So after half a century of Cold War posturing by both countries, the U.S. and Cuba have decided to get over themselves and normalize relations between the two countries. For most Americans, this amounts to an anti-climax; even young Cuban-Americans think the embargo against Cuba should be lifted. After all, if we can have diplomatic relations with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, why not Cuba?
But the Putin example raises an interesting question for the Obama Administration. Cuba is nowhere near as harsh as Russia in its treatment of LGBT citizens. But Cuba has a horrible record on human rights, and that includes its treatment of gay people. After all, this is the country that quarantined HIV-positive people during the height of the AIDS epidemic and cracked down so hard on the gay population in the 1960s and 1970s that Fidel Castro admitted (in 2010) that it was “a great injustice.” You can complain about America’s history of LGBT oppression, but Cuba’s has been far worse.
Things are better than they were, but Cuba is hardly a lavender paradise. There is no independent LGBT rights movement. Instead, the only legal entity representing the community’s interests is led by Mariela Castro, a straight woman who is Fidel’s niece and the daughter of the current president, Raul Castro. And Mariela hardly has a track record of embracing a diversity of opinion. In essence, the state is the LGBT movement.
There are no pride parades in Cuba. The only official event is the International Day Against Homophobia. Harassment of gay men by authorities is still common, particularly if they are considered dissidents. Beatings by police — even fatal beatings — are not unheard of. The strong vein of homophobia that pre-dates the Revolution and that owes a lot to Catholic condemnation may not be as prominent as it once was but it is still very much present.
Now that the U.S. is talking to Cuba, will the Obama Administration be willing to raise these issues as part of the conversation? The Administration had a few moment of forcefulness at the height of the Olympic Games homophobia. But when the spotlight faded, so did the rhetoric.
The U.S. and Cuba have a lot of things to discuss, and in all fairness, LGBT issues aren’t going to be at the top of the list. But the question will be, where are they on the list? Or are they on the list at all? It’s worth keeping on eye on the developing relationship to see just how much the Administration thinks our community in Cuba really matters.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
Somebody really wants to go Cuba, and smoke some cigars! Don’t they John Gallagher?
Well, it is worth keeping an eye on, but human rights aside ultimately the gay people of Cuba themselves would have to be the ones to determine when, and where they need to start having more of a “gay voice”. Afterall, who says everyone needs a parade per se just to have sex with another man? Maybe to “feel gay”, but not to have sex with another man, which is exactly what I am getting at.
Too often our American concept of gay actually is devoid of the sexual aspects of two men having sex with each other at all, and instead seems determined to focus on getting men (men in particular) to merely “embrace effeminacy”. It’s as though gayness, and homosexuality are being more specifically defined as being two completely different concepts, and that furthermore gayness is to be the intended effect, whereas homosexuality is still to be the scorned, and scoffed at activity.
American gayness has even at times in the not too distant past even laughed outright at the idea that masculinity should be able to walk hand-in-hand with gayness. Refer to the Paul Rudnick’s disaster “Jeffrey” for example of such. Paul Stewart famously played a queen who made a big tissy over a gay yet masculine doctor/firefighter duo being pitched at America as a depiction of gayness.
But every culture should have the right to determine just how they go about expressing their “gayness” too then is all I’m saying, and if Cuba chooses to take a more masculine approach to their gayness then so be it (you big queen)! Some do drag, some do leather, and still some do vogue & walk the balls: To each his own. That’s why it’s called culture, and not every culture can be a “melting pot”.
And speaking of which: Just when is this International Day Against Homophobia, because I don’t even remember celebrating that one here in America.
little Alex
At least there are no laws against homosexuality, unlike, say, Jamaica.
demented
They would need to grow some balls first, and we know THAT won’t happen without the threat of an election loss.
Alan down in Florida
Embracing effeminacy and homosexuality are not the same thing. There are plenty of effeminate straight men and plenty of butch (not to mention “straight-acting”) homosexuals. How all human beings express their personality is no one’s business but their own.
GayEGO
@Alan down in Florida: Well said Alan!
natriley
History is one thing. The quarantine of LGBT people during the AIDS epidemic distresses everybody but public health officials. HIV rates are low. But one of the Castros is an out lesbian, and Cuba’s LGBT population is visible and active in Havana. Cruising on the beaches is open and pleasant according to my friends who have sampled the wares. Cuba’s record on human rights has blotches, but compared to many of our allies they have a good record. Cuba has participated in the international movement to recognize LGBT rights.
Tracy Pope
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: I read the article – and links – three times, just to make sure. There’s nothing there slanted one way or the other as far as masculine or feminine. Also… The play/movie “Jeffery” doesn’t define what gay is in the United States. It is/was about one group of people in a set of circumstances, in a different era.
Of course you’re right, Cuban LGBT have to choose their own path of awareness and self expression but Mr. Gallagher’s article only asks will the US government include LGBT equality in normalization talks?
Personally, I suspect it’s not high on the list. At least not today.
Jeffrey Kassel
I first visited Cuba in 1979, and my husband and I recently returned from Cuba this past March. Things have changed remarkably. Cubans are very aware of the gay rights movement around the world. While U.S. citizens think of Cuba as forbidden fruit, the world has been visiting Cuba. Canadians, Europeans, and Latin Americans have continued to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution. There is no excuse for the mistreatment of gays both before and after the Revolution. However, things are changing, and we must encourage those changes. As travel opens up for our citizens, gays need to visit and help create change. Wait till the first gay cruise lands in Havana or Santiago with two thousand men & women! My experience this year has been openess, acceptance of past mistakes, progress in criticising machismo, and realizing the positive place gays have in their society. Please read my detailed Cuba blog at the Jewish Currents website.
Saint Law
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: Whichever profile you post under: Jason’s Meds, Micheal Mellor, Jim Bryant or as now: I’m in Blackface and HIV positive, you will never escape from yourself you sad, sexless, suburban bore.
xx
Derek Williams
1. QWERTY: It’s “its” for possessive pronoun, not “it’s” which is abbreviation for “it is” or “it has”
2. check out the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000003335634/mariela-castro-on-lgbt-rights.html
andy0529
…..Does China,Russia, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia or India treat they’re gay’s equally? and have we done nothing more than talk to those nations
RRF
“and in all fairness, LGBT issues aren’t going to be at the top of the list.”
Sorry. That’s not working for me anymore. There’s nothing “fair” about being pushed to the bottom and I’m tired of LGBT issues being treated as second rate. We really need to be more aware of the way we’re treated by everyone. And that kind of passive aggressive self-loathing is something I want no part of anymore.
transiteer
LGBT issues are Human Rights Issues now. Better catch up. And YES, he should promote it with Cuba. It should be a no-brainer.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Saint Law: Oh bitch, why don’t you shut the fuck up! You’re just mad that everyone is catching on to your non-gay, homophobic, Nazi bitch ass!
winemaker
i NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS DAY! IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT WE END THE TRADE EMBARGO. WE DEAL WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA, GREATER THREATS, WHY NOT CUBA? THE EUROPEANS, CANADIANS, AUSTRALIANS AND THE JAPANESE HAVE HAD TRADE RELATIONS WITH CUBA FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WHY NOT THE UNITED STATES? DEALING WITH CUBA MAKES GOOD BUSINESS FOR THE BOTH OF US, THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA.
YO NONCA PENSABA QUE VERIA ESTE DIA! YA ESTA EL TIEMPO QUE TERMINAMOS EL EMBARGO CONTRAA CUBA! NOSOTROS NEGOCIAMOS CON CHINA, RUSSIA, PORQUE NO CUBA? LOS EOROPEANOS, CANADIANOS, AUSTRALIANOS Y LOS JAPONES, HABIAN SIDO RELACIOPNES DE NEGOCIOS CON CUBA POR MAS QUE 50 ANOS, POR QUE NO LOS ESTADOS UNIOS? EL NEGOCIAR CON CUBA HACE BIEN COSAS POR LOS DOS DE NOSOTROS, LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y CUBA.
winemaker
i NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS DAY! IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT WE END THE TRADE EMBARGO. WE DEAL WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA, GREATER THREATS, WHY NOT CUBA? THE EUROPEANS, CANADIANS, AUSTRALIANS AND THE JAPANESE HAVE HAD TRADE RELATIONS WITH CUBA FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WHY NOT THE UNITED STATES? DEALING WITH CUBA MAKES GOOD BUSINESS FOR THE BOTH OF US, THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA.
YO UONCA PENSABA QUE VERIA ESTE DIA! YA ESTA EL TIEMPO QUE TERMINAMOS EL EMBARGO CONTRA CUBA! NOSOTROS NEGOCIAMOS CON CHINA y RUSSIA, PORQUE NO CUBA? LOS EOROPEANOS, CANADIANOS, AUSTRALIANOS Y LOS JAPONES, HABIAN TENIDO RELACIOPNES DE NEGOCIOS CON CUBA POR MAS QUE 50 ANOS, POR QUE NO LOS ESTADOS UNIOS? EL NEGOCIAR CON CUBA HACE BIEN COSAS, POR LOS DOS DE NOSOTROS, LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y TAMBIEN CUBA.
winemaker
NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS DAY! IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT WE END THE TRADE EMBARGO. WE DEAL WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA, GREATER THREATS, WHY NOT CUBA? THE EUROPEANS, CANADIANS, AUSTRALIANS AND THE JAPANESE HAVE HAD TRADE RELATIONS WITH CUBA FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WHY NOT THE UNITED STATES? DEALING WITH CUBA MAKES GOOD BUSINESS FOR THE BOTH OF US, THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA.
YO NUNCA PENSABA QUE VERIA ESTE DIA! YA ESTA EL TIEMPO QUE TERMINAMOS EL EMBARGO CONTRA CUBA! NOSOTROS NEGOCIAMOS CON CHINA y RUSSIA, PORQUE NO CUBA? LOS EOROPEANOS, CANADIANOS, AUSTRALIANOS Y LOS JAPONES, HABIAN TENIDO RELACIOPNES DE NEGOCIOS CON CUBA POR MAS QUE 50 ANOS, POR QUE NO LOS ESTADOS UNIOS? EL NEGOCIAR CON CUBA HACE BIEN COSAS, POR LOS DOS DE NOSOTROS, LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y TAMBIEN CUBA.
natriley
NY Times lead editorial on Cuba and gay rights “In Cuba, street marches have historically been government-orchestrated events or dissident protests that are swiftly crushed by the authorities. So it was downright startling when, in May 2007, Fidel Castro’s niece sauntered down the street with a small army of drag queens waving gay pride flags.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/opinion/sunday/cubas-gay-rights-evolution.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
vive
@Queerty, this is a very biased and ignorant article. Maybe the question should be:
“Will Cuba Challenge The Obama Administration Challenge To Treat LGBTs Equally?”
Things have changed a lot in Cuba.
Gay sex has been legal in Cuba since 1997, more than two decades before it was legalized in the U.S., even while state-level sodomy statutes are still being used to harass gay men in the U.S. Gays were allowed to serve openly in the Cuban military since 1993, two decades before they could in the U.S. And Cuba has an employment non-discrimination law, which still hasn’t been passed in the U.S. As for police persecution, just this year police raided gay bars in Atlanta, and cities all over the U.S. are still forcing gay spaces closed under the pretext of “family-friendly” redevelopment and gentrification.
As for Fidel Castro, from Wikipedia: ‘in a 2010 interview with Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Castro called the persecution of homosexuals while he was in power “a great injustice, great injustice!” Taking responsibility for the persecution, he said, “If anyone is responsible, it’s me…. We had so many and such terrible problems, problems of life or death. In those moments, I was not able to deal with that matter [of homosexuals].”
fagburn
Just beyond embarrassing right-wing trash.