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Gay Rally Held In Havana

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The Associated Press

Published: May 18, 2008

HAVANA - Cuba's gay community celebrated unprecedented openness - and political alliances - with a government-backed campaign against homophobia Saturday.

The meeting at a convention center in Havana's Vedado district may have been the largest gathering of openly gay activists ever on the communist-run island. President Raul Castro's daughter Mariela, who has promoted the rights of sexual minorities, presided.

"This is a very important moment for us, the men and women of Cuba, because for the first time we can gather in this way and speak profoundly and with scientific basis about these topics," said Castro, director of Cuba's Center for Sexual Education.

Mariela Castro joined government leaders and hundreds of activists at the one-day conference for the International Day Against Homophobia that featured shows, lectures, panel discussions and book presentations. A station also offered blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Cuban state television gave prime-time play Friday to "Brokeback Mountain," which tells the story of two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

Cuba's parliament is studying proposals to legalize same-sex unions and give gay couples the benefits of traditional marriages.

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