With the announced retirement of Fidel Castro, totalitarian dictator extraordinaire but glorious hero to many on the hard left-including not a few gay bourgeois bolsheviks despite his fierce persecution of gay Cubans-some reflection is in order. Rick Rosendall in Marxism's Queer Harvest tells the tale of gays who think capitalism oppresses and state collectivism liberates, despite all evidence that the opposite is true:
As a gay political activist, I find myself in some strange places, and every once in a while I encounter someone who loves Fidel Castro so much, you'd think he was the guy they named the San Francisco neighborhood after. In fact, many leading voices in America's gay community talk as if capitalism is the special province of oppressive white males. This, of course, does not stop them from enjoying capitalist comforts. Among these latter-day purveyors of radical chic, it is unfashionable to notice that the greatest advances for gay and lesbian rights have been in free-market Western democracies like the one they themselves are living in.
While Citizen Crain's Kevin Ivers in
Adios, Dictator focuses on Castro oppressive legacy:
There has not been a single believable tome, study, film or book that has come out in the half-century of Castro's dictatorship that credibly challenged the fundamental evidence underlining the fact that gay life under a dictatorship like Castro's is an experience that ranges from brief spates of hedonistic, secret joy, to dull agony and generalized daily anxiety, to outright terror-with no hope or possibility of civic redress.
Just something to keep in mind the next time you see a gay guy working out in his Che Guevara t-shirt, celebrating Fidel's comrade and the designer of
Cuba's concentration camps for homosexuals and other decadent, anti-social elements. (No doubt, he's also preparing to meet up with his buddies to march in the LGBT contingent of the anti-globalization rally.)
38 Comments for “Communism Isn’t Cool”
posted by Doc on
Those ‘camps’ were for HIV+ individuals and no longer exist. You come close to invoking Godwin’s Law on that.
Of course it’s a dump in Cuba but don’t pretend it was some golden paradise there before Castro. They just traded one dictator for another. I didn’t know that the non-communist countries of Caribbean are some sort of gay paradise either. Jamaica anyone? Keep the histrionics to a minimum, Mary.
posted by joe perez on
right. lovin’ how you just buy into the whole “gay people are commies” image. oh, aren’t you feeling superior?
if it offends you so much to see someone with a che t-shirt at the gym (not that i ever have), then why don’t you wear one of reagan?
posted by Avee on
Oh, the ignorance! Cuba’s HIV camps came along in, what, the early 1980s? The concentration camps for homosexuals and others were a legacy of Che, begining soon after the revolution. Did “Doc” even bother to read the blood-curdling linked article on the camps (silly question).
posted by Karen on
The Che shirt wearers I’ve seen have mostly been intolerable hipster straight boys who have *no idea*. As the daughter of a Cuban immigrant, it sure pisses me off…
posted by Bobby on
“Those ‘camps’ were for HIV+ individuals and no longer exist.”
—There where also “work camps” for homosexuals and other undesirables in the 1960s, long before AIDS.
“Of course it’s a dump in Cuba but don’t pretend it was some golden paradise there before Castro.”
—Actually, it was a paradise, at least for the tourists. The hotels and casinos where quite wonderful, every Cuban-American I know talks about how much better Cuba was before Fidel ruin it.
“I didn’t know that the non-communist countries of Caribbean are some sort of gay paradise either. Jamaica anyone?”
—So what? Yes, a country can be capitalistic and homophobic. But here’s the difference, you don’t need a permit from the Jamaican government to leave Jamaica.
posted by Rob on
—Actually, it was a paradise, at least for the tourists. The hotels and casinos where quite wonderful, every Cuban-American I know talks about how much better Cuba was before Fidel ruin it.
Batista was a dictator in the mold of Salazar, the former brutal dictator of Portugal. Batista actually found refuge in Portugal when he went into exile. It’s just one nightmare traded for another.
posted by KamatariSeta on
Hell, I’m not ashamed to be in favor of capitalism. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m a free market fundamentalist either, and I think it’s unfortunate that more moderate capitalists who support capitalism get lumped in with the extremists who think every road should be a toll road owned by a corporation. Neither the state NOR the private sector should have exclusive power over society, and an equilibrium between the two is the best place to be.
For all the bashing of the “Gay mainstream” that goes on here, I would hope you guys would also recognize that most of those gays are also, in any meaningful sense, out and proud capitalists, who LIKE having high paying jobs and expensive clothing.
As for Cuba itself, I think it ranks #2 as the world most overrated nation when it comes to importance. Israel and Palestine are in a tie for the #1 place. Castro stepped down, but so what? This sure as hell doesn’t affect me. It won’t affect my neighbors. I really don’t think Castro or Cuba matters to any notable degree.
Castro was a bad guy and Che idolizers are silly, but, whatever. I think the world has far more pressing concerns.
posted by KamatariSeta on
From the link in the post, a slogan from some self identified “Radical” group;
“””I Speak To Resist
the commercialization
and commodification
of a mainstream ‘gay lifestyle’
that enriches a privileged few
and impoverishes the masses
with a bankrupt culture of uniformity”””
Damn. Sounds almost like something I would read in the comments around here.
posted by KamatariSeta on
And again, from the article;
“””””Cuban homosexuals are not interested in building a separate sexuality based community. This idea is foreign to Cuban consciousness. Often what’s called homophobia by “gays” who visit Cuba is cultural imperialism on the part of these “gays” who tend to think the white “Gay Pride” social model should be adopted by all same gender loving people throughout the world. This divisive practice also causes a rift between communities of color and “gays” in the US.””””
Sounds like a lefty version of the same rhetoric that gets tossed around here, about not wanting to be in the “gay community”.
posted by Karen on
I agree with Rob. The story I hear from my grandfather is *certainly* not longing for the days of Batista, but rather anger at the betrayal of the original goals of the revolution which he supported.
All in all, I’m selfishly glad that everything went down like it did, because I owe my particular existence to that chain of events.
posted by Bobby on
“As for Cuba itself, I think it ranks #2 as the world most overrated nation when it comes to importance. Israel and Palestine are in a tie for the #1 place.”
Sounds like you’re jealous of Israel, which has far more accomplishments than plenty of countries that have existed much longer.
http://www.factsandlogic.org/outstanding_accomp.html
posted by KamatariSeta on
bobby, Israel matters for fuck. It’s the country everyone thinks the world can’t do without, but it’s actual importance is nil compared to many other nations such as the U.S.
Hell, look at this from that link.
“”20. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.””
What good is that? Nobody in their right mind would want to live in the middle east for anything. The best and brightest of Israeli society would be better in this country, putting their talents to use for the betterment of America.
They could do a lot more than that site lists if they lived in the U.S. and weren’t fighting off Arabs all the time or getting involved in all the other braindead nonsense that you can’t avoid while living the the backwater known as the middle east.
I haven’t the slightest clue why so many educated, wealthy, intelligent people would want to live in the middle east to begin with.
posted by Richard J. Rosendall on
KamatariSeta wrote, “I haven’t the slightest clue why so many educated, wealthy, intelligent people would want to live in the middle east to begin with.”
Because they regard it as their homeland.
posted by Attmay on
Castro is dying; I predict he will not live out the year. He is already morally and spiritually dead. I can’t say I’ll be one bit sad when he’s finally spit-roasted in Hell with his buddies Stalin and Che.
Oh, and Godwin’s law only applies to unreasonable comparisons to Hitler (i.e. the stale, trite, fatuous, and soon-to-be-dated Bush=Hitler meme, a lame attack on a lame duck president who couldn’t care less). Reasonable ones are still permitted. Nazis and Commies were both socialists who wanted the rights of the individual to be totally subjugated to the power of the state. A plague on both their houses, for the same reasons.
In Randy Shield’s (no right-winger he) book “Conduct Unbecoming” he writes of how many radical gays in the 60s were fond of the racist homophobe Malcolm X and other leftist homophobes. Harry Hay was red to the core, as was his boyfriend Will Geer, who co-starred in “The Waltons” on TV in the 1970s. Never mind that Stalin would have thrown them in the gulag. Good night, Grandpa.
I love looking at the logical gymnastics of those try to rationalize away a gay-bashing thugocracy (why do you think the late Reynaldo Areinas left Cuba?) and minimize the importance of a relatively pro-gay, westernized, civilized country, probably the only non-backwater of the Middle East. Raul Castro will just be more of the same.
posted by Richard on
Being critical of how American capitalism works, or does not work, or how libertarian define it does not mean that you support Fidel Castro or the Communist Party.
Yes, Castro had concentration camps for gays (among others), but authoritarian governments (left or right) tend to target minorities and dissents. Also, the gocernment that he replaced was hardly a role model for human rights.
posted by Attmay on
Sure, change the subject, RichardETJB. It has been how long since Batista was overthrown? Did anyone say they wanted that kind of government back? The Weimar Republic was better than the Nazis, but no one wanted to go back to that. Your tiresome, patronizing anti-liberty rants are part of why I can barely bring myself to read this site anymore.
posted by KamatariSeta on
“”minimize the importance of a relatively pro-gay, westernized, civilized country, probably the only non-backwater of the Middle East. “”
Thats nonsense. It’s just as worthless as the rest of the middle east AND Cuba and every damn island nation near Cuba. They’re all cesspools. I’m satisfied with America, so I have no need to idolize Israel.
posted by Karen on
*coughTROLL*
posted by Richard J. Rosendall on
FYI, the name of the late author of “Conduct Unbecoming” is Randy Shilts, not Shields.
posted by Attmay on
Thanks for correcting me.
And KS, your comic book URL sounds a little German for you to be making comments like that.
posted by KamatariSeta on
The comic name was just because I stole it from an X-Files episode. But whatever.
I just find it amazing how the right-wing, who supposedly idolized America, gets so tied up with these other nations.
Really, what important role does Cuba play in world affairs anymore? Why is it so vital to keep up the embargo? If the purpose of that embargo was to crippled Castro and remove him from power, then it’s clearly been a failure, a failure extremely highlighted by him stepping down of his own accord in this matter.
The human rights angle just doesn’t cut it considering that we are so close with Saudi Arabia, arguably one of the worst human rights abusers on the planet. And there are many other human rights abuses going on around the world, particularly in Africa, that the U.S. right wing doesn’t seem to give a damn about.
So, why all the fuss over Cuba?
As for Israel, I’m glad theres a safe haven for gays in the middle east but, what gets me is the relationship between ISrael supporters and the religious right. If Israel would just renounce the religious right and refuse ANY support for them, I wouldn’t have a problem. I don’t think Israel is some monster abusing the “palestinians” rights to their homeland or whatever, and I think the whole “palestinian crisis” is one of the most absurd political issues in recent memory.
I’m all the more bothered by how pro-palestinian advocates try to hijack every anti-war rally, or every left leaning event or issue in general, and try to make it some anti-israel protest.
If it had to come down to it, I would glady side with Israel over the Palestinians, but as it stands I’m not too happy with either, partly because it’s a religious conflict, and as someone never raised with religion, who just doesn’t get religion, I’m utterly at a loss to even begin to grasp why they do what they do.
Chris Hitchens was right when he said the Israel vs. Palestine issue should be easy to deal with, but monotheism has made dealing with it impossible.
What is even more absurd is how the gay con’s around here are trying to use these issues to attack the “gay mainstream”, as they often call it, even though most of the gay mainstream tends to be somewhat apolitical outside of gay issues.
posted by Richard J. Rosendall on
KamatariSeta wrote, “What is even more absurd is how the gay con’s around here are trying to use these issues to attack the “gay mainstream”, as they often call it, even though most of the gay mainstream tends to be somewhat apolitical outside of gay issues.”
I consider myself a centrist. Anti-communism has venerable liberal roots and not only conservative ones. I gave never confused the gay left for the gay mainstream. I consider myself to be more in the gay mainstream, if there is such a thing. One of the motivating principles here at IGF is that the prominent and loud leftist voices among the leaders of many gay organizations are not representative of the gay rank and file. That became evident last fall during the fight over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
posted by KamatariSeta on
Richard, I was primarily referring to the rhetoric of people like bobby and Ash, and this Attmay guy.
Anticommunism may have liberal roots, but the curret Cuba policy, to me, just seems pointless, since I fail to see what importance Cuba has anymore, and the policy now seems largely driven by the anti castro crowd in Miami and South Florida in general.
And while there may be pro castro gays out there, I think people like Attmay are trying to paint even the average gay on the streets as being potentially pro castro for simply not being ANTI castro.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think of you as a gay con. To me, the real gay right wingers here are bobby, ash, nd30, attmay, and their ilk.
posted by Bobby on
“Israel supporters and the religious right. If Israel would just renounce the religious right and refuse ANY support for them, I wouldn’t have a problem.”
—That’s like telling people with AIDS not to get treatment at catholic hospitals, which I’m told have excelent facilities. You take your support wherever you can get it, as long as you don’t compromise your values. Israel is not a theocracy, they allow abortions, gay rights, gays can serve in the military, they can get domestic partnerships, go to gay bars, and all the trappings of western society. In the arab world, inlcuding Palestine, you have to be much more discret. Still, that region is not as backwater as you think.
“since I fail to see what importance Cuba has anymore”
—Well, here’s the importance. Oil prices are high, Fidel Castro and the government influence Venezuela. Venezuela’s oil production is 84%. That means they’re not producing as much as they did when the oil company was run like a capitalist company instead of a corrupt government entity. Aside that, Chavez gives oil to Cuba at very low prices, Castro in turn sells that oil at market value and makes a huge profit. Chavez has already threatened to stop selling oil to the US, when he got elected, he wasn’t a communist, but thanks to Castro he has become one. I doubt he’ll stop selling oil to the US because shipping oil to America takes only 2 weeks I think, but shipping it to China and India would take months, maybe 3 months at sea. If the price of oil rises too much, it fucks the economy. People spend more on gas, so they’ll have less money to spend on other things. My best friend in England can’t even afford to drive his car, not just because of oil prices but congestion fees, you know, the british love to reward rich drivers by getting all the poor drivers off the road.
So I think Cuba is pretty important.
posted by KamatariSeta on
“”””. Israel is not a theocracy, they allow abortions, gay rights, gays can serve in the military, they can get domestic partnerships, go to gay bars, and all the trappings of western society.””””
Well, that doesn’t do us in this country much good. We certainly shouldn’t elect homophobic religious right wingers just because they support israel.
“””” Oil prices are high, Fidel Castro and the government influence Venezuela. Venezuela’s oil production is 84%. That means they’re not producing as much as they did when the oil company was run like a capitalist company instead of a corrupt government entity.””””
All the more reason to get the hell off oil for good, so we don’t have to deal with these maniacs and can let them rot in their squalor, unsupported by the money we pay them for their oil.
posted by North Dallas Thirty on
And, what is quite conveniently left out of leftists’ praising of Cuba and whining about how ineffective the embargo has been is the fact that the Soviet Union heavily subsidized Cuba, to the tune of upwards of $6 billion dollars a year pumped into their economy (which, when you have an economy whose estimated annual GDP is only $18 or so billion, makes it clear who’s paying for what). Indeed, when the Soviet Union collapsed and the subsidy stopped, Castro was so desperate that he had to legalize US dollars as currency there, since it was the only reliable source of funding most people had (from Cuban exiles sending money back to help their families). Now, as Bobby correctly pointed out, Venezuela heavily subsidizes the upwards of 100,000 barrels of oil daily it sends to Cuba (like discounts of up to about 40%), basically picking up where the Soviet subsidy left off.
So actually, Cuba is useful, inasmuch as it’s a sucking chest wound for places who are stupid enough to subsidize a collapsed economy and a brutal dictatorship just because they both dislike the United States.
posted by Bobby on
“Well, that doesn’t do us in this country much good. We certainly shouldn’t elect homophobic religious right wingers just because they support israel.”
—That’s not the reason homophobic religious rightwingers get elected. They get elected because the left is too crazy and radical and because they appeal to the people. True, maybe people in California and New York hate Bush, maybe people in the so-called “trendy” areas hate Bush, but Bush appeals to a lot of Americans. Of course, it seems Americans are so desperate for change that they’ll even support Obama.
“All the more reason to get the hell off oil for good, so we don’t have to deal with these maniacs and can let them rot in their squalor, unsupported by the money we pay them for their oil.”
—The sad truth is that ethanol doesn’t give you the same gas mileage you get from gasoline or diesel, and even if every corn field in the country was dedicated to ethanol, it would only cover 10% of our energy needs and send food prices sky high, the hydrogen cell is still in development, there’s no practical solar car in the market, public transportation is ugly, nuclear power faces too much red tape and nobody wants it in their backyards, in other words, there’s no real solution yet.
posted by KamatariSeta on
“”””True, maybe people in California and New York hate Bush, maybe people in the so-called “trendy” areas hate Bush, but Bush appeals to a lot of Americans. “”””
Not according to his current approval ratings. The only people who still like him are partisan hacks like yourself.
posted by Pat on
It’s true Cuba has been a failure since Castro took over. The only success Castro had, was somehow staying in power for 50 years, while running Cuba to the ground.
KamatariSeta, Hitchens is probably right about the Isreal-Palestine conflict should be easy to solve, but religion got in the way. But I believe this is on one side, not both. Israel hasn’t been perfect, and has made mistakes or policies that I believe are wrong. But Israel has demonstrated that they are willing to live with Arab/Muslim neighbors. Palestine and countries, such as Syria and Iran have not done so.
Bobby, there are certainly issues with biofuels. But there will be so many benefits if we can find away to not have to import any more oil, and escalating problems if we continue to import as much oil as we do, it’s important that we find a solution. In fact, I believe that this would be the most effective way to reduce terrorism and eliminate the tyrannies in the Mideast.
posted by KamatariSeta on
Pat;
Part of my problem with the entire issue is that I’ve come to think so little of religious traditionalists that I have no sympathy for either of them; Israel OR Palestine. THinking god is on your side is one of the fastest ways to make me dislike your cause.
posted by Bobby on
“Not according to his current approval ratings. The only people who still like him are partisan hacks like yourself.”
—Most Americans aren’t partisans, they support a president based on how high is the price of oil and how good the economy is. During 9 years of the Bush administration, the economy was great, people where flipping houses left and right, and his approval ratings where high, inspite of the war. But as soon as things get a little tough, approval ratings come down, it happens to any politician, specially when you have a media that only mentions the negatives. Paul Krugman has been hoping for a recession since Bush got elected, now he’s finally getting his wish.
“Bobby, there are certainly issues with biofuels. But there will be so many benefits if we can find away to not have to import any more oil,”
—I think the solution has to incorporate many options, not just once, and it would take a huge investment in infrastructure to get every gas station ready to serve alternative energy. Think about this, a Hybrid vehicle costs $23,000 or more. A Nissan Xterra starts at $17,000. A Chevy Aveo I think sells from $12,000. So, for most car drivers it’s the choice between a tiny hybrid (unless you consider the Ford Escape which has the same fuel economy as my Honda Accord) or a big masculine car. Most people in America want big masculine cars. Arnold Schwartznegger himself drives a bio-diesel Hummer, but bio-disel only works in cars outfitted for diesel, which isn’t the case of most cars in America.
Lectures about conservation won’t work. Americans want convenience, that’s the nature of this country, we never settle for second best. That’s why planes replaced passenger rail roads. In Europe people don’t mind being stuck 10 hours or more on a train, in America, Amtrack loses money every year.
posted by KamatariSeta on
“”””Most Americans aren’t partisans,””””
You say that like it’s a bad thing.
posted by Bobby on
A partisan is someone deeply devoted to a political philosophy, Kamatari. While the media worships the moderates, I don’t know any moderate in history that has made a difference, or left a mark. History has always been written by extremists. The kind of people that would rather watch American Idol instead of the democratic debate on CNN, who get their news from John Stewart on The Daily News, those people should not bother voting. They’re very dangerous, their votes are misinformed, even Bill Maher had a segment where Obama supporters where interviewed, and they did not even know what about him they support. So yes, your precious moderates will vote for Obama, not because they know him, but because they think “change” is oh so cute.
posted by Hank on
Hey Bobby I love reading your comments – serously, you’re always entertaining – even though I generally disagree. Hope you keep hanging around.
Gotta comment though, as a proud moderate…
First, you think the air travel system is more convenient? Gosh I don’t know where to begin – I would much rather take Amtrak. Yeah it takes longer if you’re going across country, but there is nothing more inconvenient than the intrusive and dehumanizing system we’ve set up for air travel in this country. I hope I never have to fly again….
As to Obama voters – I think “change” is more than cute, I think it’s essential. McAncient is promising us endless war in Iraq, no end in sight of money borrowed from our children, and now he’s flipped on many of the social issues he used to believe so that he can win over the crazies in the Republican base.
And in spite of the Repub talking points floating around, Obama has some pretty specific “changes” he wants to make.
Finally, Bush’s approval ratings? Here’s a reference you might want to check out:
http://www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/Approval.htm
And for comparison, here’s another:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Clinton_approval_rating.png
posted by Bobby on
Thanks for the kind words, Hank.
“First, you think the air travel system is more convenient?
Gosh I don’t know where to begin – I would much rather take Amtrak. Yeah it takes longer if you’re going across country, but there is nothing more inconvenient than the intrusive and dehumanizing system we’ve set up for air travel in this country.”
—I admit that being stuck on a plane for 5 hours, on the ground, is a horrible experience. Which is why many people are demanding a passenger bill of rights. However, I took the train from Miami to Charlotte, it was 12 hours of hell. The seats are very comfortable at first, but after 3 hours, your back starts to ache. Sleeping is next to impossible unless you’re in a first class cabin or find two seats to lie down in. The food is bad and expensive. I can’t imagine taking the train from Miami to Las Vegas, I’d probably have to take a connecting train somewhere. A trip like that can easily last 4 days, and it’s not as cheap as you think.
“As to Obama voters – I think “change” is more than cute, I think it’s essential. McAncient is promising us endless war in Iraq, no end in sight of money borrowed from our children, and now he’s flipped on many of the social issues he used to believe so that he can win over the crazies in the Republican base.”
—Obama is promising health care for everyone which would cost us $10 billion dollars. He’s promising closing Guantanamo which would make us look weak in the eyes of the world and force us to house terrorist in America. I agree that McCain is a flip-flopper, and frankly, I don’t like him and I would never vote for him. Health care for everyone doesn’t work, I just read that the British are promising people that they won’t have to wait more than 5 hours in the emergency room, I also read of serious delays in ambulances responding emergencies because sometimes patients have to wait for hours in an ambulance before being allowed to the waiting room. So let’s see, Obama wants to save social security, medicare, gives everyone health care, invest 3% of the GDP in a United Nations global poverty relief policy, and fund who knows how many social programs. The only way you can do that is by raising taxes. You do that, the rich will simply move their money off-shore. How does billion of dollars sitting off-shore help the US economy? I think Hillary is a more realistic candidate because she has more experience in public office, everyone knows Bill Clinton didn’t do everything alone, Obama lacks the experience and the common sense, and every once in a while the American people want to try something new and throw caution to the wind.
I ask you this, some leading democrats want to bring back the draft, so we can “share” the sacrifice. How would you like to vote for Obama, and instead of ending the war, we simply start drafting people to make it “fair?” Republicans have learned from Nixon, they will never draft anyone into war. We only take volunteers. The draft didn’t work in Vietnam, it’s not gonna work now.
“Finally, Bush’s approval ratings? Here’s a reference you might want to check out:”
—Point taken. Well, he has made mistakes, but don’t forget that the mainstream media hates Bush, as Goebels said, “a lie repeated a thousand times becomes a truth.”
posted by Herb Spencer on
What’s good to see here – and elsewhere – is that the truth about cliChe’ is finally wearing through the threadbare tease sported by drab radical women of the American academy, the antichrist-brides of atheism’s shotgun marriage to the Left.
posted by Hank on
The bf and I took a trip from Chicago to Salt Lake City a couple years ago on Amtrak. Had a blast. A really fun experience.
But you’re right, to make it comfortable for long distance travel you have to buy an expensive upgrade.
I think the solution is more government subsidies for Amtrak – to begin to put it on par with what the government spends for the airline industry.
But I would guess you would disagree with that also…
posted by Richard on
I am not “ETJB”, and I was not trying to change the subject. It would seem that the right-wing is playing fast and loose with the facts.
In the early 1980s a good documentary film was released about the Castro concentration camps. Defenders of Castro ignored the film, and tried to argue that gay rights were a low priorty. The right-wing supported the film for making the regime look bad, but also oppose gay rights.
The lesson? Many people on the political left and right are simply not interested in liberal democracy, human rights, rule of law and social justice. Has this changed?
Castro is a leftist tyrannt, replacing a rightist tyrannt.
Many people on the political left and right tend to downplay one or the other, to fit their own dishonest view of the situation.
LGBT rights have improved in Cuba, somewhat. The camps were closed down, as were the subsequents ones used for people infected with HIV. The criminal laws were changed, and their has been some efforts made to change public opinon.
Public opinion still matters, even in a dictatorship, and it is unclear how much public support exists for LGBT-rights in Cuba.