News from Cuba
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:18 am
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)