President Obama Addresses Gay Rights, Meets With LGBT Leaders, During Historic Cuban Visit

"Citizens should be free to speak their mind without fear, to organize and to criticize their government..."
From: NewNowNext

 Last week, President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928, but he didn’t avoid addressing LGBT issues on the island today.

“There are still enormous problems in our society, but democracy is the way that we solve them,” said Obama in a speech at Havana’s Alicia Alonso Grand Theater. “That’s how we got health care for more of our people. That’s how we made enormous gains in women’s rights, in gay rights.”

Saying the embargo against Cuba makes “no sense in the 21st century,” Obama still addressed the human rights issues that concern many.

 “Every person should be equal under the law, every child deserves the dignity that comes with education and health care and food on the table and a roof over their heads,” he said.

“Citizens should be free to speak their mind without fear, to organize and to criticize their government and to protest peacefully and that the rule of law should not include arbitrary detentions of people who exercise those rights.”

Cuban president Raul Castro was in attendance at the meeting, which was broadcast on Cuban television, as were Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett. Among the civilians attending were Juana Mora Cedeño and Nelson Álvarez Matute of the LGBT advocacy group Alianza Mano.

“All of the individuals around this table have shown extraordinary courage,” Obama said. “They have spoken out on behalf of the issues that they care deeply about. Some of them represent specific constituencies inside of Cuba. Some of them have broader concerns regarding democracy, the ability to speak freely, worship freely, or assemble or are advocating on behalf of democratic practices here in Cuba.”

Mora (left, center) told the Washington Blade that Obama “listened to everyone… including the LGBT community.”

She is critical of Raul Castro’s regime, which many see as a continuation of his brother, Fidel’s, agenda. Raul’s daughter, Mariela Castro, promotes LGBT rights as director of the National Center for Sexual Education, but critics claim she is little more than a government mouthpiece.

On Monday before the visit, Cuban Foundation for LGBTI Rights President Nelson Gandulla Díaz told the Blade police came to his home and questioned him about his plans during Obama’s visit.