Fidel Castro takes blame for 1960s gay persecution

[Better Believe It]

Fidel Castro takes blame for 1960s gay persecution
August 31, 2010

Fidel Castro took the blame for a wave of homophobia launched by his revolutionary government in the 1960s, but said it happened because he was distracted by other problems, in an interview published on Tuesday in a Mexican newspaper.

The former Cuban president told La Jornada the persecution of gays, who were rounded up at the time as supposed counterrevolutionaries and placed in forced labor camps, was a “great injustice” that arose from the island’s history of discrimination against homosexuals.

He said he was not prejudiced against gays, but “if anyone is responsible (for the persecution), it’s me.”

“I’m not going to place the blame on others,” he said.

Mr. Castro, 84, said he was busy in those days fending off threats from the United States, including attempts on his life, and trying to maintain the revolution that put him in power in 1959.

“We had so many and such terrible problems, problems of life or death,” Mr. Castro said.

“In those moments I was not able to deal with that matter (of homosexuals). I found myself immersed, principally, in the Crisis of October (Cuban Missile Crisis), in the war, in policy questions,” he said.

Official persecution of gays continued into the 1970s before homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1979. Today, Cuba’s medical service provides free sex-change operations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/fidel-castro-takes-blame-for-1960s-gay-persecution/article1691613/

[jobycom]

1. At least he took blame and not credit. Sounds like he's trying to up his humanitarian creds

nearing the end of his life. He was a revolutionary against some of the things his government became anyway. Maybe the old revolutionary is able to emerge now that he no longer runs the government?

Interesting article.

[EFerrari]

5. It would have been surprising if a nation under constant attack

didn't develop some kind of bunker mentality, imo.

[jobycom]

9. Yeah, his paranoia was justified, no doubt.

He was 90 miles from the most powerful nation on Earth and it had a grudge against him. Most revolutionaries have to compromise their original ideals when they actually get into power. Thomas Jefferson, Robespierre, Lenin... The ones who won't compromise run off to South American nations and get shot.

[marginlized]

2. Wow, it was decriminalized in 1979?

how long did it take the US to decriminalize it nationally? Oh yeah, that was 2003.

[Better Believe It]

6. So Cuba’s medical service provides free sex-change operations.

How about Medicaid and most health insurance policies in the United States?

[readmoreoften]

11. Bwa hahahahaha!

Yeah. In the US, you better not let your insurer find out you're transsexual. And nothing's covered anyway. My partner can't even find a trans friendly primary physician in network and we live in a large city.

[readmoreoften]

10. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Revolutionary Russia in 1920 under Lenin/Trotsky.

Abortion was also legalized in 1920.

Then Stalin came in and created "The New Socialist Family" slogan, recriminalized abortion, and persecuted gays. Reactionaries always out themselves by their treatment of women and gays. It's good that Castro is accepting responsibility.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[bobbolink]

4. I give him credit for reconciliation toward the end of his life.

So many leaders need to follow in his footsteps.

It doesn't undo the pain inflicted, but taking responsibility is the mature thing to do.

[VMI Dem]

7. Well, our President...

never mind.

[bullwinkle428]

12. ...will issue another statement reiterating his belief that marriage

is between one man and one woman!

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Wow

How often do leaders every say: I take responsibility and it was my fault.

Totally recommending this thread.

Pssst - Filing this under Things we'll never hear from Bush or Cheney.

[deaniac21]

13. Not only free sex change operations but if your family works

very hard for many years you might be able to get a 1952 Ford.

[Better Believe It]

15. A 1952 Ford would go for big bucks here!

Don't they have public transportation in Cuba?

[deaniac21]

17. Not one you'd get in Cuba.

[Better Believe It]

19. Wanna bet? Check out these classic cars that you'll see on the streets in Cuba

Cubans put a lot of effort and ingenuity into maintaining old careds like this 1952 Ford Custom.



Here's a 1952 Ford Taxi!



More classic cars in Cuba. 1953 Ford, 1951 Ford, 1954 Chevrolet, 1957 Ford, 1953 Chevrolet

[damntexdem]

14. Good, though a bit late.

This was a real stain on Cuba's rep.

[Radical Activist]

16. It's admiral that he took blame.

This story is a good reminder of why any government based around one person, or a few people, is always a bad idea, even if the ruler is well-intentioned.

“In those moments I was not able to deal with that matter (of homosexuals). I found myself immersed, principally, in the Crisis of October (Cuban Missile Crisis), in the war, in policy questions,” he said.

[proteus_lives]

18. He was too distracted executing political prisoners and establishing a dictatorship.

Hey, the guy had a lot on his plate.

[Better Believe It]

20. Really? And when did those executions of "political prisoners" end?

I'm listening.