Caribbean News
Cubans approve gay marriage & adoption by a large margin in a referendum
Shanieka Smith
Staff Writer
#Cuba, October 6, 2022 – A government-backed referendum held in Cuba September 25 resulted in the approval of gay marriages and adoption on the island.
A statement from the president of the election commission, Alina Balseiro Gutierrez, revealed that 66.9% of the voters agreed with the new code, while 33% opposed it.
Miguel Diaz-Canel, the president of Cuba, said via Twitter that “Justice has been done” as this change was long awaited. In accordance with this new family code, same-sex marriages are now legal, same-sex couples can adopt children and domestic rights and responsibilities are now equally shared between men and women.
The results from the election were announced during an emergency meeting on Tuesday; the response from those in attendance was positive as they erupted in applause. This vote was the first of its kind since the legalisation of mobile internet and is symbolic of how Cuba is changing.