A sex education center headed by the daughter of former Cuba ruler Raúl Castro has canceled a lively street parade known as Conga Cubana that is a key part of the island’s annual set of events against homophobia and transphobia.
“There will not be a Conga Cubana against Homophobia and Transphobia this year, because of certain circumstances that are not helpful to its success,” the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), led by Mariela Castro, said in a statement Monday.
The parade is part of Cuba’s annual “Journey Against Homophobia and Transphobia,” which is scheduled to take place from May 7-18 with events across the island.
The statement added that the reasons for canceling the colorful Conga Cubana included “the international and regional tensions” that impact “the normal development of our daily lives and the implementation of Cuban government policies.”
One of the organizers of the “Journey Against Homophobia and Transphobia” events told el Nuevo Herald that “the true motive” for the cancellation was “to avoid confrontations with Christian groups.” The organizer, who spoke on condition anonymity for fear of reprisals, added that authorities asked “to avoid any kind of confrontation” that could spark a massive street protest.
Read more at our news partner, the Miami Herald.
