By Ignacio Estrada
Havana, Cuba — As announced by the official website of the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) the next gala against Homophobia will feature a special performance by the renowned singer La Massiel.
The artistic gala will take place at the government Karl Mark Theater, a place that in the last three years as been the site of this important event. The performance of La Massiel on the island is followed by the community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) who feel themselves acknowledged by her songs.
For years La Massiel has been held into a community setting where recognized artists of the Cuban transvestite world perform. On this occasion the stage will be shared with others, with the National Orchestra of Juan Formell and Los Van Van in addition to the Tropicana Dance Company and Latin Dance under the usual direction of artistic director and choreographer Carlos Rey.
Massiel’s performance brings to the island one of the most recognizable voices in support of LGBT rights. And she has been known to not respond to any invitation from the Cuban government but is appearing at the request of one of the Cuban speakers who participated in the conduct of previous events.
The content of La Massiel’s performance in Havana won’t be known until she arrives, nor whether she will be traveling to the city of Ciego de Avila, the province that is the site of the Official Day of Struggle Against Homophobia.
La Massiel’s presence in Cuba despite not being invited by CENESEX serves to clean up the recent work of this center a little. It is an entity that has lost adherents and sympathizers because of its failure to deliver on false promises.
The show is already marked in advance as the best of the shows, but also brings with it rumors of a theft of some items, the money earmarked for the show and the suspension of some of the usual artists. Comments that can not be ruled out but that continue among the officialistas from fear.
22 April 2013
