First Cuban Pride
Results in Arrests

Cuban activists with the aid of Florida's Unity Coalition organized the nation's first pride parade on Wednesday.

The group met in Havana's Don Quixote Park at 10 a.m. and planned on marching to the Ministry of Justice to deliver a series of demands, according to Unity.

The participants were quickly interceded by police officers at the park. Several citizens were beaten and arrested.

Marchers sought an apology from the government for its past repression and incarceration of gay citizens.

Mariela Castro, Raul Castro's daughter, heads the island's National Centre for Sex Education. In May she led a public rally against homophobia that briefly brought gay activists out of the shadows. Earlier this month Cuban officials announced they were allowing free sex-change operations for transsexuals. (The Advocate)