The First LGBTI International Meeting in Benidorm analyzes Trans reality in Cuba and in Spain

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, along with the Councilor for Equality, Paquita Ripoll, have received this morning the Cuban delegation participating in the first LGTBI International Meeting in Benidorm, headed by Mariela Castro, director of the National Center for Sexual Education ( CENESEX) and daughter of a few days ago of the president of the country, Raúl Castro. The meeting has organized by the LGTB Association of Benidorm (ALGTB), in collaboration with the councils of Equality and Culture.

In addition to Mariela Castro, in the representation of the Caribbean country were Malu Cano, Coordinator of TransCuba; Isel Calzadilla, coordinator of the Las Isabelas Group; and the Italian photographer, settled down in the island, Paolo Titolo, author of the images of the exhibition 'Transcuba' that can be contemplated in the vestibule of the City council. On the Spanish side, among others, Chelo Oliva, president of ALGTB and Mar Cambrollé, of the Trans Spain Platform participated. Both delegations toured the exhibition where they have learned details of the snapshots and the realities that directly reflect the author.

Toni Pérez indicated that it is an exhibition "in the axis and in the line of what Benidorm is: a city open to the world and a great showcase" that "breaks the barriers that, sometimes, incomprehensibly, we find ourselves in the day to day". The mayor acknowledged that he did not hesitate when the Spanish-Cuban meeting was proposed. "A great opportunity," he underlined, "to strengthen ties and build bridges with Cuba" by making known "the trans world and the struggle for the rights of the LGTBI collective."

Mariela Castro invited all citizens "to enjoy this small sample of a much larger photographic essay of portraits of trans people in Cuba. A work of many years "made by Paolo Titolo, an artist" linked to social research that is done from the Cuban education center to facilitate social integration and respect for the rights of trans people ". This exhibition aims to "sensitize the entire population" that there are people who "need to be respected and recognized as political subjects."

At 5:00 pm the opening of the meeting is scheduled. After that the debate table 'Realities Trans: Cuba / Spain' will take place. At 19.15 the winning film of the First Trans Film Festival of Alicante will be screened, and at 19.30 the documentary 'El viaje de Carla' which will be attended by its director, Carla Antonello, deputy of the Assembly of Madrid.