Cuba has voted to legalise same-sex marriage in a national referendum.
About two-thirds of the population voted to approve reforms in a new Family Code, which will also allow surrogate pregnancies and give gay couples the right to adopt children.
It marks a big moment for Cuba, which saw gay people persecuted and sent to work camps in the 1960s and 70s.
However, there was significant opposition to the reforms among religious groups and conservatives.
The referendum on Sunday was for a new Family Code – a 100-page document which went through more than two dozen drafts and hours of debate in community-level meetings.
Cuba’s government had backed the law change and ran a nationwide campaign urging people to approve it.
Speaking as he voted on Sunday, the country’s President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said he expected most of the population would vote yes and that the new code reflected the diversity of people, families and beliefs.
On Monday, preliminary results indicated an “irreversible trend”, with 66% of votes counted so far in favour of the reform, electoral council president Alina Balseiro said on state television, according to AFP news agency. The law required 50% of voters’ approval to be adopted.
The reforms were the culmination of efforts by gay rights activists in Cuba.
Official attitudes towards homosexuality on the Communist-run island have changed over the past decades, partly thanks to the efforts of former leader Raúl Castro’s daughter Mariela.
In the early part of communist leader Fidel Castro’s rule after the 1959 revolution, homosexual men and women were sent to work camps for supposed “re-education”.
However, many in Cuba still oppose the step, including evangelical churches and other non-religious conservatives.
Parts of the opposition also campaigned for a “no” vote, urging Cubans to seize a unique opportunity to hand the country’s communist government a defeat in the polls.
Some anti-government activists consider the referendum an effort by the state to improve its human rights image following a brutal crackdown on all forms of dissent in recent years.
The referendum also comes during a serious energy crisis, which has led to daily power cuts affecting millions of people across the island.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I find this to be very progressive.
Fidel turning over in his grave.
Lord hope our Antigua men do go cuba and married
Well well well, the USA can learn something about democracy from Cuba. Cuba whom they call a dictatorship, and a communist country is holding a referendum on one of the most controversial topics in the world. Way to go Cuba.
I wonder what Biden has to say about that.
@From The Sidelines – so you approve of these deviates grooming children I see.
How nice…at least we all see your proclivities.
The “alphabet” movement has decimated american society in every aspect
I am making comments about a political process, and you draw from that my approval to some behavior. I really wonder what school you guys have been to, to always read more in my comments than I wrote. I’m not afraid to tell you where I stand on the issue of same sex marriage. I am against that for biblical reasons. My biblical conviction teaches me that a man should not lay with another man as it is an abomination unto God. And nothing in the world will make me change my opinion about that. Cause in the end I believe everyone will stand one day before the judge Jesus. Whether you believe it or not. You will have to give an account for your life on earth. While Moses went to the mountain top the people had a referendum and told Isaac they wanted to build a Calf to worship. Isaac allowed them to do so. That is called democracy for you. Majority rules. And these things will happen. The Bible tells us that. Men will become lovers of themselves. You Scott are from the teeny boppers generation. Your father and mother and my wife and I are good friends. Best Liat pilot ever. Captain Polly.
@ From The Sidelines – one, america isn’t yet a communist dictatorship, and against commonly held and ignorant belief it isn’t a democracy. Neither of these political theories can compare to what the founding fathers designed america to be.
Two, joe biden has already learned from the likes of marx, lennin, stalin, guevera etc.
Three, despite my deep dislike for this country your stating that we could learn something from the aforementioned communist vermin is frankly, deeply offensive.
Poor Scott.
Whatever your belief or opinion is, America is known as the beacon of Democracy. Cuba is known as a Communist State. And I applaud a communist state for holding a referendum on such a controversial issue. Not the outcome of it. A referendum is the highest form of democracy. The people will speak, not the leaders. We saw what that meant when we had a referendum on joining the CCJ. And you may be deeply offended by my statement, but that is your choice. Doesn’t change a thing about my statement. Actually, there are many more things we the so-called democratic states can learn about Cuba the Communist State. Reason why many of our doctors are educated in Cuba. And lots of our engineers as well. Those students have no burden of repaying a large student debt.
Abomination this is what Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for this, everyone has the right to decide his/her own destiny. Two seeds can’t bring forth a child neither can two eggs bring forth a child.Gaywrong could never be right.
@Warfare – abomination…and their blood shall be upon them.
Why? Why? Oh why?
The world is really in a messed up state. What next? Will it be the legalization of bestiality when interest groups start lobbying so they can marry their pet animals.
You never know. Judt read your Bible and stand guard. Anything is possible.
Luke 28;29
28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
That’s rich coming from you From the Sideline. You of all people can kiss battom like it a go out a style. Especially that battom belonging to Gaston Browne.
Looking forward to your next sphincter kissing episode.
Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…”
@From The Sidelines -You’re obviously far too blind or partisan to see this “referendum” to be the complete farce it is, at that you have my sympathies and a suggestion that you may want to do some study of cuba’s political history.
I don’t know where partisan or politics comes into my personal opinion on a referendum held in Cuba. But it must be the silly season. By the way, which party shares my views? I may want to join them. But maybe you’re right about doing some study of Cuba’s political history, but just bear in mind our age difference. I am of the generation of Che Guevara.
What is Che Guevara most famous for?
Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Spanish: [ˈtʃe ɣeˈβaɾa]; 14 June 1928 – 9 October 1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, writer, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist.
And those were my idols in those days.
@From The Sideline – silly season because I got you to admit you idolize communists?
Good day sir.
I idolized these figures way before you were a thought. Your mom and dad had not met yet. When you are young you are rebellious and radical. You protest against all the established order of the day. In my middle age I became more and more conservative. And, if I had to choose between two evils, it would be democracy with its capitalism. Over the years I have admire Cuba, but I don’t think I would be able to live there. Like our freedom to say whatever we want, especially on this forum, is good and bad. We can see the disrespect some have for the office of the Prime Minister even the Queen/King. These things are unthinkable in a Communist System. So, there is good and bad in everything. You choose which one you prefer. The bible doesn’t preach democracy anywhere. God is not elected, and his commandments are non-negotiable. And what was wrong yesterday, will remain wrong today and forever. It doesn’t change. While with people, overtime things change. That is why we now see one of the changes, Same Sex Marriage”. And that also from a Nation that is in majority Catholic. Catholics who don’t even want to endorse the use of contraceptives for women. Strange, isn’t it? So again, you didn’t get me to admit anything. But since I’ve told you how far back your father and I go, you can understand I’m not from your generation at all at all. I’m from the Bird Dynasty. Just a few of us left.
@From the sideline – just keep digging yourself in deeper!
You’re darkly funny like comrade biden.
Stop smoking whatever it is you’re smoking. And if it isn’t smoke, stop drinking. Cause you really have me at a loss.
“You’re darkly funny like comrade biden”. ?????
Comments are closed.