Mariela Castro: Freedom

 

"If we don't change our patriarchal and homophobic culture, we cannot advance as a new society, and that's what we want, the power of emancipation through socialism. We will establish relationships on the basis of social justice and social equality. It seems like a Utopia, but we can change it." 

Mariela Castro, Cuba's leading LGBT rights advocate and the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), is currently in the US speaking in San Francisco and New York, and meeting health workers and gay campaigners. 
It's quite a big deal, I guess. 
It was touch-and-go whether the land of the free would allow her in.
Interesting to note that for some American gay journalists the only story here is the predictable howls of outrage made by right-wing Cuban-Americans. 

Cuban-Americans Outraged by Mariela Castro Visit 
'Cuban-Americans are outraged that the niece of Fidel Castro is visiting the United States to talk about LGBT equality, given the history of repression in Cuba.'
The Advocate. 

Not All Gay Activists Cheering Mariela Castro's U.S. Visit
'Miami resident Pedro S. Romanach also voiced opposition*, saying that despite Castro's efforts, there are still fundamental rights that Cubans, gay and straight alike, lack: "She may be pro-gay marriage, but the very elementary rights Cubans don’t have — freedom of the press, freedom of assembly — gay people don’t have those rights in Cuba. Neither do straights."
'He went on, "She doesn’t represent anybody but herself. The real heroes in Cuba are the gay people who are pro-gay and pro-freedom and the anti-communists who aren’t getting any publicity."
Towleroad.

Snore!
Little parlour game: How many articles have you seen in the gay press about gay life in Cuba's neighbours - and presumably gay-loving capitalist paradises - Haiti or the Dominican Republic?
Like ever?
If the answer's none, then can all the negative coverage of Cuba be seen as anything other than crude propaganda against an Officially Declared Enemy of the USA?
It is surely beyond stupid for gay journalists to complain about the lack of freedom of speech in Cuba if every word they write just shows the lack of freedom of thought in their own.

• Two interviews with Mariela Castro from L'Humanité and from Der Spiegel.

* Wonder if it's the same Pedro who left this charming comment on Queerty; "This bitch needs to be taken down. Why is she even allowed on American soil? They all have blood on their hands!!"