Translation by Dr. Mercedes Rosa Diaz
CUBA: Another possible socialismo?
Dalia Acosta interviews Mariela Castro Espin, activist for the right to sexual diversity
HAVANA, June (IPS)—Known for her work defending the rights of Cuban gay, lesbian, bisexual, transvestite and transgendered people, Mariela Castro Espin is now calling for the promotion of a fairer, more just socialism that is dialectic, inclusive and, above all, encourages civic participation.
Castro Espin is the director of CENESEX, Cuba’s national center for sex education. She was the driving force behind a resolution that was passed in 2008 allowing sex-change operations to become part of the country’s health care system.
This move could be the key to socialism in the 21st century, according to the 46-year-old expert, who is the daughter of Cuban president Raul Castro and the late Vilma Espin, who was a historic leader of the Cuban Revolution and a tireless advocate for the rights of women and sexual minorities. Espin died in 2007.
In an interview with IPS, the woman who headed up the first street conga against homophobia in the history of that Caribbean island, discussed what led her to this place in her life. She also talked about civic participation in socialism and the hopes of a Cuba no longer under the U.S. embargo.
IPS: In 2004, you met with a group of transvestites and transgendered persons who asked you for help. Today, that moment is considered to be the impetus for a set of reforms supporting sexual diversity in Cuba. Were you always supportive about this subject?
MCE: It was part of a process of being a conscientious Cuban citizen who sees reality and who asks questions and listens to the answers. Life in this country has taught me to not simply interpret reality, but to become a part of it, to participate. In fact, I’ve learned to try to change what I don’t like or what I consider to be unjust.
IPS: Was there one seminal moment that made you who you are today?
MCE: There were many. When I was a freshman at the University, I went through advanced revolutionary consciousness as a member of the Union of Young Communists. It was not a pleasant experience, and I faced it the best way I could, but I knew better. The extremism and the prejudice really bothered me, and I detested the phrase, “ideological diversionist” because I considered it to be a tool for opportunists.
I was also affected by the massive Mariel exodus in 1980. To me, it was a blow and a learning experience to see so many of those who were extremists when I was a student running to Mariel. In the meantime, many of those who were penalized and sanctioned are still here, participating in the revolution.
The Special Period [the financial crisis that began at the start of the 1990s] also left its mark on me. It made me think about the kind of socialism we want. It’s interesting to see all we’ve accomplished in 50 years of revolution. We have our national sovereignty and we’ve pursued social justice throughout, but we still have a way to go, and we need to broaden our definitions.
IPS: From your standpoint, what should Cuban socialism be so that it can continue to be a viable option both today and in the future?
MCE: I’m still wagering on socialism as an option. But it has to have a dialectical focus so we can address the contradictions that will arise, and so that we can track our progress toward development.
IPS: How can it relate to the younger generation? It’s said that they have no sense of duty toward anyone nor anything.
MCE: We need means for participation. To me, it is findamental that we have a socialism based on democratic participation. We need to create mechanisms that go beyond political declarations and theories, and engage people on a social level. It’s the only way to save socialism as a viable system and the only way that the youth will feel that they are part of this project. They need to know they can participate in the system and that it will take into account their needs, their preoccupations and their criticisms.
We need to make room in this society for our youth, so that they can participate in creating our reality. We need to allow them to experiment and experience so that will feel committed to our society, because, after all, they are part of our reality and they are helping to create it as well.
IPS: Are you letting those principles guide the Cenesex-led campaign supporting sexual diversity?
MCE: That’s exactly what we are doing. Cenesex creates that room to participate, but we don’t do it alone, and we should not do it alone. What we do is create opportunities and then we produce joint projects. Nothing is more fascinating than creating opportunities for participation because we all take on responsibilities.
If we develop and perfect mechanisms for participation, it will enhance our society as well as socialism itself, since historically that has been a weak link.
Cuba is such an authentic, original, delicious and contradictory place that it could even contribute itself to the history of socialism as an example of “criollo” socialism in the Caribbean, which it is. For us, to be anything else would be to wear a dress that doesn’t fit, and doesn’t look becoming. We have no business with that.
IPS: With Barack Obama as president of the United States, there has been a lot of talk about the possibility of relaxing U.S. sanctions against Cuba. What do you see if you imagine an island no longer under blockade?
MCE: A Cuba no longer under blockade would be a prosperous Cuba. And, as I asked Saint Peter when I went to the Vatican, prosperity for Cuba. At first, I thought about asking for just the end of the blockade, but then I told myself that would only be part of the solution. So I asked for prosperity for Cuba, with or without the blockade.
The day they rescind that blockade will be the day they remove the greatest weight from us, in terms of how we relate to the rest of the world. But, along with that, we have to improve the mechanisms necessary for a socialist democracy, because lifting the blockade alone won’t make Cuba prosperous. We need to improve our social system.
IPS: What do you think of the belief that the socialist system won’t withstand the lifting of the blockade?
MCE: To live is to be in danger, and the Cuban Revolution has always been in danger. But, I think we have already lived through the greatest danger. It would be an opportunity—a dangerous one, but an opportunity nonetheless, and we should take the fullest advantage of it.
It would be fundamental for Cuba, as it would be for any country. What country could survive a blockade? Cuba survived, but we paid a high price in many ways.
IPS: Do you share the belief that we live in a country in which everything is framed in the prism that is our relationship with the United States?
MCE: Everything passes through that. We’ve created a culture of Cuba under the blockade. Now we’ll have to take what we learned to develop a culture of a Cuba no longer under blockade that wants to survive with its socialist system intact, but also one that is more dialectical with a focus on development and inclusion. In fact, socialism needs to remain dialectical if it is to survive the lifting of the blockade. We should do whatever we must to guarantee our sovereignty, but we need to be careful that our internal mechanisms are not as narrow as they have been.
I still have the energy, ideals and strength to keep fighting for our socialism. I know that it has developed plenty of defenses against the constant hostility that is well-funded by U.S. imperialism.
And that isn’t just some hackneyed phrase—it’s an extensive, expansive and cruel imperialist system, and we have to keep fighting against the violence and the pressures than we’ll continue to face. When you follow a path with conviction, you don’t give way, but the important thing is to follow that path the smartest way possible.
IPS: That path should never turn against the Cuban people?
MCE: Exactly. It should never turn against us. That’s why it’s so key that we develop mechanisms for participation. What do we want Cuban socialism to be like? How do we want to get there? And which are those principles that we will never surrender?
Of course, national dignity, sovereignty, and social justice are vital, because development doesn’t necessarily mean we have to engage in exploitation. But there are mechanisms—perhaps on the economic plane—that can allow us to prosper, satisfy the growing needs of the people, and economically strengthen the state’s possibilities.
IPS: What do you expect from Obama?
MCE: In my opinion, he doesn’t have good advisers when it comes to Cuba and Latin America. I hope we are able to have a dialogue, a rapprochement of sorts. From his personal biography he seems to be a wonderful person, but once one becomes president, one has to wear a different suit, and that can be very difficult. I imagine that he must want to do many things that he can’t do.
IPS: Even if Obama is not able to make substantial changes during his presidency, do you think his election is a symptom of the need for change?
MCE: Oh yes, but I think the world is waiting to hear a response from Obama. The world needs for the United States to change—that country which has demanded changes from so many countries on behalf of the privileged few who are in power. The world needs for the United States to change so we all can survive.
We can’t expect the United States to stop being an empire, at least not for now, and not because of Obama. But the fact that he was elected in the first place is a symptom that they themselves want changes.
Like they say in [the afrocuban religion] Santeria when you want to wish someone good luck, “Ache” to Obama. “Ache” so he will be able to accomplish all he can, all that may be possible.
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