CUBA GETS A TRANSGENDER COUNCILLOR

November 17, 2012

Anyone who watched the outstanding film Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) would know that Cuba was no picnic for homosexuals.

Adela Hernandez, 48, is a real life example of the persecution Cuba's communist regime meted out to anyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) bracket. Born "male", she chose to live as a female since a child. Her family eventually reported her to the authorities when a teenager and she was brutally imprisoned for "dangerousness" for two years. Well, things in Cuba are certainly changing...

Adela Hernandez has now become Cuba's first transgender official, winning a seat in the municipal election in the central province of Villa Clara. The change has been gradual and started with Fidel Castro himself expressing regret over Cuba's anti-LBTG policies.Nowadays even the daughter of President Raul, Mariela Castro, can openly advocating for civil unions and people like Ms Hernandez can be councillors.

Perhaps Cuba can now be an example to other homophobic nations and show that openness and the exercise of human rights brings enlightenment and dignity to a nation.