"In the early years of the revolution much of the world was homophobic. It was the same here in Cuba and led to acts which I consider unjust. "
Mariela Castro
In recent years the US has been falling further and further behind in the Human Rights pack. And now it looks like Cuba is about to pass us by.
From the BBC:
Not the new president, Raul, although he has promised to push through "structural and conceptual" changes to this communist island in the Caribbean.
It is Raul's daughter, Mariela Castro.
It is Raul's daughter, Mariela Castro.
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She is currently attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what would be among the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America.
The proposed legislation would recognise same-sex unions, along with inheritance rights. It would also give transsexuals the right to free sex-change operations and allow them to switch the gender on their ID cards, with or without surgery.
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"In Cuba marriage is not as important as the family and at least this way we can guarantee the personal and inheritance rights of homosexuals and transsexuals."
She says that her father is supportive of her work, although he advises her to move slowly.
"I've seen changes in my father since I was a child. I saw him as macho and homophobic. But as I have grown and changed as a person, so I have seen him change."
Mariela's mother, the late Vilma Espin, was an internationally recognised champion of women's rights.
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