Fidel Castro on Homosexuality

«Excerpted from Face to Face with Fidel Castro: A Conversation with Tomas Borge, Ocean Press, 1992, 139-141.

Tomas Borge: What is your view of homosexuality?

Fidel Castro: There is still machismo in our people. I believe a much lower level than any other people in Latin America, but there is still machismo. That has been part of the idiosyncrasy of our people for centuries. I won't deny that, at a certain time, this machista thing influenced the attitude toward homosexuality. I, personally, do not suffer from that sort of phobia against homosexuals. I have never been in favor of, nor promoted, nor supported policy against homosexuals. That corresponded, I would say, to a particular stage and is very much associated with that legacy, with machismo.

Tomas Borge: Many people think that their is sexual discrimination in Cuba. What are your views on homosexuality..?

Fidel Castro: We inherited male chauvinism-and many other bad habits-from the conquistadores. That was an historical legacy..We have made a real advance-we can see it, especially in the young people, but we can't say that sexual discrimination has been completely wiped out and we mustn't lower our guard...

For example, men's and women's conduct was judged by different standards. We had that for years in the Party, and I waged battles and argued a lot about it. If a man was unfaithful, it didn't constitute a problem or a worry, but if a woman was unfaithful, that became the subject of discussion in the Party nucleus. There was a double standard for judging the sexual relations of men and women. I had to fight hard, very hard, against those deep-rooted prejudices. There wasn't any doctrine or education in this regard, instead, there were many male chauvinist concepts and prejudices in our society...

I am not going to deny that, at one point, male chauvinism also influenced our attitude toward homosexuality. I, myself, you're asking me for my own opinion-don't have any phobia toward homosexuals. I've never felt that phobia and I've never promoted or supported policies against homosexuals I would say that it corresponded to a given stage and is largely associated with that legacy of chauvinism. I try to have a more humane, scientific approach to the problem. Often, it becomes a tragedy, because of what the parents think-some parents whose son is homosexual turn it into a tragedy. It's really too bad they react this way and make it a tragedy for the individual, as well.

I don't consider homosexuality to be a phenomenon of degeneration. I've always had a more rational approach, considering it to be one of the natural aspects and tendencies of human beings which should be respected...It would be good if the families themselves had another mentality, another approach, when a circumstance of this nature occurs. I am absolutely opposed to any form of repression, contempt, scorn, or discrimination with regard to homosexuals. That's what I think.»