Cubans approve gay marriage by large margin in referendum
STORY: Cubans approved gay marriage and adoption overwhelmingly
in a referendum backed by the government
Source: National Election Commission
More than 3.9 million voters (66.9%) voted to ratify the code
(Alina Balseiro Gutierrez, President of National Election Commission)
“These results were validated by the National Electoral Council and they show an irreversible tendency in the result because it has been confirmed and validated by the National Electoral Council. Therefore, we can announce the 'family code' has been approved by the people.”
The 100-page 'family code' legalizes same-sex marriage and civil unions
allows same-sex couples to adopt children
and promotes equal sharing of domestic rights between men and women
The landmark vote is a resounding victory for LGBTQ rights activists
in a country that once sent homosexual people to labor camps and into exile
