If you told me that Cuba had an active and vibrant LGBTQ community, I’d say you’re nuts. I suppose I’m nuts after watching Kim Anno’s documentary ¡Quba!, which takes a thoughtful stroll through this vibrant community.
¡Quba! introduces us to Havana’s LGBTQ community through the lives of activists fighting for equal rights in a culture long dominated by machismo and homophobic attitudes. The story is anchored by Adela Hernandez, a transgender woman who was once imprisoned for being gay but later became the first transgender official elected to Cuba’s government. Her personal history reflects the broader struggle of queer Cubans under Fidel Castro’s regime, where LGBTQ individuals were pushed aside in the name of revolutionary ideals.
Despite Cuba’s seeming acceptance of the gay and transgender community, the film underscores that true equality is still a work in progress, as Cuban LGBTQ individuals continue to face resistance from conservative religious forces. The story ends with a message of resilience and hope for a more inclusive future.
Now, a new generation of activists, including Las Isabellas and Ulises Suarez, is picking up the mantle and pushing for legislative change. Their efforts culminated in the campaign for Cuba’s updated family code, which officially codifies same-sex marriage into Cuban law and grants marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples.
“…the campaign for Cuba’s updated family code, which officially codifies same-sex marriage…”
The film also spotlights artist and revolutionary Ramon Silverio, whose inclusive cultural center, El Mejunje, became a refuge for those marginalized by Cuban society. Silverio brings drag performances and messages of acceptance into conservative rural areas from this artistic hub, using art to challenge prejudice. As the story unfolds, the Castro family, particularly Mariela Castro Espin, gradually opened the door for more acceptance, leading to events like Pride parades and the National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
¡Quba! is the Cuban history lesson I never knew existed. Documentarian Kim Anno gives us a part of Castro that we never knew. Anno begins with Castro’s rise and the adoption of a family code that didn’t specify gender or sexual orientation, but religious and conservative forces kept the traditional definition of marriage. It wasn’t until more progressive members of the Castro family stepped in that the status quo began to shift.
Kim Anno gives us an amazing portrait of the LGBT activists and their struggle to find equality in Cuba. Anno splices talking-head interviews with each activist in everyday life or on the campaign trail to codify the new family code in Cuba.
Selfishly, one of the pure joys of ¡Quba! is the traditional Cuban music. The extensive soundtrack makes a great playlist for casual work or just chillin’.
¡Quba! is a vibrant, soulful celebration of a revolution within a revolution. Kim Anno doesn’t just document history—she lets it dance, protest, and sing its way into your heart with courage and conga beats. This film will blow your mind and maybe even get you grooving toward justice.
"…A revolution within a revolution."
