Thursday, 11 August 2011

• First Gay & Transgender Marriage Coming Out of Cuba

  
  A loving couple simply known as Wendy and Ignacio have made headlines across the world upon announcing their future marriage in Cuba, which has a ban on same-sex unions. In 2007, Wendy underwent surgery and her transformation into a woman came to fruition. Before June of 2008, it was illegal to have sex reassignment surgery in Cuba, so she must have done it in the underground or out of country.

  This pairing won't be denied because Wendy was legally registered as a woman after the sexual reassignment, thus making it a union between a man and a woman; championed in Cuba since the pre-revolutionary period. After the revolution in 1959, an era of machismo overtook Cuba. Homosexuality was criminal and supposedly a product of Capitalism. Men and women were incarcerated or forced to work in labor camps if any sign of homosexuality became apparent, all without any form of trial. Christian dogma also played a large role in these sentiments.

  Since the 1980's however, the LGBT community has gained a great deal of acceptance including a quote from Fidel Castro himself which stated, "(homosexuality is a) natural aspect and tendency of human beings." Further writings like the fictional titles and autobiography of Reinaldo Arenas along with films produced by the government-run film industry helped to cement the LGBT "revolution" which was taking place in Cuba.

  Although the government has been shady on the issue, public acceptance has grown tremendously, and things such as the legalization of free sex reassignment surgery have paved the way for more progress. Fidel Castro has since taken responsibility for the persecution of homosexuals in Cuba following the revolution.

  Here we have a wonderful news story which should put some heat on President Raul Castro to follow through with his promises of structural and conceptional changes. Along with the legalization of gay marriage in New York, it's always great to see the growing acceptance and changes to draconian laws in other countries.

  I sincerely wish them the best, and although it's simply one case, sometimes that's all it takes to make a change with the media attention it's receiving.

  What's your take on the state of the LGBT community across the globe?

  Sincerely,
  Nunez Love Doctor

  Certified with a PhD in Cuban Revolutionary Homophobes & Positivity.

  • 3:30 PM
  • 1197 Views
  • 10 eProps
  • 6 Comments