Free Sex-Change Surgery in Cuba

[Shana A]

Free Sex-Change Surgery in Cuba
Filed by: Brynn Craffey
July 3, 2008 4:00 PM

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/07/free_sexchange_surgery_in_cuba.php

The first week of June saw the beginnings of a dramatic reversal of decades of oppression toward transgender people in Cuba when the government of the new president, Raúl Castro, began offering free hormone treatment and sex-change operations for transsexuals.

My first thought was, "Does that include foreigners?" I don't know the answer, but if so, they may find themselves inundated by North Americans tourists who either lack health insurance or whose policies exclude the surgeries from coverage.

The free medical treatment is the result of the passage into law on June 4 of "Resolution 126," which offers transsexuals new identification documents--no small matter!--in addition to free sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy. The legislation marks quite a revolutionary change for a country whose single recorded sex-change operation, according to news reports, occurred in 1988.

[Matthew J. F]

As a (almost poor) trans guy living in Southern Florida I find it hilarious that we have the we have the wet foot dry foot policy... where illegal immigrants from cuba are allowed to stay when they enter our country illegally, who the hell would want to come to our country when our lives are being dictated by the big corperations? I guess we can do the same thing? Maybe we can all build up a boat (or pitch in to buy a boat) and float on over to the Cuban territory and ask for the "free sex change operation including having a hormonal replacement therapy.

Our government wants to view Cuba as this bad country but look at what the Cuban government is doing to their people... offering them free surgery to fix a major deformity.

[Allamakee]

Our government wants to view Cuba as this bad country but look at what the Cuban government is doing to their people... offering them free surgery to fix a major deformity.

I applaud Mariela Castro for her efforts on behalf of our community.  But she is getting resistance.  Even though the news broke more than a year ago, as of May/June of this year no surgeries had been performed, nor was it clear when they would begin.
http://www.365gay.com/news/cuba-to-resume-transgender-surgery/

I'm not sure what the deal is with hormones, but apparently the new law creates a center which " will be the only institution in Cuba authorised to carry out gender reassignment therapy."
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42693 
I'm not sure if that includes the provision of hormones.  If so, it might actually make them harder to come by.