Author(s): Tyler Hatch

Presentation: oral

Between 1959-1973, Fidel Castro targeted homosexuals as sexual deviants and as a threat to national security and accordingly enacted drastic policies to address the issues that these men posed to the newly founded communist state. Unable to identify themselves as male or as communists within Cuba, homosexuals quickly became the target of widespread abuse, ridicule, and gained the status of social pariahs. This paper concludes that coupled to Castro’s rigid opposition and distaste for homosexuals, it was Castro’s belief that homosexual males were naturally inclined to American capitalism that inspired the radical policies that his regime imposed against homosexuals rather than the traditionally held view that homophobia alone inspired these policies

The College of Idaho     2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID  8360     USA 208-459-5011    800-2C-IDAHO