Cuba Considers Sweeping Gay Rights Bill

[WillParkinson]

(Havana) Cuban lawmakers will vote in June on a bill that would make the country one of the world's most progressive in LGBT civil rights.

The draft legislation would make it illegal to discriminate in jobs and housing against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transpeople. It would recognize same-sex domestic partnerships, although not grant marriage or adoption rights, and it would allow transsexuals to have identity cards showing their true sex. In addition the bill would require the government health service to pay for sex reassignment surgery.

The measure has been championed by Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuban president Raul Castro. She heads the government-funded National Centre for Sex Education and has been a longtime LGBT rights advocate.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/03/032708cuba.htm

[Beregond2]

1. Cuba

Such terrible oppresion...how DO they bear it?

[Billy Burnett]

2. I think you forgot the sarcasm smiley.

Yes, Cubans do have to bear the oppression of high quality universal health care and universal education programs, and now this. They don't want any of this. Castro forces it on them.

:sarcasm:

[bjorkfan]

5. But the Mexicans prefer to come to the U.S.

[cozmos]

3. There is still oppression

Over the past few weeks, the Cuban police have been actively separating people who gather in along the Malecon, especially in the gay section and around the Yara Theater, another particularly gay hangout spot. When Cubans are seen with foreigners they are often assumed to be prostitutes and are arrested. Also, the owner of a cabargay (read: gay cabaret) was arrested a few weeks ago so only a dozen or so showed up at the Drag show Paladares the following week (March 16th). How do I know this? I was at that Paladares on March 16th.

So, in response to your sarcasm about the oppression regarding gay people - things are improving there and in some ways are jumping past most of the USA. Unfortunately, some things have not improved much in the past few years and it is still a very uncertain life to live. The community is active and thriving, but that does not mean that they don't still have a long way to go.

[Mika]

4. Just like the USA, but more progressive.

Believe me, there are bigoted cops in counties all around the US bust up people who gather, suspecting that they're gay prostitutes.

As you pointed out, things are improving ever so slowly, both here in the US and in Cuba. Cuba is more progressive, legally speaking.


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