Cuba to hold landmark referendum on same-sex marriage and adoption

Cuba announced a landmark referendum updating its family code concerning same-sex marriage and adoption. On 22 July, the country’s National Assembly approved an expansive LGBTQ+ update to their current family code.

Under the proposed regulations, gay marriage would be legalized and same-sex couples would be able to adopt.

The new code would also offer more protections for children and guarantee more rights for women.

According to a report from The Washington Post, the new updates were debated across several different communities earlier this year.

As a result of the open conversations, 62% of citizens voted in favor of the inclusive update.

With the new family code officially approved by Cuba’s National Assembly, it’ll now be held to a referendum on 25 September.

Since the news was announced, many LGBTQ+ activists have shared their excitement over the inclusive update.

On Twitter, Cuban Justice Minister Oscar Silvera Martínez described the recent vote as a “historic day.”

“It is the result of a lot of work and, especially, the contribution of our people. Now in a referendum, let’s vote YES for an inclusive and protective Code,” he tweeted.

Queer Cuban couple Ria Acosta Cruz and Gabriela Alfonso also celebrated the news in a statement to Reuters.

“The opportunity it gives us is that of marriage. The fact of being able to opt together for certain things and certain legal procedures that we need as a couple and not as independent people,” Alfonso told the publication.

Acosta added: “We are a marriage. We have plans together, the economy together. It is not fair that this possibility does not exist.”

The recent marriage equality development comes nearly three years after citizens approved a new draft of the country’s constitution – which featured the legalization of same-sex marriage.

However, the government removed the inclusive measure at the last minute, prompting significant backlash from LGBTQ+ activists.