Cuban trans activist says LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and Cuba must unite

The following talk by Verde Gil Jiménez was presented on July 29 at the ICAP (Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples) Friendship House in Havana, Cuba, with the participation of the Venceremos Brigade and LGBTQI+ activists from the U.S., along with members of community networks linked to Cenesex (National Center for Sexual Education), among other guests.

This event was the Cuban launch of the book published in the U.S. by Struggle-La Lucha, “Love is the law: Cuba’s queer rights revolution.” Gil Jiménez is the General Coordinator of Grupo Trans Masculinos de Cuba and a contributor to the book.Transcribed and translated by Gregory E. Williams and edited by Verde Gil Jiménez

We are members of the Trans Male Group of Cuba (Grupo Trans Masculinos de Cuba). It’s always very exciting to see the U.S. and Cuban people unite for social justice. 

I think that, if we talk about some of the limitations or difficulties we’ve encountered with the Family Code, these are more related to cultural and technical barriers that still exist. The Family Code still has great potential to improve the quality, well-being, and happiness of families in Cuba. But this requires changing people’s education and mentality, which happens more slowly than enforcing a law.

I think it’s prudent to point out that my colleague Maité [in the previous intervention] mentioned the approval of more than 3,000 assisted reproduction techniques; however, it’s good to clarify that these are [administrative] approvals, not specific implementation data. This is, evidently, a technological and logistical limitation that our country has [structural deficiencies in the health system], not only with LGBTQI+ people, but with any family or citizen who requires this type of technique. I say this [in response to the questions that were asked] to specifically point out a limitation because, although we already have a revolutionary Code, it has not been able to materialize quickly [nor with all its potential] in the life of Cuban society.

Regarding the question of how the U.S. and Cuban people can unite in these struggles for social justice and activism, I think it’s very important to share our experiences, especially from a more holistic perspective, which allows us to gain awareness of all the forms of oppression that impact us.

I wanted to thank the solidarity of the groups that have come to this space to listen, to learn, and also to give us some donations to the LGBTQI+ community, which are a great help to us, because the U.S. blockade also affects our populations’ access to these types of products, which are important for our gender affirmation.

I also wanted to point out that we, as activists, are also greatly influenced by the U.S. imperialist persecution of Cuba, of the Cuban government. They often deny us aid, refuse to listen to us and refuse to include us in spaces for dialogue within international activism, simply because we’re in Cuba. They judge the politics of the Revolution.* It’s important for people in the U.S. to know that we also live our activism under this constant blockade. It’s something we’re also fighting against.

Larian adds an example : We have occasionally tried to participate in online debates using platforms like Zoom, but have been unable to do so because they are blocked in our country.

We are incredibly grateful that these spaces for counter-hegemonic dialogue exist and hope they continue to be sustained over time. It’s important for us to be aware of how much an exchange like this can transform the culture of the societies in which we live.

Larian adds in closing : It is the way we have to change the dominant system. 

* There is a tendency to favor LGBTQI+ activist projects that openly oppose the Cuban government and socialism. Some international organizations are even prohibited from providing funding to activist groups that are in any way linked to Cuban institutions, under the pretext that Cuba is included on the (false) list of state sponsors of terrorism.