•  havana
• Saturday, October 30, 2010
• Inter Press Service

Men representing an array of sexual identifications have organised in Cuba to defend sexual rights and promote respect for 'other masculinities,' with the belief that greater visibility is needed to achieve true social change and acceptance.

Hombres por la Diversidad (HxD, Men for Diversity), a group 'for the right to free sexual identity,' promotes social transformation and 'works along the lines of education and advocacy for sexual and reproductive rights,' coordinator Alberto Roque told IPS.

HxD stands out in this socialist-run Caribbean nation for spreading the human rights focus to other associations and groups dealing with related issues. The group tries to maintain a balance between the institutional world and autonomy, as occurs with many citizen initiatives in Cuba.

Although it has offices at the government's National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX), making the most of 'organisational support and space provided by the institution,' HxD maintains its own objectives, said Roque. The immediate goals, he went on, are to consolidate as an organisation, become a presence on Internet-based social networks, participate in the annual events of International Day Against Homophobia (May 17), and organise a national symposium on sexual rights, which would involve individuals and groups with similar aims.

Additional efforts, he said, include building HxD as an opinion leader, create an observatory for homophobia in Cuba, and serve as a clearinghouse of information for the communications media. But the greatest focus will be on human rights because Cuban society needs 'to get rid of a little prejudice' in this matter, said Roque, who is also a critical care physician.

© Inter Press Service (2010) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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