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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Cuban parliament set to consider gay rights bill

Cuban parliament set to consider gay rights bill
14:24 | 27/ 03/ 2008

MEXICO, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - A draft gay rights bill first
introduced after the 1959 Cuban revolution, will be considered by
lawmakers in Havana in June, Mexican media said on Thursday.

If passed, the law will give lesbians, gays, transsexuals, transvestites
and transgender persons the same rights as heterosexuals in Cuba paving
the way for unions between same-sex couples, as well as access to sex
reassignment treatment and hormone therapy for transsexuals, which would
allow them to change their gender legally.

The media said citing Mariela Castro, the director of the governmental
National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX): "a relevant resolution will
be signed in the nearest future by the Ministry of Health, which will
determine the procedure for such surgery."

Castro, 45, daughter of current President Raul Castro and the niece of
former leader Fidel Castro, has a degree in psychology and has
campaigned for greater awareness for sexual minorities in Cuba for many
years.

Fidel Castro, 81, announced on February 19 that he would step down as
Cuba's president due to health problems. The leader of the 1959 Cuban
Revolution, and the man who outlasted nine hostile U.S. presidents,
still remains the head of the Communist Party.

Shortly after his election, Raul Castro said he was willing to introduce
moderate economic reforms in Cuba, but insisted that he would not
deviate from the path of socialism. The reforms may include making the
government more efficient, revaluing the currency and lifting some state
restrictions on private business.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080327/102363675.html

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