Cuba Sees First Gay Pride Parade

Yesterday Cuba celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia as Fidel Castro's niece led revelers on a raucous conga-line through Havana.

Cuban President Raul Castro's daughter led thousands of citizens in a street dance in central Havana on Saturday to promote gay rights. Cuban Sex Education Center director Mariela Castro kicked off a programme of events promoting respect for freedom of sexual orientation by joining lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for a carnival-style conga in central Havana. Opening the Diversity is Natural conference a day before the World Day against Homophobia, Ms Castro called on "all Cuban people to participate so that the revolution can be deeper and include all the needs of the human being."