News from Cuba

[DonnaT]

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7613.html

The head of Cuba's National Centre for Sexual Education, Mariela Castro, has revealed that 30 gender reassignment operations have been approved.

She told AFP "we're getting ready a team of surgeons from Belgium" to perform the procedures.

Gender reassignment surgery has been effectively banned in Cuba since 1988, when the first such procedure caused an outcry.

Ms Castro, who is the daughter of President Raul Castro and niece of former leader Fidel, was speaking ahead of a week-long anti-homophobia festival to be celebrated in six provinces of Cuba and the capital, Havana.

The events, including TV programmes, public debates and other activities, will culminate on IDAHO, the International Day Against Homophobia, on May 17th.

Ms Castro, 45, has said previously that she wants to "enrich the Cuban Revolution" with her fight for equality between the sexes and gay rights.

She has been a strong supporter of legal moves to grant equal rights to all citizens, the first step towards same-sex unions and access to gender reassignment surgery.

(more at link)

[Lydia]

This is indeed good news.

I was in Cuba a couple of years ago, and asked about such things as gay rights. There were two kinds of answers. From persons with any official party links, I was summarily told that there were no "such people" in Cuba. From more average "guy in the street" came loud guffaws, nods, and winks. At least one cabaret-type show included a couple of drag queens.

Something must be changing.

Hugs,

Lydia

[Virginia]

Well, its definitely closer than Thailand, and under the current regime it would appear to be less expensive than having it done here and the airline ticket would be cheaper than flying halfway around the world.



Virginia

[SilverLady(SO)]

Not quite so fast, little missy . . . SL thoroughly enjoys having the Best of Both Worlds!



- SL