Lesbian, gay, transsexual and bisexual Cubans marched alongside friends, family members and supporters down the streets of Havana on Saturday, in the eighth Annual March against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Although over 1,000 participants may not sound as much in comparison to pride parades celebrated in other parts of the world, the figure is quite large in a country where these kinds of public displays were out of the question until recently.
The National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), directed by the daughter of President Raul Castro, Mariela Castro, has played a major role in this change.
Religious leaders took part in the celebration this year as well, including American Rev. Roger La Rade.
To the beat of conga drums, people of all ages marched down 23rd Street – one of Havana’s main arteries – waving rainbow-colored banners, and shouting slogans and holding signs demanding for a more inclusive society.
Although the Cuban LGTB community has managed to attain unprecedented achievements over the last few years, they are still object of discrimination
Authors
OnCuba Staff,
OnCuba editorial staff
![À la fin de la nuit [Le Lever du jour], 1969. Oil on canvas. Private Collection](https://oncubanews.1eye.us/en/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/fullsz_wlam_findenuit.ashx_-75x75.jpg)
You fail to mention in your article that the same government that sent homosexuals to forced labor camps for years, and denied them attendance in Cuban universities is still in power.
To Jose Lopez – And you forget that things have changed and therefore you live in the past and getting nowhere.
When is the one in 2016? I would LOVE to attend.