Scene of Ambitious Women censored in Cuba (Oglobo)
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A journalist from Cuban Television recognized the “homophobic tendency” in her programming, admitting that there is censorship in the films that show scenes of kisses and homosexual encounters.
Paquita Armas Fonseca, columnist for the website of the Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), pointed out that “films or series in which kisses or caresses appear between gays have been cut,” and asked the media to contribute in respecting diversity sexual.
“Homophobia has been present in the politics of some governments throughout the last century. In Cuba also, although not legally, homophobia was (is) an evil, from which it is a matter of getting rid little by little, but it is not easy to change the mentality of both all officials and those of the public, “he said, adding that” Cubans have not been oblivious to this homophobic tendency ”.
The opinion was issued by the presenter in the framework of the Conference against Homophobia of the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), directed by Mariela Castro, Fidel Castro’s niece.
A few months ago, there was a very strong controversy over the censorship of a scene from the film Love, Simon, broadcast on Cuban television, and from which the important scene of a kiss between two adolescent men was removed.
The ICRT apologized for the omission of the gay kiss and replaced the entire film. “It does not respond to homophobic positions of the ICRT and its directors of the TVC (Cuban television), as some have referred to on social networks,” said the statement in reference to the LGTB + community.
However, there have been other cases, such as a similar scene between two women in the Brazilian soap opera Mujeres Ambiciosas, which was broadcast by Cubavision.
The censorship of kisses between these characters was omitted by Armas, who even celebrated the broadcast of the relationship interpreted by the actresses Fernanda Montenegro and Natalia Timberg as an improvement of “the presence of homosexuals on the screen, with respect for them,” he said.
Armas pointed out that, although there is still censorship, this is largely the fault of the audience, since it is the public that does not accept homosexual scenes in the media.
“Television is working to be more inclusive. I think it would be good to treat transgender and bisexual people responsibly to contribute more to acceptance, not just tolerance, ”Armas explained.
“Homophobia is not a disease, but if it is a social evil that can do a lot of damage, sometimes it decides on suicides, especially as teenagers. Television in one of its functions, that of educating, can help to erase that feeling so that we are all better human beings ”, he concluded.
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