This led to a slow but steady sexual liberalisation in social, political and cultural spheres, epitomised by the groundbreaking release of Cuba's most internationally-regarded film, Fresa y Chocolate, in 1993 - a movie that wholeheartedly changed the discourse surrounding homosexuality for an entire generation.įast-forward 10 years and Mariela Castro (Fidel's niece and Raul Castro's daughter) was spearheading the fight for LGBTQ-rights in Cuba, leading to the provision of free gender-reassignment surgery under its health system in 2008. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1979 and by 1986, the National Commission on Sex Education (CENESEX) had announced that homosexuality was a sexual orientation and that homophobia needed to be curbed through education. An affront to the hypermasculine aspirations of the Revolution, countless members of the LGBT+ community were incarcerated and sent to work camps, along with others deemed to be diversionistas ideologicos (such as political dissenters, religious people, and hippies).
The early years of the Revolution were nothing short of appalling with regards to LGBTQ+ rights, as homosexuality was considered ideological diversionism. But it's been no easy feat for Cuba's LGBTQ+ community to reach this potential breaking point in Cuban history.
With the recent appointment of Miguel Diaz Canel to the Cuban Presidency - the first non-Castro to rule in almost 60 years - there's talk of an update to the Cuban constitution that could include the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
In recent years, Cuba has begun to feel the rumbles of a sexual revolution. Honest Advice on Safe Travelling in CubaĪ Brief History of Sexual Politics in Cuba.This is a long one, so bear with us - we promise its worth the read. We've got you covered on everything you need to know - from travel advice, bar recommendations, and hot playlists - to the low-down on Cuba's sexual politics and an insight into gay-friendly destinations outside Havana. If you're looking for an exhaustive guide on LGBTQ+ travel to Cuba, then you've come to the right place.