Cuba UN Vote Concerns LGBT Activists

HAVANA TIMES — Cuba’s vote at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in support of a controversial Russian resolution concerning “traditional values” has generated alarm among  gay activists on the island.

In evaluating human rights, the resolution asserts that “cultural, historical and religious characteristics of societies and states should be taken into account,” according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

“This will definitely be used to continue justifying the denial of our rights, including marriage,” said activist Leannes Imbert, the president of the Cuban Observatory of LGBT Rights.

Meanwhile, members of the “Proyecto Arcoiris” (the Rainbow Project) also expressed concern that the resolution is attempting to make human rights less important than “traditional values.”

The resolution — adopted in a vote of 25 for, 15 against and 7 abstentions — was supported by Cuba, China, Ecuador, the Arab League and a group of African countries.