- Title: CUBA: Hundreds of Cubans march against homophobia in Havana
- Date: 11th May 2013
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (MAY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) CUBANS GATHERING FOR ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA MARCH IN HAVANA SING READING: "United through a socialism that is prosperous and sustainable" VIEW OF PEOPLE HOLDING UP BANNERS AT FRONT OF MARCH PEOPLE GATHERED FOR MARCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF THE CUBAN NATIONAL CENTER FOR SEX EDUCATION (CENESEX), MARIELA CASTRO, SAYING: "The message for the world is that home is love, respect and inclusion by a family that is free of homophobia and transphobia. We are promoting this message to all families." VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MARCHING IN ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA MARCH VARIOUS OF TRANSVESTITE, KNOWN AS "VENUS", MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TRANSVESTITE, KNOWN AS "VENUS", SAYING: "Happiness, diversity, understanding." MORE OF MARCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN TRANSSEXUAL, CHENOA, SAYING: "This is a call for all of those people who are homophobic because all people are created equally." WOMAN DANCING PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING MORE OF MARCH
- Embargoed: 26th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Cuba
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4A8DT0SUFLKKBFICQK7AAOUVH
- Story Text: Hundreds of members of Cuba's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community marched through the street of Havana on Saturday (May 11) to call for an end to homophobia on the Caribbean island-nation.
The march, which began near Havana's famed sea front, was led by gay rights champion and daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, Mariela Castro.
"The message for the world is that home is love, respect and inclusion by a family that is free of homophobia and transphobia. We are promoting this message to all families," she told reporters before the march began.
Mariela Castro heads Cuba's National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) and is an outspoken gay rights advocate. She is reputed to have used her influence to persuade Cuba to grant certain rights to gay communities.
As the march commenced, hundreds of people, many waving rainbow-coloured flags and banners carrying slogans calling for equality, marched and danced through Havana's streets.
"Happiness, diversity, understanding," said one transvestite, who called himself "Venus".
"This is a call for all of those people who are homophobic because all people are created equally," said Chenoa, a 20-year-old transsexual.
Homosexuality was repressed in Cuba for many years under communist rule as a counter-revolutionary deviation. That policy was only relaxed in the 1980s. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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