Cuba News and Information

Author: Tim Pelzer | People’s Weekly World Newspaper

Cubans are debating a new set of proposals to update the country’s Family Code to include the legal recognition of same-sex relationships and transgender people. Supporters are hoping that the National Assembly will approve the reform package later this year.

Sexologist Mariela Castro Espín, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), told the Mexican daily newspaper La Jornada at a recent conference in Havana that the proposed changes are part of an effort to eliminate all forms of social exclusion.

Cuban law does not currently recognize gay or lesbian couples. According to Castro, the proposals include recognizing same-sex couples and extending to them all the same rights and privileges that opposite-sex couples enjoy, including inheritance and adoption rights. “One cannot continue perpetuating discrimination and exclusion as a value,” she said.

However, Castro emphasized that gay unions would not be called marriages, which under the Cuban constitution is reserved only for men and women. The rights of gay and lesbian people who are not legally registered as a couple would also be recognized, as would those of opposite-sex unregistered couples. Cenesex drafted the reform proposals.

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--------PUBLISHER COMMENTS--------

I suppose any movement in Cuba that calls for debate is good. Too bad it can only be lead by someone in the Castro family but at least Mariela is doing something to force a dialog about something in Cuba.

Maybe she can turn to freeing political prisoners next?

Can “President” Mariela Castro be in the works?

I know. Of all the things to talk about in Cuba and this rises to the top of the “problems” in their society?

Good point.

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