LavenderRed_Cubabook

happened with the film is that it surpassed the cinematographic phenomena, and became
a social phenomenon. People had never before discussed homosexuality so much.”
Cuban journalist Gisela Arandia stressed in “Gay Cuba,” “For people in other parts
of the world, ‘Strawberry and Chocolate’ might be just another movie. For Cuba, it was
an essential moment in our society’s development, because never before had these topics
been dealt with in public.”
Measure of change
“Gay Cuba” was a weather vane that pointed in the direction of prevailing winds of
change in the revolutionary battle against the legacy of centuries of colonialist and imperialist
cultural domination.
These documentary interviews offered a cross-section of consciousness.
“They’re people, one should treat them normally, but keep them away,” one youth with
her friends told the interviewer.
“They are part of our Cuban-ness, part of our people, we have to accept them as such,”
said an older man.
One young woman recalled going to a judgmental therapist about her attraction to
other women. “I stood up, but first told him that he was mediocre and a bad psychologist
and that I regretted being there. Then I stood up and left.”
Another young woman remembered going to see a psychologist to try to change her
same-sex attraction. “At the end of the week, she told me, ‘Look, love, I see that you are
happy as you are. Don’t try to change. It’s nothing out of this world. Nothing bad.’”
A cross-dressing factory worker explained, “Besides working here I am an artist. I imitate
Sarita Montiel. I’m a drag queen. Everyone calls me ‘Sarita.’ My relationship with the
workers here in the factory is wonderful. I’ve been here 12 years.”
One young Cuban said when she was in high school, she thought that she was not
accepted into the communist youth (UJC) group because there was discussion about
whether she was or was not a lesbian.
Another Cuban emphasized, “I’ve read the statutes of the UJC, and I don’t remember
reading any article that said that being homosexual is an obstacle to being a member of
the UJC. There are thousands of homosexuals in the UJC, from the roots to the leadership.”
Lourdes Flores, from Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), stated
in her interview, “As a center we see homosexuality as a sexual orientation, just like heterosexuality
or bisexuality.” She added, “We have led workshops on the topic of homosexuality;
sexuality in general, homosexuality in particular. The workshops are very interesting.
For example, we have workshops with teachers, doctors, the general population, community
activists and youth.”
“Gay Cuba” showed viewers a transgender performance organized by a neighborhood
Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).
70 Rainbow Solidarity in Defense of Cuba