Reply #83: Cuba to give transsexuals free sex-change operations and hormonal therapy

[IndianaGreen]

Castro's niece behind revolution in sexual politics

Mariela Castro wants macho society's attitudes, policies to change

Thursday, June 29, 2006; Posted: 4:59 p.m. EDT (20:59 GMT)

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters) -- Mariela Castro is leading a Cuban revolution less well-known than her Uncle Fidel's -- one in favor of sexual tolerance within the island's macho society.

Castro, 43, is leading the charge from her government-funded National Center for Sex Education, based in an old Havana mansion.

As director of the group, she promoted a soap opera that scandalized many Cubans in March by sympathetically depicting bisexuality. The controversial show depicted, among other story lines, the life of a construction worker who leaves his wife and children for the man next door.

Now President Castro's niece is pushing for passage of a law that would give transsexuals free sex-change operations and hormonal therapy in addition to granting them new identification documents with their changed gender.

A draft bill was presented to parliament last year and was well-received, she said. It is expected to come up for a vote in December.

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