Undoing the past: The fight for GLBT rights in Cuba

Castro’s Cuba was less than perfect with regard to the treatment of the queer community. Many queer people were put in labor camps and anti-gay reform programs early on and many, many fled. However like most of the world, things changed over the years with regard to laws, but not as much in terms of mindsets. Raul Castro’s daughter Mariela, who is the head of the National Center for Sex Education is trying to pass legislation that will further support the rights of the GLBT community in Cuba.

She is currently attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what would be among the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America.
The proposed legislation would recognize same-sex unions, along with inheritance rights. It would also give transsexuals the right to free sex-change operations and allow them to switch the gender on their ID cards, with or without surgery.
There are limits: adoption is not included in the bill and neither is the word marriage.

Interesting stuff. Early homophobia and mistreament of the gay community in Cuba was not unique to Cuba. At that point there were not many countries that protected the rights of gay citizens. In fact there are many states in the United States where sodomy is still illegal, lest we forget.
via BBC.
Thanks to Candice for the link.