My research question is: How did deep prejudice toward homosexuals in Cuba during the Revolution motivate the development of Cuban LGBTQ+ rights to the present? This topic is significant because research on this area can help demonstrate how much progress or lack of progress has been made toward establishing more rights for the LGBTQ+ community in Cuba since the initiation and discontinuation of placing homosexuals in labor camps during the Cuban Revolution. Also, this research can be beneficial toward understanding modern Latin America because it will provide greater insight toward the development of the LGBTQ+ movement in Cuba, which may then be compared to LGBTQ+ movements in other Latin American countries to assess the development of these movements as well.
Sources
Guerra, Lillian. 2010. “Gender Policing, Homosexuality and the New Patriarchy of the Cuban Revolution, 1965–70.” Social History 35(3): 268–89.
Leiner, Marvin. 1994. Sexual Politics in Cuba: Machismo, Homosexuality, and AIDS. Boulder: Westview Press.
Majied, Kamilah F. 2015. “Racism and Homophobia in Cuba: A Historical and Contemporary Overview.” Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 25(1): 26–34.
Montoya, Óscar E. 2012. “Leonardo Padura Fuentes: Las Máscaras Estéticas y Sexuales de La Revolución.” Hispanic Review 80(1): 107–25.
Pena, Susan. 2007. “‘Obvious Gays’ and the State Gaze: Cuban Gay Visibility and U.S. Immigration Policy during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift.” Journal of the History of Sexuality 16(3): 482–514.
Wow! I did not know people were placed in labor camps, which kind of proves the importance of this research. I think people have been so concerned with the politics of Cuba without looking into the social constructs within the country. I am excited to hear more about what you find.
I agree with Lily in that I have never heard of this before but am really excited to see how your research turns out. I think from an American perspective we often only hear about Cuba in terms of international politics and the Cold War era, so I am interested to hear more about Cuba’s internal affairs during this period and especially learn more about Cuban LGBTQ+ history.