In Mariela Castro's view, the debate on the Labor Law could accelerate the Family Law

The proposed modifications to the draft Labour Law to prevent homophobia and other forms of discrimination in the workplace will be contributing to the earliest discussion of a new Family Law that covers the rights of homosexual couples, said Mariela Castro Espin, director of the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex).

"I think we will start discussing it very soon; we are almost there, because, for example, the discussion of the new Labor Law, with the changes that are being proposed, is clearing the way for us to discuss the new Family Law," said the sexologist at a press conference on this week's observance of the World Day for Sexual Health in Cuba
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Castro Espín recalled that the draft legislation, in preparation for several years by the Federation of Cuban Women and the National Union of Jurists, will not propose marriage between people of the same sex, but stresses recognition for homosexual couples and grants these the same rights any consensual heterosexual union has in Cuba.

"If we achieve this it would be a very important step for Cuban society," the daughter of President Raul Castro declared. She acknowledged the need to "keep convincing and explaining this to people who still do not understand."

"I have great expectations about this (draft) Labor Law, considering all that is being presented and proposed. As there is a Cuban society with a greater number of people with knowledge of those rights and more LGBT-empowered persons, they are bringing these issues up for consideration at their own assemblies of workers."

"That was our goal when we started forming activists: to have a well informed population on the subject, ready to defend their rights when the issues were discussed,” she said.

The director of Cenesex summarized the main moments of the dialogue with the public and with the leadership of the country in recent years, particularly the celebration since 2007 of the International Day Against Homophobia and Tran phobia each May 17, and the pronouncement of the first National Conference of the Communist Party of Cuba in January 2012 against discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation.

Regarding the request to specify a possible date or time period for the submission of the Draft Family Law to Parliament, Mariela –a member of Parliament herself since February this year- said: "The atmosphere is more positive, my goal is for 2014, but I cannot guarantee this and do not want to create false expectations. It is my wish and I will work for it, but it is not in our hands," she explained.

Regarding the progress in the development of citizen awareness against homophobia, Castro Espin said that "it is being assimilated, it is being learned; it already is part of our common, everyday language; people are acquiring tools for discussion; LGBT persons are acquiring tools to defend themselves; they are learning to find that the law offers many mechanisms to defend their rights, regardless of elements still missing."

"It is the experience gathered from our legal counseling that in terms of the Law- even as it is- with more vulnerability within family and work environments, when somebody asks for help, there are solutions, there are possibilities. Even when we have not yet progressed as we wish in the Law, with what we have, we can find solutions; but we have to improve it," she said.

Mariela acknowledged that Cuba "is not among the most advanced countries in terms of LGBT rights," but she believes that "in terms of political strategy and political will we are among the top."

"And we will succeed," she said.

After the press conference, Mariela, a fellow journalist and I had our photo taken with Los Angeles a band of young musicians who will play at the celebration of the World Day for Sexual Health. (Photo: Ernesto Mastrascusa)

September 17, 2013


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