Voice of America
27 Sep 2022, 04:37 GMT+10
Cubans have voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in a groundbreaking national referendum, the country's National Electoral Council announced Monday.
Voters in Sunday's referendum approved a new 100-page family code. The code not only allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children but also allows surrogate pregnancies and ensures broader rights and protections for the elderly, children and women, as well as measures against gender violence.
On Monday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel celebrated the measure's passage, tweeting, 'Love is now the law.' About 66.9% of voters approved of the family code and 33.1% voted against it.
This new legislation marks a historic moment in Cuba, a communist island where gay people were persecuted and sent to work camps as recently as the 1960s and '70s. Although homosexuality was legalized in Cuba in 1979, the gay community still faced discrimination.
The reform is a cumulative effort by gay rights activists in Cuba, backed by the government's support. The government promoted the law through a public relations campaign including thousands of informative meetings across the country and in official media.
'Voting 'yes' is saying yes to unity, to the revolution, to socialism,' the president said Thursday in a televised appeal for support.
Despite the government campaign, religious leaders, including Catholic bishops, spoke out against the proposal. Cuba's growing evangelical community openly opposed the code, saying it could threaten traditional nuclear families.
The measure had already been approved by Cuba's Parliament, the National Assembly, after years of debate about such reforms.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Get a daily dose of Barbados Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Barbados Bulletin.
More InformationVILNIUS, Lithuania – A growing body of research suggests that selectively restricting a single nutrient in our diet could have profound...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - , Australian Federal Police (AFP) have shut down a secret drug lab in Sydney's west and seized more than 100kg...
The US president has urged the Palestinian group to accept his Gaza ceasefire proposal ...
The US president has urged the Palestinian group to accept his Gaza ceasefire proposal US President Donald Trump has publicly warned...
US President Donald Trump urged Iran-backed Hamas militants to agree to what he called a final proposal for a 60-day cease-fire with...
(250702) -- ANKARA, July 2, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Syrians shop at a local market in the Onder neighborhood of Ankara, Trkiye, on July 1,...
Accra [Ghana], July 2 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ghana, members of the Indian diaspora in the country...
Accra (Ghana) [India], July 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Ghana will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 1 (ANI): South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch on Tuesday became just the fourth from his country and first...
Sonipat (Haryana) [India], July 1 (ANI): India Paralympic double gold medalist javelin thrower Sumit Antil expressed happiness at world...
New Delhi [India] July 1 (ANI): India star opening batter Smriti Mandhana has reaped a reward for her recent century against England...
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Former world champion and Olympic bronze medalist javelin thrower Anderson Peters of Grenada was announced...