The "Sovereignty" platform emerges with a discriminatory bias and is in question regarding the Family Code

The newly launched platform “Sovereignty”, promoted by the Cuban government as a means to facilitate legal and administrative procedures, shows a concerning homophobic bias.

Users publicly report that, when attempting to request a marriage certificate, the form only allows the entry of "husband" and "wife" data, reproducing a binary and exclusive framework that disregards the legal existence of unions between same-sex individuals.

“Where did the terms 'spouse 1' and 'spouse 2' that were supposed to be included in the official documents go?” questioned the activist for the rights of LGBTIQ people, Adiel González Maimó on his Facebook profile.

González, who accompanied the complaint with screenshots from the platform highlighting the inconsistency, also asked: "Why, almost three years after the approval of same-sex marriage in Cuba, do we still have to deal with this problem? Who designed this platform that excludes hundreds of legally recognized same-sex marriages in Cuba?"

Far from being a minor oversight, this omission directly contradicts the Family Code approved in Cuba, which explicitly recognizes equal marriage since its approval in the referendum in September 2022.

The complaint has generated multiple reactions on social media, where activists and citizens emphasize that the issue goes beyond technical design.

"Before the site was published, it must have gone through tests and quality control, and absolutely no one in those phases noticed or said anything," wrote a user, highlighting the extent of institutional bias.

Other comments point out a systemic homophobia that still persists in many state dependencies, from the highest levels to the most basic ones.

The fact that an official tool, supposedly designed for the inclusion and modernization of procedures, automatically discriminates against same-sex couples not only violates rights but also concretely prevents legally married citizens from accessing basic services.

"It is essential that this is corrected urgently, because in addition to being discriminatory and illegal, it is preventing specific individuals from carrying out their necessary procedures," warned González.

So far, the authorities have not made any statements regarding this matter. The institutional silence reinforces concerns that this is not just a simple technical error, but rather another indication of how the legal discourse in Cuba often does not translate into real practice.

In its Article 208, the Family Code emphasizes that "marriage is established on the basis of the equality of rights and duties of both spouses."

A year after the law was passed, a total of 2,132 same-sex couples had formalized their marriage in Cuba.

The Cuban Parliament approved the Civil Registry Law on Friday, July 18, a comprehensive regulation that allows gender identity change upon personal request and modernizes the legal framework related to the identification and certification of facts and acts concerning individuals' civil status.

The regulation also legislates on the free choice of proper names –with restrictions to protect dignity, avoid errors or confusion, or their relation to recognized or patented brands–, as well as the change of name and surnames, and the agreement on the order of surnames. Additionally, it includes the intersex condition of the born individual.

It also incorporates a gender perspective, attention to people in vulnerable situations, and respect for the progressive autonomy of children and adolescents, official media reported.

The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez stated on May 17 that the fight against homophobia and transphobia is part of the "ideals" of socialism in Cuba, in reference to the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

However, hundreds of internet users criticized the hypocrisy of the leader with a post that seems to erase the homophobia and transphobia that the regime has upheld for decades. They reminded him that the dictator Fidel Castro encouraged discrimination against homosexuals, whom he went so far as to label as "degenerates" and "deviants."

In December 2024, authorities placed house arrest on the actress and LGBTIQ activist Kiriam Gutiérrez to prevent her from attending the premiere of her film "Killing a Man," which was censored during the 45th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana.

The film, directed by Orlando Mora Cabrera, is inspired by a true event. In just 12 minutes, it tackles the issue of the concealed homosexuality of a member of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), which has scandalized the regime.

In November 2023, a trans teenager identified as Marcos Herrera Falero was brutally attacked in Matanzas due to their gender identity, prompting activists to call for immediate actions to prevent acts of violence and discrimination against that community.

LGBTIQ individuals are also found in Cuban prisons due to their opposition to the Cuban regime, as exemplified by the case of the transgender activist Brenda Díaz, who is incarcerated in a men's prison.

Mariela Castro, daughter of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and director of CENESEX, has stated about this case that it is a "distorted story filled with fantasies." Meanwhile, she claims that “she is doing very well” in a men’s prison, after being sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment and an additional seven months for contempt in another recent trial.

In 2019, members of the LGBTIQ+ community decided to organize independently and march from Central Park in Havana, an event that resulted in a strong police crackdown ordered by the regime and condemned by the international press.

Frequently Asked Questions about the "Sovereignty" Platform and Discriminatory Bias in Cuba