Going back to what I said in the previous thread, I wanted to discuss the issue of homophobia in Cuba. The regime used to take an anti-Gay stance in accordance with the Stalinist view that homosexuality was a sign of bourgeois decadence, but with the democratic reforms in the 80's, Castro and other leading Cubans changed their minds completely on this issue, or at least so I understand it. So, why did this happen in the first place and how is the Cuban government doing in reducing homophobia?
Personally, I don't believe that he has truly changed his opinion toward gay people; rather, he has only allowed incremental changes in official policy. A couple of years ago, he was roundly denounced by gay groups for angrily shouting the word "mariconzón" (basically means "big faggot") at a couple of radio DJs who pranked him via telephone in Miami one day. Apparently just for good measure, he also felt free to throw in "coño de su madre" (your mother's c's), proving what an awesomely anti-sexist comrade he still is as well. Meanwhile, his niece and her CENESEX ministry (state ministry, ministerio, not religious ministry, just to be clear) are supposedly making inroads in spreading awareness and more humane treatment of gays and transgenders among the government and the locals; however, I remain skeptical. There are still way too many gay men fleeing to Miami and Spain, rotting in jail, and dying of AIDS, for me to believe that the regime is even close to revolutionary on the issue yet.
Well Cuban society was very macho before the revolution and seeing as the revolution was isolated in one country and subjected to an embargo you can see why it's very hard to change the material conditions which lead to homophobia. Another side of the coin is from a speech I went to recently in London on LGBT liberation and trade unionism, where a speaker who had been to to Cuba stood up and said how he had visited a small town, and the person who was putting them up was openly gay, and how these were able to walk around openly as partners, and go to a local restaurant which had a whole section for gay and lesbian couples, where they then got up and danced with everybody else, and did't recieve any aggression or coldness from anyone but were treated with great friendliness. The speaker then said how in is country (Britain) this is unthinkable in a small town. And also how it's pretty hard to come out in the blue collar unions in Britain just like in Cuba. Not to deny there is homophobia in Cuba but just to add to people's views on the issue.
http://www.revleft.com/vb/fidel-cast...72#post1256072
I think that is needed to be said that the strugle from the state to abolish any kind of descrimination is very intense. About sexuality, there's a center http://www.cenesex.sld.cu/ which was created to deal with this issue. I think that Raúl's son is in charge or is one of the people in charge. This said, it's important to remember, that in Cuba, although people don't mess with a homosexual, there's a diference, between being gay, and going around like it's gay pride parade, everyday. And about this it's still hard for some people to digest... But there's no persecutions, no violence. (not now, at least.)
Also, sex change operations are done by the state at no extra charge, which is something new.
one should consider that the state was in need of soviet support and would have probably followed thru on soviet policy as the cuban society was transitioning to socialism...as for the big faggot comment...lots of people get called fag without homophobic connotations so why dont you bunch of faggots stop critivisizing one of the last leaders who stands in solidarity with the workers besides hugo chavez or go post on the libertarian partys forum
