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Cuba gay man and transgender woman marry | Cuba gay man and transgender woman marry |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A Cuban man and transgender woman have married in what is being seen as the country's first "gay wedding". | A Cuban man and transgender woman have married in what is being seen as the country's first "gay wedding". |
Same sex marriage is illegal in Cuba, but bride Wendy Iriepa is legally a woman after undergoing one of the first state-sponsored sex changes in 2007. | Same sex marriage is illegal in Cuba, but bride Wendy Iriepa is legally a woman after undergoing one of the first state-sponsored sex changes in 2007. |
Her fiance, Ignacio Estrada, is a noted dissident and gay rights activist in Cuba and suffers from Aids. | |
The couple said the wedding, timed to coincide with Fidel Castro's birthday, was a "gift" for the former leader. | The couple said the wedding, timed to coincide with Fidel Castro's birthday, was a "gift" for the former leader. |
The wedding in Havana was attended by prominent dissidents and members of the gay community. | The wedding in Havana was attended by prominent dissidents and members of the gay community. |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people faced official discrimination for years in communist Cuba. | Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people faced official discrimination for years in communist Cuba. |
'Great injustice' | 'Great injustice' |
In the early days of the revolution many were sent to re-education camps to stamp out their "counter-revolutionary" values. | In the early days of the revolution many were sent to re-education camps to stamp out their "counter-revolutionary" values. |
But homosexuality was made legal in 1970, and President Raul Castro has introduced a series of gay rights reforms since taking over from his brother Fidel in 2006. | But homosexuality was made legal in 1970, and President Raul Castro has introduced a series of gay rights reforms since taking over from his brother Fidel in 2006. |
Last year Fidel Castro himself apologised for the persecution of homosexuals under his rule, calling it a "great injustice". | Last year Fidel Castro himself apologised for the persecution of homosexuals under his rule, calling it a "great injustice". |
Ms Iriepa, 37, had her sex-change treatment at the National Centre for Sex Education, which is headed by Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela. | Ms Iriepa, 37, had her sex-change treatment at the National Centre for Sex Education, which is headed by Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela. |
"I dedicate my wedding to all those who want to have their own," she said after the ceremony. | "I dedicate my wedding to all those who want to have their own," she said after the ceremony. |
"This is the first wedding between a transsexual woman and a gay man," Mr Estrada, 31, said. | "This is the first wedding between a transsexual woman and a gay man," Mr Estrada, 31, said. |
"We celebrate it at the top of our voices and affirm that this is a step forward for the gay community in Cuba." | "We celebrate it at the top of our voices and affirm that this is a step forward for the gay community in Cuba." |
Dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez, who acted as a godmother at the ceremony, said that while the marriage was not technically a gay wedding "it is the closest we have come". | Dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez, who acted as a godmother at the ceremony, said that while the marriage was not technically a gay wedding "it is the closest we have come". |
"We are very happy with what happened today," she wrote on Twitter. | "We are very happy with what happened today," she wrote on Twitter. |
"It was a big step in a small Cuba". | "It was a big step in a small Cuba". |
Birthday celebrations | Birthday celebrations |
Far larger celebrations have been taking place across the island to mark the 85th birthday of Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba for nearly half a century | Far larger celebrations have been taking place across the island to mark the 85th birthday of Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba for nearly half a century |
The veteran leader handed power to his brother in 2006 because of serious illness, but is still officially recognised as the "historic leader of the revolution". | The veteran leader handed power to his brother in 2006 because of serious illness, but is still officially recognised as the "historic leader of the revolution". |
The main event was a televised concert on Friday night at Havana's Karl Marx theatre, where stars from across Latin America performed for 5000 guests. | The main event was a televised concert on Friday night at Havana's Karl Marx theatre, where stars from across Latin America performed for 5000 guests. |
Fidel himself did not attend, and nor did Raul. | Fidel himself did not attend, and nor did Raul. |
Fidel Castro has rarely been seen or heard in public since handing power to his brother. | Fidel Castro has rarely been seen or heard in public since handing power to his brother. |
In recent months he has been looking even frailer, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says, and his regular newspaper editorials have also dried up for the moment. | In recent months he has been looking even frailer, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says, and his regular newspaper editorials have also dried up for the moment. |
President Raul Castro, 80, is now firmly in charge, and has set about overhauling Cuba's struggling socialist economy. | President Raul Castro, 80, is now firmly in charge, and has set about overhauling Cuba's struggling socialist economy. |
But even in retirement, Fidel Castro remains a dominant force in the island, our correspondent says. | But even in retirement, Fidel Castro remains a dominant force in the island, our correspondent says. |