Photos

PHOTOS: Snapshots of life in post-referendum Cuba

Voters on Feb. 24 approved a draft constitution without same-sex marriage

Published

7 years ago

March 18, 2019

A rainbow flag tied to the fence outside of Cuba Libro, a privately-owned coffee shop in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, on March 1, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

HAVANA — Cuban voters on Feb. 24 overwhelmingly approved the draft of their country’s new constitution.

The draft originally contained an amendment that would have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, but the issue sparked a rare public debate in Cuba with evangelical groups highlighting their opposition to the issue.

The Cuban government in December announced the amendment had been removed from the draft constitution. Activists who work independently of Mariela Castro, the daughter of former Cuban President Raúl Castro who spearheads LGBTI-specific issues on the Communist island, are among those who sharply criticized the decision.

Cuba’s National Office of Statistics and Education on Feb. 15 released the results of a survey that found 77 percent of respondents said same-sex couples should receive the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Tremenda Nota, the Washington Blade’s media partner in Cuba, subsequently reported Mariela Castro and Luis Ángel Adán Roble, a member of the Cuban National Assembly who advocates for LGBTI issues, knew about the survey results before they were released publicly. The Cuban government on the eve of the referendum blocked access to the websites of Tremenda Nota and other independent Cuban media outlets on the island.

The Blade was in Havana and in Villa Clara province from Feb. 28-March 4.

Cars from the 1950s, such as this one leaving Havana’s José Martí International Airport on Feb. 28, 2019, are commonly used as taxis throughout Cuba. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A poster nailed to the door of an apartment building in Havana’s Centro Habana neighborhood on Feb. 28, 2019, indicates support for the country’s new constitution that voters approved four days earlier. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A woman and girl sit on Havana’s seawall on Feb. 28, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

ETECSA, Cuba’s state-run telecommunications company, provides a link to the country’s new constitution to Internet users when they log onto public Wi-Fi hotspots across the island. (Screen capture)

A lampshade with a picture of former President Obama was part of the decor at Michifú, a gay-owned private restaurant in Havana’s Centro Habana neighborhood on Feb. 28, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

The Cuban government has blocked access to Tremenda Nota, the Washington Blade’s media partner in Cuba. (Screen capture)

A male peacock stands in the terrace of the Hotel Nacional in Havana on March 1, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A flyer in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples tied to the fence outside of Cuba Libro, a privately-owned coffee shop in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, on March 1, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A map pinned to the fence outside of Cuba Libro, a privately-owned coffee shop in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, shows the areas of the Cuban capital that a freak Category F4 tornado devastated on Jan. 27, 2019. Media reports indicate the tornado killed four people and injured more than 200 others. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Cuba Libro, a privately-owned coffee shop in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, has caricatures in its bathroom that ridicule President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A paper sign stapled onto the side of a building in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood on March 1, 2019, notes the location of a polling place. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A poster inside Nazdarovie, a Soviet restaurant in Havana’s Centro Habana neighborhood, notes the close ties that existed between Cuba and the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Bike rentals on a street in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood on March 2, 2019 (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A sign taped to a home in Santa Clara, Cuba, on March 3, 2019, indicates the location of a polling place. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A poster inside El Mejunje, an LGBTI-friendly cultural center in Santa Clara, Cuba, indicates support for marriage rights for same-sex couples in the country’s new constitution. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Cubans attend Mass at a Roman Catholic Church in Santa Clara, Cuba, on March 3, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A Seventh-day Adventist Church in Santa Clara, Cuba, on March 3, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A banner over a street in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, on March 3, 2019, urges residents to participate in the referendum on the country’s new constitution that took place a week earlier. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

A banner over a street in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, on March 3, 2019, urges residents to vote for the country’s new constitution “for Fidel.” (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Three drag queens perform at El Mejunje, an LGBTI-friendly cultural center in Santa Clara, Cuba, on March 3, 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Photos

PHOTOS: Remove the Regime rally and march

Dropkick Murphys, Earth to Eve perform on steps of Lincoln Memorial

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

Michael Key

The Dropkick Murphys perform at the Remove the Regime rally outside of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Nov. 22. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Remove the Regime rally and march was held on Saturday, Nov. 22.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Photos

PHOTOS: Transgender Day of Remembrance

Observance held at Metropolitan Community Church

Published

6 days ago

November 23, 2025

Michael Key

Transgender Day of Remembrance was observed at Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. on Nov. 20. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Transgender Day of Remembrance was observed at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 20. The event was emceed by Rayceen Pendarvis and Dwight Venson. Musical selections were provided by Agape Praise and Dynamic Praise. Proclamations from the D.C. Council and the D.C. Office of the Mayor were presented. The Pouring of the Libation was conducted by Rev. Elder Akousa McCray and Rev. Paul Fulton-Woods of Unity Fellowship Church.

Remarks were given by trans survivors of violence. Family members of slain trans woman Dream Johnson were featured speakers. Prayers were given by Rev. Cathy Alexander and Rev. Dwayne Johnson of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. Yael Shafritz gave a Jewish prayer through a video presentation. Closing remarks were given by community leader, Earline Budd.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Photos

PHOTOS: Cheers to Out Sports!

LGBTQ homeless youth services organization honors local leagues

Published

2 weeks ago

November 17, 2025

Michael Key

Wanda Alston Foundation Executive Director Cesar Toledo, on right, presents an award to the D.C. Front Runners at the 'Cheers to Out Sports!' event held at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Wanda Alston Foundation held a “Cheers to Out Sports!” event at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center on Monday, Nov. 17. The event was held by the LGBTQ homeless youth services organization to honor local LGBTQ sports leagues for their philanthropic support.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)