The CIA had funded 42 programs against Cuba, some of which targeted anti-racist, feminist and LGBT activists

Daughter of Raul and member of parliament, Mariela Castro (photo) is not so much recognized for her surname as for her action in favor of LGBT rights. The feminist recounts the advances of the Family Code in Cuba, one of the most inclusive on the Continent, and a heavy context of adversity, with the United States quick to recover progressive causes for hegemonic ends.

BY Lina SANKARI (L’Humanité Magazine)

Mariela Castro has something to hold on to. Daughter of the revolutionary and former president Raul Castro, she obviously inherited an inexhaustible spirit from her uncle, Fidel. Director of the Center for Sexual Education and Human Development (Cedesex) and MP, the feminist has long been committed to LGBT rights and against gender violence. She explains how, since the presidency of Barack Obama, American foreign policy has turned to progressive causes in order to extend its hegemony. In 2020, the National Endowment for Democracy [the NED, National Endowment for Democracy], directly linked to the CIA, financed 42 programs against the Big Island, some of which directly concern anti-racist, feminist and LGBT activists.

The feminist struggle is, according to you, one of the fronts that imperialism tries to divide. How?

Mariela Castro: From its beginnings, the struggle for women's liberation was attacked by patriarchy and capitalism, as is the case with all popular struggles. We cannot undo with the stroke of a pen the structural and symbolic oppression suffered for centuries. The oppressors are constantly looking for mechanisms to impose their power. The October Revolution demonstrated that without changing the socio-political system, it is impossible to eliminate the causes of discrimination and social exclusion. Throughout history, division has always been the weapon of the oppressors and neoliberalism has given itself the means to wage an ideological and media war in this direction. They have tried to trivialize the struggle for women's rights by limiting it to reforms such as the right to vote. But the woman continued to be exploited.

Are there, in Cuba, attempts to put identities in competition in order to harm the revolutionary project?

Mariela Castro: The United States, like others, seizes on ideas about feminism to attract young people, artists and part of the working class and discredit revolutionary institutions. They divided feminism into several fractions by explaining that certain institutions did not work and that it was necessary to create other bodies. They have divided anti-racism organizations, the LGBT movement around the world and are trying to replicate this pattern in Cuba.

THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION DEMONSTRATED THAT WITHOUT A CHANGE IN THE SOCIOPOLITICAL SYSTEM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE THE CAUSES OF DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION.

Through social networks, fake news, feminist or LGBT activists who defend the Revolution are demonized. They were trained here and worked with us. Some have joined foundations that defend the interests of the United States, others have been directly recruited by the CIA or organizations such as the Open Society Foundations network (created by the American billionaire George Soros in 1979 – Editor’s note). One of the mechanisms lies in the payment of scholarships so that they lead the battle in the academic world. They make money and live on it. They are mercenaries against their own country.

What role does the new Family Code play in the revolutionary process?

Mariela Castro: The Federation of Cuban Women gave its support to the 1975 Family Code, which had already been submitted for popular approval. For forty-seven years, we have continued to develop in the legal and social field. The Academy has continued to provide elements in order to develop this code but also the legal and legislative practice. Some changes had to wait for changes in the Constitution. The constitutional reform was the most important element in this direction.

This reform is the result of the work of trade unions, civil society organizations, universities and neighborhood organizations. These open meetings were an opportunity to focus on what was wrong with Cuban society and how we wanted to change it. Cuba is a small place of socialist experience in a capitalist world.

THIS REFORM IS THE RESULT OF THE WORK OF TRADE UNIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, UNIVERSITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS.

What progress does this code bring?

Mariela Castro: With the Constitution, respect for the human person has become a fundamental principle. It condemns discrimination based on sex, gender, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity. The Family Code has developed the possibilities offered by the fundamental law: concerning sexual and reproductive rights, protection against violence, protection of children, the elderly and people with disabilities. He establishes marriage for all without exception. The code recognizes maternity and paternity without exclusion due to sexual orientation or gender identity. It reinforces the principle of progressive autonomy of children.

For what ?

Mariela Castro: In the 1960s, the CIA and the Catholic Churches in Miami and Havana organized Operation Peter Pan, a counter-revolutionary campaign that claimed the Cuban government would abduct children and send them to the USSR ( and thus stripping the parents of their authority – editor’s note). As incredible as it may seem, the petty and middle bourgeoisie believed in this thesis. 14,000 children were then flown alone and placed in families (in 35 states of the United States). There was a lot of suffering, some were enslaved, others suffered sexual abuse.

NEOLIBERALISM SEIZES FEMINIST IDEAS TO DISCREDIT REVOLUTIONARY INSTITUTIONS.

A minority was welcomed but the majority never forgave. After that, the Americans broke off relations with Cuba and the families were separated forever. Children have become an instrument of the political game. If, at that time, Cuba had had the right to progressive autonomy for children, the latter could have refused to go to the United States. This principle is included in the Family Code. If there is a conflict, the best interests of the children must be respected.

You have substituted the principle of parental responsibility for the patriarchal principle of parental authority. What is it about ?

Mariela Castro: We have improved and facilitated the dispute resolution mechanism. We recognize the role and rights of grandparents when they take over from parents. Other families wanted to take children away from gay parents for fear they would set bad examples. The Family Code protects them, which is why we call it the Code of Love. The one who protects all the ties of affection, the families who support each other in the ties of love more than in the ties of blood. Having a child does not give immutable rights, unlike the contribution to its development and the respect that we bring to it.

THE FAMILY CODE ESTABLISHES MARRIAGE FOR ALL, PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF SAME PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

This principle has been attacked by the Catholic Church in the same way as marriage for all. Several campaigns have been conducted and funded from Miami. There are even churches that have “sold the faith”, that is, they have paid people in need to speak out against the project. Several mercenary groups were also active during this period. They used LGBT fatherhood as a pretext to attack the Cuban Revolution, because we don't force anyone to get married in the church. There were also comrades within the Communist Party who opposed it because of their prejudices.

What about solidarity surrogacy?

Mariela Castro: It concerns families who benefit from the assisted reproduction program of the Ministry of Public Health. Families sometimes ask that another member be able to help them have a child without exercising power and without money coming into play. The Code includes family but also close friends for whom it can be legally demonstrated that there is no power issue.

How is Cuba preparing for the aging of its population?

Mariela Castro: We have introduced a provision to recognize the role of carers with the possibility of the state paying them a salary. Despite advances in women's rights, the social division of labor persists. Sociological studies show that in the presence of elderly, sick or disabled people, it is the women who stop. In the social imagination of hegemonic masculinity, the man is the person who must support the family economically. The woman accepts it on the pretext that the man would feel devalued by domestic work. However, if women with a high professional level stop, the company loses significant potential.

Needs are not met in terms of crèches and retirement homes. The municipalities have identified the number of establishments they would need. The grandparents are brought there in the morning and, on returning from work, the family picks them up. We try to maintain the family bond. This is part of the provisions of the Family Code, which provides for responsibility towards grandparents. Abuse effectively excludes children from the inheritance. It is a national strategy for prevention and care for others. The father is no longer solely responsible and, in this, we break with the legacy of Spanish colonization.

Published on Saturday February 18, 2023 in L'Humanité Magazine by Lina Sankari.

Transmitted by Cuba Coopération.

https://www.legrandsoir.info/cuba-defend-le-lien-d-amour-avant-celui-du-sang.html

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