Is there ever really a good time to travel? It seems even with all the planning possible we just can’t anticipate what the future may bring while we are away. This was certainly the case with my recent trip to Cuba.
Last month, I was a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Reconciliation tour organized by Saint Paul’s Foundation. The delegation included people from all over North America, and I was the only one from California. This was an opportunity to spend meaningful time with the people of Cuba who are on the frontlines of change and advocacy for LGBTQ people and those living with HIV. It was also a time to understand more fully how social services work in a Socialist government. So the opportunity was not to be missed.
As the executive director for San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and as a single parent of an 8-year-old boy, Cody, I had a lot of pre-planning to do. Fortunately, as busy as we are at the foundation, we have a great team of staff and board who are capable of handling business as usual – which proved they would rise to the occasion when the Orlando tragedy struck. I also am lucky to have a village of people surrounding Cody even though he was not happy about my leaving. That actually made me feel good.
While there are so many wonderful things to share about my trip to Cuba, two examples stand out that I want to share with you. The Callejon de las Tradiciones Project in Matanzas is actually an entire neighborhood in a heavily Afro Cuban area. Through both performance and visual arts they have created a support network for people living with HIV/AIDS, including food, housing and access to medical care. They also foster a deeper understanding of gender justice through their art. Really inspirational.
On our visit to the National Center for Sex Education, CENESEX, we had the honor of meeting with Mariela Castro, who leads the center. Mariela is the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro and niece of Fidel. She is a strong and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ people in Cuba. Her department also oversees sexual assaults against women and children, and all areas of sexual education. She spoke of the current challenges in the movement focusing on transgender rights and acceptance and, acknowledged they had a ways to go. She was also optimistic that same-sex marriage would be approved sometime in the near future.
As thrilling as all that was, our visit was clouded by the tragic events in Orlando. Mariela Castro extended her sincere condolences and also read a letter of condolence from her father, President Raul Castro. In fact, in each and every meeting we had after the Orlando massacre we were given condolences by our hosts.
When tragedy strikes while you are traveling your heart and mind goes to those at home. With limited Internet and no phone service I did my best to stay in touch. I am so grateful to SDHDF’s Board President Joselyn Harris for stepping up and taking many of the media calls and interviews from journalists trying to add perspective, and make sense of something so senseless. During her own grief she stepped up along with our good friend City Councilmember-Elect Chris Ward to represent the Foundation and the community we serve.
While I truly loved my trip to Cuba, I was so happy to get home to be near the people I live and work with. Sometimes when we are hurting and grieving, getting back to work helps us to heal. As the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation prepares for our participation in San Diego Pride and for another year of grant making and support for our LGBTQ and AIDS/HIV charities, we will be thinking of our brothers and sisters lost and hurting in Orlando. I will also be thinking of my new friends in Cuba and reflecting on how ironic and relevant this year’s Pride theme is. Pride truly unites the world.
John L. Brown is the executive director of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016. The next SDHDF event is The Reunion Party Aug. 6 to raise funds and awareness for LGBT seniors in San Diego County. Learn more at www.sdhdf.org
