Mariela Castro Denied Permission To Visit Philadelphia To Receive LGBT Award

[Mika]

Mariela Castro Denied Permission To Visit Philadelphia To Receive LGBT Award
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/mariela-castro-denied-per_n_3162089.html

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The daughter of Cuba President Raul Castro cannot visit Philadelphia to receive an award for her gay rights activism because the State Department has denied her permission to travel there, officials said Thursday.

Mariela Castro had been expected to attend a conference next week on civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities sponsored by the Equality Forum, according to Malcolm Lazin, the advocacy group's executive director.

"We find it shocking that our State Department would deny freedom of speech, particularly at an international civil rights summit, to anyone, let alone the Cuban president's daughter," Lazin said.

State Department spokesman Noel Clay said he could not comment on the case because visa records are confidential.

[Judi Lynn]

1. This State Department is more right-wing than it was before now!

Mariela Castro has been in and out of the U.S., met with leaders, given speeches, attended conferences, etc.

There is no acceptable justification for this strange positioning on this remarkable lady.

Thank you for posting this, Mika. It's very, very disappointing, in every sense.

[idwiyo]

2. K&R Why I am not surprised?