The referendum on same-sex marriage begins in Cuba

The Cuban polling stations have opened at 7:00 in the morning (1:00 p.m., Spanish peninsular time) for the vote on the referendum on the new Family Code, a legislative package that provides for the approval of the gay marriagesurrogacy and adoption by same-sex couples and which has been opposed by the island’s Episcopal Conference.

The Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and his wife, Lis Cuesta, voted at 7:48 a.m. (local time) at School 3 of District 57, in the municipality of Playa de La Habana, according to Cuban media reports.

"Today is the appointment with the future. #25DeSept arrived. a day to change "everything that needs to be changed" in Family Law in #Cuba. See you at the polls. #CodigoYes"Diaz-Canel has posted on Twitter.

The approval of the Family Code has become the main obsession of the ruling sectors that, led by Díaz-Canel himself, have launched an intense campaign on social networks to promote the vote in favor of the project under the slogan ‘Code, yes’ and has even referred to the day as "a holiday for Cuba".

Although the referendum starts on Sunday on the island, the vote has already concluded abroad, where, according to official figures, more than 22,000 people — including diplomats and those who "for official reasons" are abroad– they have already exercised their right to vote.

THE CHURCH, THE MAIN OPPOSITOR

One of the main groups against the renewal of the Family Code has been the Cuban Church, which has even adhered to statements attributed to the Cuban independence leader José Martí in which he defined the "love" What "the ardent and unconditional attachment that an individual of one sex feels towards an individual of the other".

In this sense, the Church has defended that the marriage between man and women "natural" and it can’t be "displaced or deformed" to make way for other legal formulas because "the original plan of the creator is this".

The Cuban bishops released a statement in mid-September in which they stated their discrepancies with the legislative project, since they consider that the introduction of the "gender ideology" is not beneficial for families, just as they point out as negative the possibility that minors can assume their gender identity.

Regarding adoption between same-sex couples, the Church denounces that this contravenes "what by nature corresponds to it and needs" a minor: "a father and a mother". "Every child is a gift and an end in itself; it is a child’s right to have a father and a mother". Along the same lines, they have also charged against surrogacy by not considering it ethical.

Despite this, the Cuban bishops do consider positive aspects such as the rejection of domestic violence, the defense of rights and the care of the older population and those with disabilities. They have also praised the protection of children and pregnant women.

"This, however, cannot ignore the questioning, criticism and rejection of an important sector of society, which are based on legitimate principles, values, the human and biological sciences, our history, traditions and religious beliefs. of our town"they have pointed out from the Church.

For all this, the Cuban Episcopal Conference has appealed to "awareness and responsibility" of the Cuban population, whether they are believers or not, so that they vote conscientiously not only for current generations, but also for future ones. "May María de la Caridad, our mother and patron saint, intercede for each one of her Cuban children so that we make the best decision."have concluded.

Other voices critical of the Government, such as the singer Yotuel Romero or the playwright Yunior García Aguilera, have questioned the vote and have advocated abstention, not so much because of its content, but because of the fact that the authorities put issues to a referendum "common sense"while they impose the rest of the decisions on the island.

Similarly, the prominent Cuban opponent Guillermo Fariñas has come to ensure that participating in the vote "is to accept an institutionalized fraud"at the same time that he has campaigned openly for the ‘no’. "The Family Code is a hypocritical maneuver of affective manipulation"he has stated.