Cuba more progressive than US in sexuality may legalize funding 4 hormone&sex changes

[e-brake]

http://reuters.excite.com/article/20...BA-SEX-DC.html
HAVANA (Reuters) - Mariela Castro is leading a Cuban revolution less well known than her Uncle Fidel's: one in favor of sexual tolerance within the island's macho society.Castro, 43, is leading the charge from her government-funded National Center for Sex Education, based in an old Havana mansion.
As director of the group, she promoted a soap opera that scandalized many Cubans in March by sympathetically depicting bisexuality. The controversial show depicted, among other story lines, the life of a construction worker who leaves his wife and children for the man next door.
if Now President Castro's niece is pushing for passage of a law that would give transsexuals free sex change operations and hormonal therapy in addition to granting them new identification documents with their changed gender.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
A bill was presented to parliament last year and was well received, she said. It is expected to come up for a vote in December.
If approved, it would make Cuba the most liberal nation in Latin America on gender issues.
Castro says her goal is to bring the revolution her uncle and father, Defense Minister Raul Castro, fought 47 years ago to the terrain of sexuality. Her group has also campaigned for better AIDS prevention as well as acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality and transvestism.
"I want to bring the revolution's humanity to those aspects of life that it hasn't reached because of old prejudices," she told Reuters.
Much has changed, she says, since the 1960s when homosexuals were sent to work camps, or the 1970s when gay men and women were denied certain jobs as "ideological deviants."
"None of that exists any more," she said. "But that is not to say the same for homophobic attitudes."
Cuba eliminated the crime of sodomy in 1979. Cuba is also a country where abortion is a constitutional right and divorce a simple procedure.
A POWERFUL FAMILY
Mariela Castro says she isn't a leader, but simply part of a movement for greater tolerance.
Nevertheless, she admits her access to the two most powerful figures in the country has helped her cause.
Castro says she has the support of her 75-year-old father, who is second in charge of the all-powerful Communist Party and as first vice-president in line to succeed Fidel.
"Of course, I talk with my father whenever I have the chance. He is one of those in the party that supports our work. He thinks it is useful, good, just," she said.
Castro sees her uncle less often.
"Fidel is very sensitive to these issues," she said. "He is a pensive man and when the subject is one of justice it gets his attention. He asks for more information, more elements to consider."
Castro sees herself as continuing the work of her mother, Vilma Espin, head of the Cuban Womens Federation for the past 45 years. Eighty-seven percent of the island's women are members.
Espin, considered one of the most influential personalities of the Cuban revolution, is the originator of the Cuban family code adopted in 1975, which calls on men to share household chores and child care.
Castro said many people ask her if she plans to push legalization of gay marriages.
"We do not know what we will propose. It depends on what we identify as homosexuals' and lesbians' main needs," Castro said.
"Marriage is not as important in Cuba as in other more Catholic countries. Here consensual pairing is more important," she said, "What matters is love."

[Blake]

Originally Posted by e-brake

a law that would give transsexuals free sex change operations and hormonal therapy

great way to spend government money.


/sarcasm

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by shadymuz

great way to spend government money.

/sarcasm

No shit. If you want to invert your wang that's your business, but don't expect my tax dollars to pay for it.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by shadymuz

great way to spend government money.


/sarcasm

Dont know if anyone has bothered to let you know but, they are communists down there, spending government money on the people is kinda what they base their entire nation on.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Dont know if anyone has bothered to let you know but, they are communists down there, spending government money on the people is kinda what they base their entire nation on.

yes, but i would think they'd spend the money on something a little bit better than getting people's sex changed. i dunno, maybe try to spend it on actual health care? that sounds a little bit smarter to me. especially since cuba has a shortage of medical supplies.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by shadymuz

yes, but i would think they'd spend the money on something a little bit better than getting people's sex changed. i dunno, maybe try to spend it on actual health care? that sounds a little bit smarter to me. especially since cuba has a shortage of medical supplies.

they have a shortage of medical suplies because of the US sanctions, they have mroe Doctors per capita than the US, as well as more hospitals.

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Dont know if anyone has bothered to let you know but, they are communists down there, spending government money on the people is kinda what they base their entire nation on.

Another reason I don't like communism.

[Blake]

lol, i can't believe you're arguing with me over my original point.

They can find WAY better stuff to spend the money on, rather than spending it on sex changes. I mean, am I crazy? Am I the only person that thinks that?

[Satchel]

bunch of godless fucking commies

[Hey Bubu]

Interesting.

[thumpcbd]

Originally Posted by e-brake

they have a shortage of medical suplies because of the US sanctions, they have mroe Doctors per capita than the US, as well as more hospitals.

There are plenty of other countries that don't have sanctions on them, and they still have crap for a medical system.

Oh and medical supplies are exempt from sanctions...

http://www.cuba.com/Cuba/index.cfm?o...5E59AF1ED0660A

"EXPORTING TO CUBA - Except for publications, other informational materials (such as CDs and works of art), certain donated food, and certain goods licensed for export or re-export by the U.S. Department of Commerce (such as medicine and medical supplies, food, and agricultural commodities), no products, technology, or services may be exported from the United States to Cuba, either directly or through third countries, such as Canada or Mexico."

[Hey Bubu]

Young Cuban doctors are taking Venezuelan doctors yobs

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by shadymuz

lol, i can't believe you're arguing with me over my original point.

They can find WAY better stuff to spend the money on, rather than spending it on sex changes. I mean, am I crazy? Am I the only person that thinks that?

Im just kicking the hornets nest as always, I get a kick out of everyone getting so emotional over politics on an EDM site. Your origional, point missed the point of the thead. Economics asside a third world country is more progressive on sexuality than the "Free" people in america. I guess if your gay or lesbian you will get more rights under castro than the constitution and that is fucked up.

[zerojunkie]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Im just kicking the hornets nest as always, I get a kick out of everyone getting so emotional over politics on an EDM site. Your origional, point missed the point of the thead. Economics asside a third world country is more progressive on sexuality than the "Free" people in america. I guess if your gay or lesbian you will get more rights under castro than the constitution and that is fucked up.

They're more progressive and more "free" than we are because they are paid for by the state? Ok, that's one "freedom" I'll cede to Cuba.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Im just kicking the hornets nest as always, I get a kick out of everyone getting so emotional over politics on an EDM site. Your origional, point missed the point of the thead. Economics asside a third world country is more progressive on sexuality than the "Free" people in america. I guess if your gay or lesbian you will get more rights under castro than the constitution and that is fucked up.

i figured so. my point wasn't meant to discuss the "whole point" of the article, but rather that surely they can find better stuff to spend it on.