Monday, July 18, 2011

Gay Cuban Man To Marry Trans Woman On Castro's Birthday

This couple has decided to celebrate the former Cuban dictator's birthday in a very special way: by getting married, with dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez as matron of honor.

Yoani Sanchez

"Wendy Iriepa, a 37-year-old who underwent a sex-change operation in 2007 on the island, and Ignacio Estrada, a 31-year-old gay man who is seropositive, will marry in an open ceremony that they hope will mark a 'before and an after' in Cuba with dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez as matron of honor.

"'We met on May 13 of this year and we always intended to get married three months later,' Estrada – who considers himself gay but had fallen in love with Wendy, now a woman – said.

"But the couple also decided to tie the knot on the 'controversial' date of Aug. 13 to coincide with Castro’s 85th birthday and emphasize the 'gigantic' step their union will signify for the island’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual, or LGBT, community."

Castro has since expressed regret for his actions against the LGBTs in Cuba. 

While I would argue that Estrada is bisexual and their marriage is a straight one, I'm never one to dictate to someone how to identify their sexuality.  Congrats to the couple.

2 comments:

  1. I wanna know what Estrada being seropositive has to do with this story...

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  2. maybe he wanted it put in the story. I make a point of revealing my positive status when i talk to reporters because I think visibility is an important part of removing stigma.

    ReplyDelete