Once again Cuba - not generally deemed a leader the area of civil rights - is ahead of the USA in terms of granting equal legal rights to all citizens, including gays. As 365gay.com is reporting (http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/03/032708cuba.htm), proposed legislation is going to be introduced into the national assembly which, if enacted, would make Cuba one of the most progressive nations in terms of gay rights. Here are some highlights:
(Havana) Cuban lawmakers will vote in June on a bill that would make the country one of the world's most progressive in LGBT civil rights. The draft legislation would make it illegal to discriminate in jobs and housing against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transpeople. It would recognize same-sex domestic partnerships, although not grant marriage or adoption rights, and it would allow transsexuals to have identity cards showing their true sex. In addition the bill would require the government health service to pay for sex reassignment surgery.
The measure has been championed by Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuban president Raul Castro. She heads the government-funded National Centre for Sex Education and has been a longtime LGBT rights advocate.
"In Cuba marriage is not as important as the family and at least this way we can guarantee the personal and inheritance rights of homosexuals and transsexuals," she told the BBC. Last month Cuba's Culture Minister Abel Prieto said that he supports gay marriage.
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