Reply #287: Fidel Has Never Killed or Imprisoned Gays [View All]

[Akim]

Fidel Castro has never killed or even imprisoned any gay during his entire 47 years in power. He has, in fact, been their greatest protector and sponsor. In fact, I think it would be fair to say that he saved Cuba's gay population from 500 years of persecution by the Church and state. This traditional anti-gay machismo has not been easy to conquer, but Castro has done so in the same effective way that he has cured all other social ills in Cuba.

Before 1959, at least half the women in Cuba were engaged in prostitution. A very large number of the men were also pimps or gigolos catering to both sexes. So called "decent society" had given up on these people as "scum." Fidel saw them as human beings victimized by an unjust social order whose lives needed to be reclaimed so that they could become useful members of society.

To shield them from the ages-old prejudices, Fidel created rehabilitation centers where their medical needs could be addressed (almost all were suffering from venereal diseases) and they could be taught useful trades and re-introduced into a fairer and more tolerant society.

Many of those in the rehabilitation centers happened to be gay, but they were not there because they were gay; nor was their sexual orientation challenged. Instead, they were reassured that it was irrelevant for the formation of the "new man" in Cuba. Socialism, which embraced people as a whole, would not exclude them from the bright future that was opening for all Cubans, regardless of sex, color or sexual orientation.

Very few of these individuals, whether gay or straight, ever returned to their former lives, but were fully integrated into society. From their ranks came community leaders, government ministers and even archbishops.

It is fair to say that never in history has any program to change the self-destructive behavior of social outcastes been more successful than the UMAP re-education center.

I think that many on this forum have been too lax in accepting claims that gays were persecuted in Cuba in the 1960s. Don't let yourselves be sucked in by gusano lies to the point that you become defensive or tacitly agree with the enemy.

Not one inch must be surrendered in the battle of ideas!