The former Minister of Culture and current president of Casa de las Américas, Abel Prieto Jiménez, has ignited a firestorm following a tweet that many in Cuban society have labeled as homophobic and transphobic. Despite deleting the post from his account on the social media platform X, Prieto failed to recognize that his words were unwelcome among activists and individuals allied with the LGBTIQ+ community. Screenshots of the tweet were quickly taken and shared across other social networks.
"If anyone else thinks like Abel Prieto Jiménez, they should take off their mask. Enough of hypocrisy and backstage homophobia," activist Yadiel Cepero wrote, accompanied by a screenshot of Prieto's tweet.
In his controversial post, Prieto stated, "the system promotes a false diversity to hide the authentic one," and his words were paired with images of members of the trans community, whom he criticized, and another of indigenous people, whom he praised.
Prieto's words were not only poorly received but also drew criticism from another activist. Dennis Valdés Pilar pointed out to the bureaucrat that his photos were misused. "The people in the photo at the bottom of your tweet are not native to Cuba. The few Taino families left in eastern Cuba live in extreme poverty, and the people in the top photo are not responsible for that; it's all your fault," Valdés Pilar noted on Facebook.
Valdés Pilar also shared photos of indigenous Cuban people living in Guantánamo and urged Prieto to concern himself "with these people who need it more. Acknowledge your institutionalized homophobia and transphobia."
Meanwhile, activist Yoelkis Torres Tápanes compared the image shared by the current president of Casa de Las Américas to those used by "the far right" to promote "policies in favor of equality."
Contradictions in Cuban Policies
"It's interesting how this low attack on the trans community happens in a country where the Constitution claims to be against discrimination, even more so when so-called rights discourses are discussed in the Assembly and are given a diffuse and incoherent promotion because they are always saying one thing and doing another," Torres Tápanes remarked.
The same denouncer posed several questions regarding Prieto's publication, with the most significant being: "Who takes responsibility for this attack?"
Understanding the Controversy Surrounding Abel Prieto's Tweet
This section addresses common questions and concerns regarding the recent controversy involving Abel Prieto's tweet, which has been seen as homophobic and transphobic.
What did Abel Prieto's controversial tweet say?
Abel Prieto's tweet stated, "the system promotes a false diversity to hide the authentic one," and included images of trans community members and indigenous people.
Why was the tweet considered homophobic and transphobic?
The tweet was considered homophobic and transphobic because it criticized the trans community and suggested that their representation was part of a false narrative of diversity.
How did activists react to Prieto's tweet?
Activists like Yadiel Cepero and Dennis Valdés Pilar condemned Prieto's tweet, sharing screenshots and demanding responsibility and recognition of institutionalized homophobia and transphobia.
What was the significance of the images used in the tweet?
The images were significant because they juxtaposed trans community members, whom Prieto criticized, with indigenous people, whom he praised, thus implying a negative comparison.