At a pre-march labor rally, Christina Marie Sabio Hilo of New York State Nurses Association fired up the crowd: “I’m not only a nurse, I’m a mother. Children are being murdered in Gaza. And they want you to believe these sham elections are the real story, while children are dying!”
Photo by redguard
By Ben Norton
struggle-la-lucha.org
Revolutionary Havana youth describe the process of building legislation in direct dialogue with the people
By Natalia Marques
On Sept. 25, Cuba passed one of the world’s most progressive codes on families. All in one go, the small island nation legalized same-sex marriage, defined and upheld the rights of children, the disabled, caregivers, and the elderly, and redefined “family” along ties of affinity rather than blood. This opens the concept of “family” to include nontraditional forms of familial relations, which exist outside the model of the heterosexual nuclear family.
Hailed as “revolutionary” by many in Cuba, the code will help provide protections to people who would have otherwise faced discrimination in society while ensuring that Cubans in same-sex relationships who wish to marry now have the legal right to do so.
struggle-la-lucha.org
By Lallan Schoenstein
On Sunday, Jan. 22, a webinar panel will report on “What we can learn from Cuba’s ‘code of freedom’ for families.” The people of socialist Cuba voted by a two-thirds margin for the new Code of Families on Sept. 25. The vote was won after three years of democratic discussion and education at all levels of society.
Registration link
Sunday, Jan. 22 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / 12 noon Pacific
Rights for LGBTQ+ people * Equality for chosen families * Respect for youth, elders and the disabled
On Sept. 25 something incredibly important happened just 90 miles from U.S. shores. After three years of democratic discussion and education at all levels of society, the people of socialist Cuba voted by a two-thirds margin for a new Code of Families.
The new code enshrines in law the rights of LGBTQ+ people and women in marriage and adoption. It changes the fundamental relationship between parents and children to one based on responsibilities and rights. It elevates chosen families to the same status as blood families. It protects the rights and dignity of elders and people with disabilities. It embraces the rights that are being stripped away from people in the U.S., or that we never had at all.
Cuba is under siege from the U.S. blockade, which has been condemned by the United Nations for 30 years, but tightened by Trump and maintained by Biden. How was Cuba able to accomplish this historic transformation of families while faced with climate-change disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic? And why are the U.S. media silent about this accomplishment?
What can we learn from Cuba’s experience building solidarity at a time when our rights are under vicious attack by the capitalist class, its political parties and violent white supremacist groups?
SPEAKERS
- Special message from Mariela Castro Espín, director of CENESEX - Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education
- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Women In Struggle / Mujeres En Lucha
- Cheryl LaBash, National Network on Cuba co-chair
- Gloria Verdieu, Prisoners Solidarity Committee
- Mahtowin Munro, United American Indians of New England
- Melinda Butterfield, Struggle-La Lucha co-editor
- Moderator: Ellie McCrow, Pratt Workers United
Followed by Q & A
Sponsored by Women In Struggle / Mujeres En Lucha, member of Women’s International Democratic Federation
struggle-la-lucha.org
By Melinda Butterfield
Two days after the historic referendum approving Cuba’s new Code of Families, diplomats held a special briefing at the Cuban Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
Two things were immediately apparent: the immense pride of the Cuban representatives in the victory of the new Code of Families; and the hunger of people from the U.S. to learn from Cuba’s experience in light of ongoing right-wing efforts to roll back people’s rights here.
struggle-la-lucha.org
By Alejandra Garcia
Cuba dawned with great expectation for the long-awaited news: The Family Code will be law after the majority of Cubans supported the document during the popular Referendum held on Sunday.
It’s important for the LGBTQI+ community in the United State to know and discuss that just 90 miles away from Ron DeSantis’ Florida, Cuba’s people just ratified the most progressive family policy in the world, protecting the rights of women, children, queer and trans people. Two-thirds of Cuban voters said ‘Si’ to the new Families Code.
So we must ask, why are President Biden and Congress sitting on their hands instead of taking action to protect our rights? Why is the U.S. still blockading Cuba? Trump put Cuba back on the so-called 'State Sponsors of Terrorism’ list; why has Biden let it stand?
We have so much to learn from Cuba’s new Families Code: how it was democratically discussed throughout society and how it was won despite a right-wing campaign against 'gender ideology.'
Our LGBTQI+ community needs to free itself from anti-communism and anti-Cuba stereotypes. We need to stop letting U.S. politicians use us as a bludgeon for war and sanctions against other countries while they disregard our rights here at home.
- redguard
Friday, September 30 - 4:00 pm
Outside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1400 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118
For those who survived Indian residential/boarding schools and those who never came home.
Called by United Native American Indians of New England and North American Indian Center of Boston
peoplesdispatch.org
The new Family Code, drafted in consultation with the general public, is considered to be the world's most inclusive and progressive code
Cuba is set to hold a popular referendum on its new Family Code, which changes the concept of the family nucleus and expands women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. This Sunday, on September 18, Cuban citizens living abroad, and next Sunday, on September 25, citizens in Cuba will vote to decide whether to “approve” or “reject” a new progressive Family Code, which has been drafted in consultation with the general public.
This referendum is an unprecedented democratic exercise in Cuba, since for the first time in the country’s history, a referendum on a code is being held. Until now only constitutional referendums have been held in the country. Additionally, it is a pioneering event in the world, as Cuba has become the first country in the world to have submitted a Family Code to popular consultation and referendum. The new Family Code is also considered to be the most inclusive and progressive code in the world.
The new code guarantees the right of all people to form a family without discrimination, legalizing same sex marriage and allowing such couples to adopt children. It allows for parental rights to be shared among extended and non-traditional family structures that could include grandparents, step parents and surrogate mothers. It also adds novelties such as prenuptial agreements and assisted reproduction.
It boosts women’s rights, promoting equal sharing of domestic responsibilities and extending labor rights to those who care full-time for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. It establishes the right to a family life free from violence; that values love, affection, solidarity and responsibility. It codifies domestic violence penalties, and outlaws corporal punishment. It states that parents will have “responsibility” instead of “custody” of children, and be required to be “respectful of the dignity and physical and mental integrity of children and adolescents.” It also asserts that parents should grant maturing offspring more say over their lives.