Havana sex change of heart

[Shana A]

Havana sex change of heart

AP
Posted: 3:56 AM, January 20, 2010

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/havana_sex_change_of_heart_ZTyr1HjSfjqMvdIJOGG7sN

HAVANA -- Cuba has begun performing state-sponsored sex-change operations after the government lifted a longtime ban on the procedure in 2007, President Raul Castro's daughter said yesterday.

A sexologist and gay- rights advocate, Mariela Castro runs the Center for Sex Education, which prepares transsex uals for sex- change opera tions and iden tifies Cubans it deems ready for the proce dure.

Speaking to reporters dur ing the fifth Cuban Confer ence on Sexual Ed ucation, Orientation and Therapy, Castro said surgeries began in 2008, but would not specify exactly how many have been performed or how much they cost.

[Allamakee]

Cuba performing state-sponsored sex change surgery
Washington Post
By Andrea Rodriguez via Associated Press
January 19, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903155.html

"We schedule a certain number per year based on economic circumstances," Castro said, adding that, because of budget constraints, sex changes are not offered to foreigners who travel to Cuba for medical care.