The Revolutionary Communist Group – for an anti-imperialist movement in Britain

Cuban socialism, equality and social justice: interview with Dr Mariela Castro

FRFI interviewed Dr Mariela Castro at the National Centre for Sexual Education (CENESEX) headquarters in Havana, Cuba. Mariela Castro is the head of CENESEX, a deputy in the Cuban National Assembly, a committed defender of the Cuban Revolution and an advocate for the Palestinian liberation struggle. She is also the daughter of two revolutionaries: Vilma Espín, founder of the Federation of Cuban Women, and Raúl Castro, current General of the Army and former president of Cuba. Mariela Castro continues her family’s legacy of revolutionary leadership at a time when Cuba is resisting increasingly intense imperialist aggression.

FRFI: In a world where imperialism fuels oppression and bigotry, how has revolutionary Cuba advanced the struggles for sexual and gender equality? What role does CENESEX play in building this socialist vision of liberation?

Dr Mariela Castro: The issue of gender equality has been addressed since the triumph of the Cuban revolution, in 1959. A month after the victory, the Fundamental Law of the Republic was passed, establishing equal pay between men and women. This was followed by the national literacy campaign, which in 1961 mobilised over 250,000 volunteers, many of them young women, to teach Cubans how to read and write across the island, eradicating illiteracy in less than a year.

Women’s presence in Cuban history is important, and has always been important, but especially since the Revolution’s triumph, women’s participation has been massive. The main way women have been organised is through the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), which has played a major role in Cuba’s most progressive transformations. The FMC emerged from the women’s movement, focusing not only on equality [between men and women] but also increasingly recognising the rights of LGBT people. This process came later because the fight for women’s rights in Cuba had already gained legitimacy and was better organised both theoretically and at the level of social movements and politics. The FMC’s work was part of a much broader revolutionary tradition in which women have been central to social transformation. Cuba’s own experience has been enriched by the lessons of earlier struggles, especially those of the first socialist revolution in the Soviet Union.

Women have always been at the forefront of revolutions. In the first socialist revolution, the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin, figures like Alexandra Kollontai and Clara Zetkin made decisive contributions to women’s participation in socialist transformation. Even in exile, Lenin worked closely with revolutionary women, recognising the women’s question as integral to the revolutionary process. The Bolshevik experience left an essential mark on the international struggle for socialism — one Cuba has studied and drawn lessons from. Those lessons remain urgent today, in our current confrontation with the US blockade and increasing imperialist aggression.

CENESEX was created by the FMC in 1972, initially as a multidisciplinary and intersectoral working group tasked with developing Cuba’s National Sexual Education Programme. To begin with, it worked on public outreach, scientific dissemination, training, and professional education. Then, after a resolution from the Ministry of Public Health, the programme was transformed from a working group into what is now CENESEX. It became an advisory institution under the Ministry of Health and for Cuban society more broadly.

Taking on this responsibility, CENESEX continued strengthening what the world had been learning in terms of gender studies and equity, working to address violence, and other areas important to the struggle for women’s rights and gender equality. The FMC, while defining itself as a women’s organisation, incorporated the most advanced ideas of feminist thought and the international women’s movement into the revolutionary process. Building on gains in the struggle against misogyny, CENESEX asked: why not also draw on the lessons of LGBT movements abroad – and from the revolutionary traditions within our own history? For example, at the first Congress of the Cuban Communist Party in 1975, sexual education was approved as a fundamental tool in educating new generations. Responsibility for this was placed primarily on families and schools, then became the focus of our institution’s work which led to important achievements. Seeing how the world was advancing LGBT rights while we were still lagging behind, we realised that the revolutionary process must be developed to create a path to educate people in respect for LGBT rights, just as we had done with women. CENESEX didn’t invent anything new, we simply took what had already been done for women and adapted it, to show the importance of defending LGBT rights.

We also pointed out the ideological inconsistency of a revolution committed to full justice, while failing to recognise the inequalities and discrimination suffered by LGBT people. This self-reflection enabled us to develop strategies and organise activities in their defence. Since 2018, we have marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia with demonstrations, galas, festivals, and educational courses. It has become one of our largest annual events, bringing together academics, artists, and community organisations as part of our national education campaigns. These campaigns, along with dedicated radio and television programmes, have allowed for debate and awareness on LGBT issues across the country – which had previously been avoided due to prejudice.

These activities have helped to promote legal progress as well. We had extensive dialogue with the Communist Party leadership at various levels; as I am a communist militant, I believe that the most advanced ideas must be taken to the Party [Communist Party of Cuba]. It was the Party, as the political vanguard and people’s party, that helped move this forward.

So we brought these ideas to the Party, which has mechanisms for listening to proposals, and we gradually worked through them – despite resistance at times – so that Cuban society could begin to overcome all forms of prejudice and discrimination. This is now part of the Party’s policy, it is part of the new 2019 Constitution of Cuba. But all the educational and communications work we had done since 2018 helped ensure that our people were informed, discussing, and learning.

FRFI: In an imperialist world, true gender and sexual equality is impossible. How do you see the fight for LGBT and women’s rights as part of the wider international struggle against imperialism?

Dr Mariela Castro: This is the exact argument that we put forward in Cuba. Socialist revolutions must address all the needs of the population in their specific and diverse ways. It’s not enough to implement universal policies that benefit everyone; we also need more specific, targeted policies to address specific inequalities, that aren’t covered by universal measures. That’s how we address historic inequalities – like those affecting women, racial minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT people, and others. CENESEX has been tasked with addressing and studying these inequalities using scientific tools so we can provide concrete recommendations to inform political and legislative decision-making in our country.

That’s one part of the work we do, but we also provide education. We are a postgraduate centre of the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, which allows us to raise further awareness, train professionals and sexual rights activists. Another part of our work is providing activist training. This is a historic initiative of revolutionary state institutions in Cuba, which began with organisations focused on HIV/AIDS, training sexual health promoters. From that experience, various organisations emerged within the Ministry of Health and community groups to confront the AIDS epidemic. This work inspired us to engage more minority groups, including trans people, training them as sexual health promoters and later inviting all interested to form sexual rights activism groups. These activist groups have received numerous training workshops to help them engage and educate the public on the sexual rights of all people. This work has been done across the country.

FRFI: In 2022 Cuba approved its new Family Code which expanded protections for women, children, the elderly, and LGBT people, recognised diverse family structures, and strengthened principles of equality, solidarity, and shared responsibility. How was it developed, and what impact has it had?

Dr Mariela Castro: Cuba is a living, revolutionary society, we’re dynamic and in motion, not static as some claim. We are punished for our courage in confronting imperialism, which is most clearly seen through the devastating US blockade. But Cuba continues to resist. We will never surrender our people’s wealth or sovereignty to anyone, no matter their power. We’ll keep fighting, just like the Palestinians are fighting.

That’s why, in a revolutionary country, policies must constantly be re-evaluated. Laws must be critically reviewed. Scientific studies are done through various channels to contribute useful analyses. Therefore, with the changes that have occurred in society, the progress already made, and the intensifying hostility of imperialism, we had to revisit the Constitution, revise policies, review how the Party functions – and figure out how to make adjustments so Cuban society could continue advancing its revolution and better respond to our people’s needs, despite the challenges we face.

Laws are living things, to update our laws, we first needed a new Constitution. In 2019, after a nationwide consultation and referendum, the people overwhelmingly approved our new, socialist Constitution recognising family diversity and LGBT rights, and banning discrimination – despite Miami-backed campaigns aiming to cause dissent and chaos, the people supported the revolutionary Constitution.

So, when the Family Code was passed, which gave concrete form to many constitutional principles, including marriage equality – the majority of the population voted in favour of it. Of course, there were some people that voted against it, it’s understandable. You can’t expect society to change overnight, for example religious groups can’t be expected to change their worldview overnight. Nonetheless, many religious people, despite differing beliefs, supported the Family Code.

Changing minds takes time, it takes work. All our efforts have been aimed at raising awareness, to create cultural and subjective transformations. That is how people interpret these issues. That’s why dialogue is so important. In Cuba, laws are made through dialogue to build consensus. By the time we reach the National Assembly, we’ve done a lot of work and extensive consultations to provide well-developed documents developed through dialogue and consensus.

FRFI: We have also seen the parliament just approve the Civil Registration law, granting people the right to legally change their gender without requiring previous gender affirming surgery. What role did CENESEX play in this?

Dr Mariela Castro: The 2019 Constitution recognises gender identity rights, but we wanted to secure further protections for trans and intersex Cubans. After years of dialogue, discussion and consultation we passed the Civil Registration law, with almost no opposition. 

For the first time, the rights of intersex people were recognised, prohibiting non-essential surgeries until they can decide for themselves. This protects bodily autonomy and allows them to later change their identity if they choose. We view forced surgeries at birth, often done to assign identity, as a serious violation; healthy bodies should only be altered with informed consent. Children can be assigned a gender based on what parents think is appropriate, but if later the child wants to change, they can now change their name without changing their sex, or they can pursue surgery if they choose.

We are also working with the Ministry of Education to raise awareness that these people exist, and they need to be recognised and supported in schools – not just in healthcare, but also in society. This work is contributing to the humanisation of relationships, both in public and private spaces. It’s helping Cuban society become truly rooted in the spirit of socialism, equality, and social justice.

FRFI: You’ve also been an outspoken supporter of Palestine and Palestinian people in their resistance struggle. What does Palestine mean to the Cuban people today?

Dr Mariela Castro: For the Cuban Revolution and for the Cuban people, Palestine represents one of the most admired peoples resisting imperialism. For over 75 years, they have been colonised, dominated and violated by the settler state of Israel. The Zionists arrived, seized territory and settled on Palestinian land. For almost two years, since October 2023, they have continued to colonise, commit genocide, and violate international law with unbounded arrogance.

Mariela Castro and Destinie Sanchez raise their fists beneath a Palestinian and Cuban flag (photo: FRFI)
‘The relationship between the Cuban and Palestinian people is the same struggle’ (photo: FRFI)

The majority of the victims are children, women, the elderly, and disabled people – because the men are dying in combat. This cannot be accepted. Civilisation is allowing barbarism to prevail over civilising values. What civilising values do they want to impose? Israel, supported by western barbarians have shown that they are the true beasts, they’re destroying an entire culture and people. There’s no time left, people are dying of hunger. What are we going to do? What’s the next step? I think there has to be an intervention, a coalition of countries that are willing to enter and save what life remains in that devastated and suffering region. That’s all that’s left, before they die of hunger and thirst.

We must support the Palestinian people in their resistance struggle, the struggle for survival and dignity. Many people are afraid to even mention Hamas. But it is the leading organisation that represents the interests and desires of the Palestinian people – the ones who have dedicated themselves, given their lives for their people, the ones who didn’t give in during the Oslo Accords, which were a trap to create two states. But Israel doesn’t want two states. Israel wants the project of Greater Israel, from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Israel wants it all. But the Palestinian people must and will win.

The relationship between the Cuban and Palestinian people is the same struggle: for the sovereignty of our countries, of our peoples. It’s the fight for the right to decide, for self-determination, for full freedom. We cannot continue to accept the manipulation and lies used to justify massacring the Palestinian people in the name of fighting Hamas. I believe we must do everything possible to save the Palestinian people – everything. We must do everything possible to confront imperialism head-on in this context.

FRFI: As we approach one century since his birth, Fidel Castro’s warnings about the deep contradictions of capitalism and imperialism are proving prophetic. What lessons from his revolutionary leadership do you believe are most urgent today?

Dr Mariela Castro: Fidel left us his history, his speeches, his analyses and the concept of revolution. That concept is our revolutionary commandments: never surrender, never lie, and fight against all forms of injustice. Those are the most important tenets of Fidel’s legacy, synthesised into revolutionary commandments.

But we also have many others to learn from history – leaders, martyrs, women and men in every country. We must study them, share their stories, and highlight their contributions to revolutionary and social struggles. Because people don’t study, and those who don’t study are easily manipulated and end up siding with the oppressor.

I believe that capitalism is in one of its many cyclical crises. Imperialism is in severe decline – ethical, moral, not just economic. They’re desperate and in the bloodiest way, they’re trying to survive by seizing the wealth of other peoples. That comes at the cost of war, and on top of the military war, they’re also waging a media and cultural war to demobilise people. They’ve spent years fragmenting the left and activist groups so they can’t unite, grow strong, and change the system. They’ve dedicated themselves to this – and they’ve succeeded. The international left is deeply fragmented, which slows down the international movement against imperialism, prolonging the agony of capitalism in crisis. During this imperialist agony, they’re destroying the world – the planet, all species, and especially human beings. If we don’t become aware and focus on what’s most important in our shared international anti-imperialist fight – then things will continue to worsen.

Socialism is the only thing that can save the planet. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for socialism, each country must develop its own project. Other countries’ experiences are valuable reference points to help us figure out what might work better where we are – what went right, what went wrong. Many people place heavy demands on Cuba and ask how it has built socialism.

FRFI: What is your message to those fighting on different fronts of the same imperialist system – and how can we build real solidarity that goes beyond words?

Dr Mariela Castro: Work, study, organise and ensure you have dialogue with the population. Do it intelligently, learn from other struggles. Recognise the dangers that are presented in this current period of state repression and imperialist brutality, because we don’t want more martyrs, we want more victories. We need alliances. We need to come together and protect ourselves in every possible way. We must abandon naivety. Capitalism is profoundly cruel, so we have to protect ourselves and organise in a way that ensures we are well defended – and always show solidarity without surrendering. Keep fighting and keep improving how we fight!

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