HAVANA (AP) — Yet another revolutionary tradition has been broken in Cuba: A lawmaker voted "no" in parliament.

Cuba's communist government is attempting to garner support for a new family law that would allow same-sex marriage and strengthen women's rights.

(WB) The U.S. Bureau of Prisons is required to allow a federal inmate to have for the first time gender reassignment surgery as a result of a court order Wednesday determining the agency was waiting too long to provide the procedure.

(WB) Cuban authorities have prevented an LGBT activist from leaving his home ahead of anti-government protests that are scheduled to take place across the country on Monday.

(WB) National Coming Out Day, as it is called in the U.S., is celebrated on Oct. 11 as an event that promotes the visibility of LGBT people and calls attention to silence; one of the most deeply ingrained forms of homophobia, lesbophobia and transphobia.

MIAMI (AP) — Fidel Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule of Cuba, has died at age 90.

The rainbow flag, the international emblem of LGBT Pride, floated in the balmy Caribbean wind over the entryway.

New details about the events of Sept. 11, 2014, emerged Friday on the second day of Kathryn Knott's gay-bashing trial, a day marked by frequent interruptions and lengthy breaks.  

This week read about a new family law draft that could grant same-sex couples to marry in Cuba, and a university in Africa criticized for its hurtful seminar against transgender and intersex people.

This week read about two Cuban activists campaigning for marriage equality, and the United Nations stepping up protections for LGBT refugees in Kenya.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is forging ahead with plans to tour Cuba next week despite objections from some members of the South Florida LGBT community.

(WB) Cuban authorities on Tuesday arrested a gay man who is a member of a protest movement against the government.

DENVER -- Republicans came into this presidential campaign with painful memories of how, in the last one, Democrats blasted Mitt Romney's tax plan as a giveaway to the rich. They've heard a new wing of conservative intellectuals urge them to focus on tax cuts to working-class Americans rather than the wealthy.

Two men dressed in drag for a tea party, two women cuddled up at the beach.

It is seldom a good time to be a dissident Cuban, in Cuba or in Miami. As far as my compatriotas are concerned, I am not a very good Cuban.

The head of a Russian neo-Nazi group that’s accused of torturing LGBT youth, fled to Cuba last month but was arrested in the Caribbean country on Sunday, Russia’s official news agency RIA Novosti reports.

(WB) An immigration judge on Monday granted asylum to a lesbian woman from Cuba who has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for 10 months.

Norm Kent underscores some good points in his Dec 23rd Publisher's column, "Cuba Libre.”

(WB) The daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro on Saturday led a march through the Cuban capital that commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The daughter of Cuban President Raúl Castro on Saturday said hate crimes remain a problem in countries that have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples.

President Obama’s decision to end the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is not sitting well in Republican circles.

Reinaldo Arenas, (born July 16, 1943, Oriente, Cuba — died Dec. 7, 1990, N.Y., U.S.), was a Cuban-born writer of extraordinary and unconventional novels who fled persecution and immigrated to the United States.

In my mind, Phil Ochs was one of the greatest folk singers ever to play the American stage. In the 1960’s, his music and songwriting was as spectacular as Bob Dylan’s. Four decades after his passing, I still remember the magical lyrics from one of his songs:

This is not the world I bargained for. You either. But don't give up. Don't ever give up. I mean, it's the holiday season, and we should be celebrating.

Today is a sad day for Freedom. It is a sad day for the Cuban Americans of the United States of America and the Cuban people still on the Island. Today, a slap in the face is given to all Cubans and Cuban Americans. The raising of our very own flag – a symbol of Freedom to all the world will be raised in a Country that not only oppresses its people, but hates Freedom. As we are witness to this today, let’s remember that Cuba is still under communist rule, bringing nothing but oppression and pain to the Cuban people. Nothing has changed and nothing will change unless the Cuban Government starts to realize that Freedom is essential and that the Cuban people deserve to be treated as equal human beings and have open and fair elections.

(WB) Juan Guerrero González eagerly awaits his partner’s call each day, although he is not sure if it will happen, much less at what time. And he won’t be able to call back if he misses it.