Cuban educator: "Gay rights strengthen Cuban revolution"

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Militant   Vol. 67/No. 34           October 6, 2003


?Gay rights strengthen Cuban Revolution?
Director of Cuban sex education institute discusses changing
attitudes, need for further steps

Below is an interview with Mariela Castro Espín that appeared in the
May 23 edition of Alma Mater, the journal of the University of Havana.
Castro is the director of the Cuban National Institute for Sex
Education. The interview was published under the title, ?Cuban Society
and Homosexuality.? Translation and subheadings are by the Militant.

BY EDUARDO JIMÉNEZ GARCÍA
More relaxed. Not more tolerant.

Achieving dignity and respect for the rights of Cuban homosexuals is
no easy task. Yet it hardly seems humane to wait another century for
some sort of ?natural evolution? to bring about justice. The full
emancipation of gays and lesbians in Cuba also entails promoting and
achieving changes in the popular conceptions of a society that does
not yet accept homosexuality, despite the fact it is more relaxed than
before about the existence of this ?phenomenon.? In an interview with
Alma Mater, Mariela Castro Espín, director of the National Center for
Sex Education (CENESEX), expressed her belief that ?we are now poised
at the most opportune moment for homosexuals to gain more space and
representation in Cuban society.?

Question: Do you believe that the ?90s ushered in an era of greater
social tolerance with respect to homosexuality in Cuba?

Answer: Yes, I believe so, that people are a little more relaxed about
a homosexual presence, both in public and in the privacy of the
family, but only a little bit relaxed, not more tolerant. We have much
more work to do in our society for this ?relaxation? to mean real
respect toward sexual diversity. Sexuality is more complex than what
science has been able to establish, and what we are able to imagine.
That is why we must be very careful about the decisions taken in this
respect.

I do not have statistics or other kinds of scientific data to
demonstrate that there is more tolerance, because there are no studies
on this specific subject in our country. Yet, I am able to observe
this phenomenon as a professional and as an individual. I do believe
that since the 1990s there has been a greater acceptance of the
presence of homosexuals by some portion of the population and public
institutions. That does not mean that the contradiction has been
resolved for all individuals at all levels of society.

In terms of our society as a whole, I think we are at a good moment to
implement policies that are more explicit about the defense of the
rights of homosexuals, so that we are better prepared to confront any
manifestation of discrimination on account of sexual orientation.

By the 1970s, reforms that were made to the Penal Code excluded the
classification of homosexuals as a criminal; any word that
discriminated against homosexuals was modified. However, that is not
enough because I think our laws should better reflect the respect that
homosexuals merit.

Greater and more professional work is needed at the microsocial level,
because what this is about is trying to change perceptions, modifying
popular conceptions within society. That is why I identify this very
humanistic attempt to achieve greater respect for the rights of
homosexuals with the Battle of Ideas that is being waged in our
society today. I believe this battle, in the field of culture and
politics, should include such a necessity, because it would mean a
cultural, social, and political strengthening of the Revolution.

Q: Is that a proposal?

A: Yes. It is a proposal I am making, at appropriate opportunities,
from my position of responsibility as the director of the National
Center for Sex Education, with the aim of achieving this type of
analysis. And I assure you it has reached receptive ears. My
suggestion is in no way removed or distant from the spirit of the
Revolution, or from the entire process that has brought about this
call to a Battle of Ideas. It would be wonderful to be able to spark a
deep-going discussion on this subject among various groups, so that
Cuban society could develop a healthier culture of sexuality, one that
is fairer, that helps to overcome the erroneous beliefs and prejudices
of our ancestors with regard to sexual orientation. Something like
this would put the Revolution even more in line with its humanist
ethics; because the Cuban Revolution has been made with the
participation of all Cuban men and women who have identified
themselves with the conquests and dreams of this social effort. Among
all these participants are also people of various sexual orientations.
Thus, it would not be fair to trample on the dignity of homosexuals
because of some ancestral taboos. That is why I believe this to be a
fundamental task, in which we have much more work to do.

Constitution and sexual orientation
Q: How do you think our laws should better reflect respect for the
rights of homosexuals?

A: The Constitution of the Republic protects all people, regardless of
their race, sex, age. And, obviously this protection includes
homosexuals, albeit not explicitly (when something like that is made
explicit, it is a recognition that there is a need to avoid any type
of discrimination, such as racial or against women). In my modest
opinion, some day, when plans are made to revise the Constitution, I
believe it should explicitly include sexual orientation, in the same
way it includes race, gender, and other considerations. I don?t
consider this to be an urgent matter, but I do believe we should be
clearer about this in our laws, more evident, not only as a protection
of these people from discrimination in public institutions, but also
within the family, because it is often there that a homosexual is
first insulted or rejected.

To be rejected by one?s own family group is one of the most
destructive experiences for one?s personality, and even more so when
the condition that caused the rejection?that is, sexual
orientation?was not a matter of choice.

Q: Why do you think the gay community in Cuba has not organized
itself, as it has in other countries, to demand, among other things,
greater space and respect at a social level?

A: I think the greatest difficulty is that there is no unifying and
convincing effort, because male and female homosexuals are as
heterogeneous as heterosexuals. Yet I don?t see this as an obstacle; I
see it as a complicated reality. It is also true that one should be
able to count on support from the rest of Cuban civil society, a
society still very permeated with sexual prejudices.

But I think gays and lesbians should try a strategy of greater
integration into society, because if they ?organize themselves,? this
could bring about a period of self-segregation, of isolation, rather
than to become more part of Cuban society, and to make their condition
more natural within it.

I believe that male and female homosexuals should participate more in
the different opportunities for social and political discussion that
currently exist in Cuba, despite the prejudices, so they can make
known their truth, their legitimate need for equality, their beliefs,
in order to gain support from the scientific community, and in that
way bring to bear arguments that can effect the changes that are
necessary in society?which are also just and fair. I think such a
strategy would be more effective and healthier, too.

I believe we are now poised at a very opportune moment in which people
with a homosexual orientation can be better understood and integrated
into different places of our society.




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