VCSC Monthly Cuba Cultural & Film Night!

REPORT FROM:
CUBA'S STRUGGLE AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

To view photos from the event please visit:
http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/090522filmnight.html


For years, if not for decades, Cuba has been at the centre of controversial
disputes among the LGBT and the progressive community for its treatment and
attitude towards homosexuality. Around the world, and especially in North
America, the right of homosexuals has been an issue that has caused much
discussion, both in support of and against these important rights.

Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) celebrated the
International Day Against Homophobia with a forum and film night to discuss
Cuba’s struggle against homophobia at the Gordon Neighbourhood House on May
22nd 2009. This forum and cultural night was the first in Vancouver to discuss
the struggle for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) rights in Cuba and
brought out over 65 people from the LGBT community and its allies to
participate.

The event kicked off with a series of short films produced by the National
Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX) in Cuba about their growing campaign,
“Diversity is Natural”, to fight against homophobia in Cuba. In these films
participants were given first hand insight into the campaigns of CENESEX. From
sex education received by children, to campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS,
to interviews with Mariela Castro Espin, the director of CENESEX, who is also a
lesbian and the daughter of 2 leaders of the Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro and
the late Vilma Espin.

These short films were followed by a report back from two organizers with VCSC
who recently returned from Cuba and participated in a fantastic musical
performance in Havana for the International Day Against Homophobia. Tamara
Hansen and Aaron Mercredi also described other dynamic events that took place
that day, including an expo at the Cuban Pavilion, a pride parade/conga around
the Pavilion, and two cultural and drag shows that went into the early morning
hours.

Participants of the forum in Vancouver discussed and asked questions about many
things including how Cuba treated homosexuality in the past; why Cuba now
officially celebrates the International Day Against Homophobia; the importance
of CENESEX in the struggle to end Homophobia; and perhaps most importantly, the
fact that the LGBT community in Cuba has the support of the Cuban government to
advance their rights and end homophobia in Cuban society.

To close the night there was a showing of “Strawberry and Chocolate”, a
Cuban feature length film, that was financed and produced by institutions of the
Cuban state, about the relationship between Diego a gay artist and David a
member of the Cuba’s Union of Young Communists (UJC). This movie was shown
across Cuba, and won many awards, including a nomination for an academy award in
1995. Strawberry & Chocolate opened an important dialogue across Cuba about the
importance of the Cuban revolution not excluding anyone. This important
conclusion is what drives the campaign against homophobia and for LGBT rights in
Cuba today.

The event wrapped up after the film and many people gathered around outside the
neighbourhood house to discuss the film. With an increasing number of homophobic
attacks in Vancouver this year, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba
committed itself to continue investigating Cuba’s example of struggle against
homophobia and bringing it to audiences in Vancouver. As well as contributing to
build the discussion of how we can defeat homophobia here in our city and across
Canada.


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