DAUGHTER: PRESIDENT CASTRO SUPPORTS GAY RIGHTS

The daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro has led a Pride parade in Havana and said that her father will back equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Mariela Castro, a long-time activist for LGBT rights in Cuba, took part in Saturday’s parade to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) on 17 May.

Around 400 people took part in the colourful event though the streets of the capital city.

Castro, the head of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education and Fidel Castro’s niece, once again promised that LGBT equality was imminent and that this was supported by her father.

“It is surely part of his tactics and strategy; it is his style,” she said, adding, “I am not going to pressure him to say things publically, because I am more interested in concrete results.”

She also praised American President Barrack Obama for his recent statement that he is in favour of same-sex marriage rights.

In July 2011, Mariela Castro said that she expected draft legislation on gay rights and same-sex marriage to be discussed at the Communist Party conference in January this year but this did not come to fruition.