Cuba” - Cuban Solidarity Campaign (2021)

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Timeline of advancing LGBT+ rights in Cuba

  • 1979 Same sex relationships decriminalised
  • 1988 CENESEX established to provide education on sexuality, sexual health and the recognition and guarantee of sexual rights of the population
  • 1993 Strawberry and Chocolate, a ground-breaking film set in 1979, about a young communist man’s relationship with a gay writer – explored tolerance, inclusion and homophobia and marked a watershed in Cuban society
  • 2006 Cuban television begins running a soap opera featuring gay characters for the first time.
  • 2007 Cuba starts celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) with a two week programme of awareness raising, educational, and cultural events
  • 2008 Gender reassignment surgery is made freely available
  • 2012Adela Hernandez is the first known transgender person to be elected to public office, after being elected as a delegate to the municipal government in the province of Villa Clara
  • 2013 The new Labour Code includes anti-discrimination laws based on sexuality in employment for the first time.
  • 2015 IDAHO features the involvement of the CTC (Cuban Workers Federation) for the first time, with a key focus being the creation of workplaces free from stigma and discrimination
  • 2019 A new constitution is passed which expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and deletes the previous definition of marriage as a union between a man and women. Marriage is now defined as a social and legal institution and just one form of family organisation, recognising the right of everyone to found a family; First transgender marriage takes place
  • 2021 The Cuban parliament unanmimously approves the draft of the new Family Code (updateing the 1975 document) in December. The document includes same sex marriage and adoption. CENESEX and the Federation of Cuban Women were part of the commission which drew up the draft document.
  • 2022 Following a referendum and public consulation, on 26 September the Cuban population votes by 67% to approved the new Family Code which includes same sex marriage and adoption, as well as many changes to enshrine women's reporductive rights and more rights for minors and vulnerable groups within sociiety.

“Supporting LGBT+ Rights and the LGBT+ community in Cuba” - Cuban Solidarity Campaign (2021)

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