Cuba’s struggle against homophobia

Photo by Misa Shikuma. Participants in lesbian and allies meeting in Santa Clara, Cuba.

Author: Cindy Domingo, Cuban and the Bolivarian Alliance Issue Committee

Gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Cubans have been actively organizing for their human rights under the leadership of Mariela Castro, executive director of the National Center for Sexual Education (Cenesex) and the daughter of President Raul Castro.  Last month, WILPF Cuban and the Bolivarian Alliance Issue Committee members, Cindy Domingo and Judith Vazquez, co-organized a ground breaking meeting with representatives of lesbian organizations from six Cuban provinces and US lesbians and women allies.  Together the women discussed a new project, US/Cuba Lesbian and Allies Project, and made plans for future work.

Over the last three years, Cuba has been undergoing dramatic economic and social reforms in response to the world economic crisis and demands of Cuban people to further expand the revolution’s democratic process.  Economic changes have grabbed headlines as small businesses and cooperatives flourish. 

Lesser media attention has been focused on the struggle against racism led by the National Union of Writers and Artists in Cuba (UNEAC) and the struggle against homophobia led by CENESEX.  The US/Cuba Lesbian and Allies Project was formed in an attempt to educate people in the US about the history of the struggle against homophobia in Cuba, to find ways to build people to people ties between the LGBTQ communities in both countries and to exchange experiences and strategies in advancing human rights for the LGBTQ community. 

As part of this work, WILPF’s Cuba and the Bolivarian Alliance is planning a tour of a leading Cuban lesbian from Santiago, Cuba in 2015.  Please contact Cindy Domingo at cindydomingo@gmail.com if you are interested in this tour.