The so-called "Family Code" was passed by a resounding majority of Cubans in a national vote on September 25. It is a body of laws that provides the LGBTQ+ population with a number of rights.
This reform received the approval of about 67% of Cubans, which was a notable development considering that homosexuality wasn't officially legal in the nation until 1979. Since the Cuban revolutionaries' victory in 1959, the LGBTQ+ community has been the target of brutal persecution. They were even detained in re-education centres during those times. However, abuses persisted throughout the early 2000s as well. Fidel Castro issued a public apology in 2010, attributing the injustice he allowed to occur in Cuba to himself.
The new center's laws also permit surrogate pregnancies and the prospect for same-sex couples to legally wed and have children. Furthermore, it outlaws child marriage and introduces new measures to combat gender-based violence. It is regarded as one of the most significant improvements in the area on a global scale.
The newly elected president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has publicly endorsed gay marriage, has firmly backed this proposal. Instead, religious and conservative organizations were strongly opposed to it.
However, opponents have some concerns about the sincerity of the President's support. Indeed, many detractors have noted that by backing this progressive measure, the President is attempting to improve his reputation. Indeed, due to the dire economic situation the island is in right now, his government has forcefully suppressed a variety of dissenting protests in recent months. Because of this, many LGBTQ+ advocates view this legislation as a bittersweet success.Even the exceptionally high abstention rates (about 26%) indicate that there is some discontent among the populace. However, due to severe rains associated with hurricane Ian, the voting process also encountered logistical challenges in certain island provinces. Some seats extended the voting period as a result.
The first two in post-revolutionary Cuba were held to approve the constitution in 1976 and 2019, making this the third referendum. As a result, it is the Caribbean Island's first public consultation on a particular issue.
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