Saturday May 16th marked the celebration of the International Anti-Homophobia Day in Havana. The activities took place on the premises of the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (Union of Cuban Writers and Artists, UNEAC) and the Cuba Pavillion in the Vedado neighborhood of the city. Mariela Castro Espín, director of the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), opened the proceedings with the introduction of a panel on “Sexual Diversity in the Cuban Family.” She also presented the most recent issues of the Sexology and Society journal published by CENESEX, which is sponsored by the United Nations and is distributed free of charge to libraries and university campuses. The journal addresses topics such as the integration of transsexuals into Cuban society, sexuality as a social and health factor, and violence against women.
The president of UNEAC, the novelist and essayist Miguel Barnet, expressed his support and respect for Castro Espín’s efforts. “This is a day to signal our opposition to obtuse modes of thought that hinder our progress forwards, a labor that our writers and artists cannot turn their backs on. We must follow the highest and most up-to-date ideas,” Barnet said. The event was attended by Nancy Morejón and Reynaldo González, recipients of the National Prize for Literature, and writers like Senel Paz, Ana Lydia Vega, Leonardo Padura, Lina de Feria, and others. It included book exhibits, film screenings, and concerts, all open to the public and extending till midnight.
Photograph: Cuban National Assembly President, Ricardo Alarcon (L), holds the hand of Mariela Castro (R), daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, during the celebration of the International Anti-Homophobia Day in Havana on May 17, 2008. http://www.daylife.com/photo/0g0YdxvgsoePd
