Cuban days against homophobia and transphobia have begun

The National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) launched the 18th edition of the Cuban Days Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Monday. Under the slogan “Love is the law,” the event will run until May 18 in the largest of the Antilles.

During the inauguration of the initiative, CENESEX director Dr. Mariela Castro Espín commented that Cuban LGBTIQ+ activism cannot be disconnected or alienated from the current circumstances of the world, which is why these conferences are dedicated to anti-fascist and anti-imperialist struggles.

She referred to the setbacks occurring in several countries with regard to the rights of women and the LGBTIQ+ community.

“We are living in times of uncertainty very similar to those years when Nazism and fascism were established in Europe. Before, it was only in Europe, and now it is globalized,” she said.

He therefore emphasized that this is the time to highlight the daily struggles related to the defense of rights reflected in national laws, such as the Constitution and the Family Code.

Castro Espín recalled that the slogan of this campaign not only refers to the affection between the LGBTIQ+ movement, but also between all families, and called for the creation of spaces for dialogue to better appropriate knowledge.

What to expect in the coming days?

With this initiative, CENESEX and other state institutions and civil society organizations will carry out academic, educational, community, communication, and artistic activities in all provinces.

These activities include the Cuban Gala Against Homophobia, which will take place on the 8th at the National Theater of Cuba; a Cuban Conga on the 10th; a Community Fair for Family Well-being on the 15th; a lecture by Dr. Mariela Castro on the 16th at the University of Medical Sciences in Holguín; and a Diversity Party on May 17.

The main venues for the event will be Havana and Holguín, with both in-person and virtual activities.

The latter province, with only 53.58% of the total votes cast (539,851) in favor of the approval of the Family Code, was the territory with the lowest levels of acceptance, which is why the organizers consider it necessary to deepen educational work on the effective exercise of the rights of all people.

The celebration of Love is Law does not ignore persistent challenges in Cuban society, such as disagreements over adoption and marriage rights for homosexuals, the treatment of these people in the media, and difficulties in socialization within the family.

For this reason, these conferences will emphasize the right to sexual equality, emotional sexual expression, free sexual association, and free and responsible reproductive decision-making, among others.

They also aim to reflect on family plurality, highlight different forms of discrimination and violence, facilitate scientific and activist exchanges, and raise awareness on issues of political communication and LGBTIQ+ activism.

Source: Cuba en Resumen