Queers to Cuba Tour

On December 27, 2007, a group of North Americanstransgender reassignment surgery. These changes
will make history by flying to Havana on the firstare being broadly debated by the population, yet
ever Queers to Cuba Tour. They'll spend eight daysNorth Americans hear very little about this kind of
experiencing the island's rich cultural heritage andpopular democracy."
meeting representatives of Cuban organizationsThe tour is being organized by Cuba Education Tours
working for sexual dignity. Activists from CENESEXof Vancouver, Canada, whose coordinator, Marcel
(the National Center for Sexual Education), the CubanHatch, insists, "The image of Cuba as a gulag for
organization advancing queer reforms and AIDSLGBT people is false. It's a myth invented by
awareness, will brief tour members on the islandopponents of revolutionary Cuba. As a gay, I feel
scene.safer in Cuba than in Canada or the States. Soon
Program highlights include joining the throngisland queers will enjoy greater rights and freedoms
celebrating the 49th anniversary of the Cubanthan their counterparts in the USA."
Revolution in Old Havana, attending an authentic dragRicardo Alarcon, president of Cuba's National
show, swimming at the gay beach, learning salsaAssembly, has said, "We have to abolish any form of
dancing from island pros, and sampling the city'sdiscrimination against those persons. We have to
exciting nightlife. Tour participants will explore colonialredefine the concept of marriage. Socialism should be
and modern Havana, sample museums of art anda society that does not exclude anybody."
history, and visit the eco-community at Las TerrazasSonja de Vries recalls, "When I visited Cuba last
in Pinar de Rio.December with a group, we met with CENESEX
The farewell dinner will be at La Guarida Restaurantpresident Mariela Castro Espin and she told us about
where the famous 1995 movie "Strawberry andthe concrete work being done with transgender
Chocolate" starring Jorge Perugorria and Vladimir Cruzpeople, with lesbians, and with families to encourage
was filmed. In the movie, a young Communist Partysupport of their LGBT kids. Several members of my
activist learns the meaning of live and let live from agroup were in tears. To see these efforts being
gay artistic director.carried out in a way that is so respectful and
The tour is being conducted by Sonja de Vries,compassionate is not something most of us have
co-founder of San Francisco-based Queers for Cuba,experienced with institutions, much less government!"
the first LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender)The inaugural Queers to Cuba Tour will run from
group to be officially invited to Cuba. Ms de VriesDecember 27, 2007, to January 3, 2008. Participants
studied race and gay issues in Havana from 1993 towill stay at the Hotel St John's in the heart Havana's
1994, and her groundbreaking documentary "GayVedado entertainment district. The services of a
Cuba" remains the last word on the subject.multilingual Cuban guide and a professional bus
"The Queers to Cuba Tour comes at an exciting timechauffeur will be provided throughout. It's an event
for LGBT equality in Cuba," says Sonja de Vries. "TheLGBT people and their friends from Canada, the
Cubans are drafting legislation to allow same sexUnited States, and beyond will not want to miss.
unions, lesbian adoption and insemination, and