Sex-changes in Cuba will be no-cost, like all health care

Cuba’s National Assembly of Popular Power has agreed to discuss making sex-reassignment surgery free of cost to all “transexuales” on the island who request it.

The entire public health care system in Cuba is free of charge.

Mariela Castro Espín, director of the National Center of Sexual Education (CENESEX), has led the move to make sex-reassignment available to Cubans free to all who seek it. Mariela Castro, a leader in her own right, is the daughter of renowned revolutionary leader Vilma Espín and acting Cuban President Raúl Castro.

The newsletter Diversidad (Diversity) reported: “The measure would complement the present Identity Law that already acknowledges the right of citizens to change name and sexual identity. This places Cuba at the vanguard of the legislations that acknowledge the rights of transvestites, transsexuals and transgender in Latin America.”

It places Cuba at the vanguard of legislations in North America, as well. Sex-reassignment is priced out of reach for many transsexual men and women in the U.S. And health care in general is a pricey privilege denied tens of millions in the heartland of imperialism.

The publication reported that Cuba’s parliament will also discuss legislative recognition of same-sex unions.

For an in-depth historical materialist look at the trajectory of the Cuban Revolution since 1959 on same-sex love and gender variance, read the Lavender & Red series at: www.workers.org. Look for the lavender and red logo.

—Leslie Feinberg