Cuba has not had the most auspicious of starts to the week leading up to the International Day Against Homophobia on 17 May as Police crackdown on an unauthorised Pride march in Havana.
Image: MyImages – Micha/Shutterstock
The march on Saturday followed the unexpected cancellation by the authorities of the country’s 12th annual march against homophobia, which seems strange as it appeared that the communist regime was relaxing their stance regarding LGBT rights with President Miguel Díaz-Canel apparently backed same-sex marriage, stating he was in favour of recognising “marriage between people without any restrictions”. This is in stark contrast to the persecution homosexuals suffered in the decades following the 1959 Cuban revolution.
Reports indicate that at least 3 people were arrested and a number reported violent treatment by the police, many of whom were plain clothed.
This may be an aberration though as other official events celebrating LGBT rights in the country will reportedly be going ahead as planned and of course, discrimination due to someone’s sex or gender is illegal in Cuba.
