The 6th Regional Conference of the International Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Trans and Intrasexuals for Latin America and the Caribbean (Ilgalac), held at the Plaza América Convention Center in Matanzas, from May 6-10, is an expression of respect for diversity within the region.

In a press conference held in Havana, Mariela Castro, director of the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education (Cenesex) and President of the Conference against Homophobia in Cuba’s organizing committee, described the focus of the event - to unite Latin America and the Caribbean in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersexual (LGBTI) rights. She also reported that the country plans to continue advancing the process of dialogue underway within Cuban society to achieve genuine cultural change.

It is fundamental – she said – to continue the dialogue and strengthen it in all areas, and at all levels, effecting legislative changes within the country’s penal and family codes. The pedagogy and psychology graduate stated that the new labor code in Cuba does not permit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This is, she stated, the first concrete legal demonstration of the political will, expressed in the first Conference of the Communist Party of Cuba, to move forward in combating all forms of discrimination. According to organizers of the 7th Conference against Homophobia in Cuba, the scheduling of the 6th Ilgalac Regional Conference in Varadero is recognition of the progress Cuba has made towards promoting respect for freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Founded in 1978, the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) is the only international non governmental organization of its kind. In December, 2013, on International Human Rights Day, the Ilgalac Regional Office was opened in Buenos Aires. The 7th Conference against Homophobia in Cuba includes socially focused, educational, recreational, cultural, sporting and training events.