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DC's Gay men's chorus finds Cuba's LGBT community struggling to be heard DC's gay men's chorus finds Cuba's LGBT community struggling to be heard
(about 5 hours later)
Decades of frozen diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba came to an end this week when the the Cuban flag was raised in Washington DC for the first time in 54 years – an especially poignant moment for members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, who had ended a tour in Havana two days before.Decades of frozen diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba came to an end this week when the the Cuban flag was raised in Washington DC for the first time in 54 years – an especially poignant moment for members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, who had ended a tour in Havana two days before.
The chorus is one of the first American cultural delegations to visit since the US president, Barack Obama, and his Cuban counterpart, Raúl Castro, announced in December that the two countries would normalize relations.The chorus is one of the first American cultural delegations to visit since the US president, Barack Obama, and his Cuban counterpart, Raúl Castro, announced in December that the two countries would normalize relations.
Related: Cuban same-sex couples 'wed' in march for LGBT rights led by Castro's daughterRelated: Cuban same-sex couples 'wed' in march for LGBT rights led by Castro's daughter
They took advantage of the country’s increasingly accessibility, where, in the past Fidel Castro had routinely sent openly gay men and women to labor camps in the decades following the revolution. They took advantage of the country’s increasing accessibility, where, in the past, Fidel Castro had routinely sent openly gay men and women to labor camps in the decades following the revolution.
So what did they find? Clandestine gay bars and an LGBT community that is seeking recognition from their fellow citizens.So what did they find? Clandestine gay bars and an LGBT community that is seeking recognition from their fellow citizens.
Fidel Castro said in 2010 that the labor camps, which people were sent to in the 1970s, were an “injustice”, and his brother Raúl Castro, who is now president, has overseen the most significant steps forward for the LGBT community in the country’s history. But the gains are somewhat overshadowed by the country’s limits on freedom of expression and other civil rights, the chorus’s executive director, Chase Maggiano told the Guardian. Fidel Castro said in 2010 that the labor camps, which people were sent to in the 1970s, were an “injustice”, and his brother Raúl Castro, who is now president, has overseen the most significant steps forward for the LGBT community in the country’s history. But the gains are somewhat overshadowed by the country’s limits on freedom of expression and other civil rights, the chorus’s executive director, Chase Maggiano, told the Guardian.
“A lot of what we were singing were songs about being yourself: ‘say what you want to say’ is one of the lyrics we sang over and over again,” said Maggiano. “We realized that the lyric ‘say what you want to say’ carries much more weight when you sing it to a bunch of Cubans who on many levels haven’t been able to say what they want to say for so long.”“A lot of what we were singing were songs about being yourself: ‘say what you want to say’ is one of the lyrics we sang over and over again,” said Maggiano. “We realized that the lyric ‘say what you want to say’ carries much more weight when you sing it to a bunch of Cubans who on many levels haven’t been able to say what they want to say for so long.”
Twenty members of the 300-person chorus went on the trip, which was organized by Youth For Understanding USA (YFU), a nonprofit that arranges cultural exchanges for students. This was the first YFU adult trip and it received backing from Raúl Castro’s daughter, Mariela Castro, the country’s most prominent LGBT rights advocate.Twenty members of the 300-person chorus went on the trip, which was organized by Youth For Understanding USA (YFU), a nonprofit that arranges cultural exchanges for students. This was the first YFU adult trip and it received backing from Raúl Castro’s daughter, Mariela Castro, the country’s most prominent LGBT rights advocate.
Before the trip, Maggiano and other chorus members met with the State Department and spoke with the Human Rights Campaign to be briefed on what to expect, but on-the-ground, question-and-answer sessions held after their performances provided an insight into what life is like for LGBT Cubans. These discussions provided the chorus with a stark depiction of the differences between LGBT rights in Cuba and the US.Before the trip, Maggiano and other chorus members met with the State Department and spoke with the Human Rights Campaign to be briefed on what to expect, but on-the-ground, question-and-answer sessions held after their performances provided an insight into what life is like for LGBT Cubans. These discussions provided the chorus with a stark depiction of the differences between LGBT rights in Cuba and the US.
After one show, Maggiano said an audience member asked how the group was able to organize as an LGBT activist group, leading Maggiano to give the details of becoming a nonprofit, but the man in the audience became emotional and cut him off to clarify. He wasn’t interested in the practical process, he wanted to know when the chorus members felt like the LGBT voice was recognized in the US. “Because in Cuba, even though a lot of really positive things are happening with LGBT rights it sounds like they are still not feeling heard,” Maggiano said.After one show, Maggiano said an audience member asked how the group was able to organize as an LGBT activist group, leading Maggiano to give the details of becoming a nonprofit, but the man in the audience became emotional and cut him off to clarify. He wasn’t interested in the practical process, he wanted to know when the chorus members felt like the LGBT voice was recognized in the US. “Because in Cuba, even though a lot of really positive things are happening with LGBT rights it sounds like they are still not feeling heard,” Maggiano said.
He realized then that he had to be more careful about what advice he could give out – the men’s chorus is safe to perform on the steps of the supreme court in Washington DC to celebrate same-sex marriage being made legal in the US – but in Cuba, marriage equality still seems far off and the annual Pride parade is in only its eighth year.He realized then that he had to be more careful about what advice he could give out – the men’s chorus is safe to perform on the steps of the supreme court in Washington DC to celebrate same-sex marriage being made legal in the US – but in Cuba, marriage equality still seems far off and the annual Pride parade is in only its eighth year.
“I didn’t want him to speak up and protest on the steps of the Capitol, because when you do that in Cuba, you get arrested,” said Maggiano. “It’s a delicate balance to try and push for more rights within their system and stay within what is acceptable in their government.”“I didn’t want him to speak up and protest on the steps of the Capitol, because when you do that in Cuba, you get arrested,” said Maggiano. “It’s a delicate balance to try and push for more rights within their system and stay within what is acceptable in their government.”
Between performances and a visit to the countryside, the chorus also had time to stop by some of the key sanctuaries for Cuba’s LGBT community – the gay bars. Chorus member AJ Rawls said that while the bars blasted American music videos and had “very attractive” bartenders, just like your typical US gay bar, unlike in the US, they had a bland outside appearance and inside there were many people who made it clear that they would accept money for sexual favors.Between performances and a visit to the countryside, the chorus also had time to stop by some of the key sanctuaries for Cuba’s LGBT community – the gay bars. Chorus member AJ Rawls said that while the bars blasted American music videos and had “very attractive” bartenders, just like your typical US gay bar, unlike in the US, they had a bland outside appearance and inside there were many people who made it clear that they would accept money for sexual favors.
Rawls thinks it’s because the gay community is still so small in Cuba that people may be willing to pay for what is still seen as a more underground activity. He also noted that like in some parts of the US, it’s clear that LGBT people in cosmopolitan areas are in a much better position than those in more isolated rural areas.Rawls thinks it’s because the gay community is still so small in Cuba that people may be willing to pay for what is still seen as a more underground activity. He also noted that like in some parts of the US, it’s clear that LGBT people in cosmopolitan areas are in a much better position than those in more isolated rural areas.
Rawls, who at 25 was the youngest member of the group, was born after the cold war ended, but as an American, had always felt the deep divide between his home country and Cuba. “In my lifetime, the idea of being an out gay man going to Cuba and singing for government officials, that just seemed like a pipe dream for me,” Rawls said. Rawls, who at 25 was the youngest member of the group, was born after the cold war ended, but as an American he had always felt the deep divide between his home country and Cuba. “In my lifetime, the idea of being an out gay man going to Cuba and singing for government officials, that just seemed like a pipe dream for me,” Rawls said.
And while the trip showed him how this gap is closing, after the group boarded its chartered flight to Miami, they were reminded that flying the Cuban flag in the US capital is a small step in easing more than half a century of strained relations. The flight, filled almost entirely with Americans, was stuck on the tarmac, having been told that they needed further clearance from the US Department of Homeland Security.And while the trip showed him how this gap is closing, after the group boarded its chartered flight to Miami, they were reminded that flying the Cuban flag in the US capital is a small step in easing more than half a century of strained relations. The flight, filled almost entirely with Americans, was stuck on the tarmac, having been told that they needed further clearance from the US Department of Homeland Security.
“It sort of brought everything home,” said Rawls. “We had a fantastic experience in Cuba, but opening diplomatic relations is a lot easier said than done.”“It sort of brought everything home,” said Rawls. “We had a fantastic experience in Cuba, but opening diplomatic relations is a lot easier said than done.”
While the group said Cubans were happy to see Americans and said that they look forward to being able to visit the country, travel restrictions remain in place between the two countries, as does the economic embargo.While the group said Cubans were happy to see Americans and said that they look forward to being able to visit the country, travel restrictions remain in place between the two countries, as does the economic embargo.
“I always just assumed that today everyone is going to be able to go down to Cuba no problem, but it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of coordinated effort from both parties to make it work,” said Rawls.“I always just assumed that today everyone is going to be able to go down to Cuba no problem, but it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of coordinated effort from both parties to make it work,” said Rawls.