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Cubans approve same-sex marriage in referendum

CUBANS voting in a national referendum have approved a proposed new code of family law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt as well as redefining the rights for children and grandparents, officials said today.

The code, which contains more than 400 articles, was approved by 66.9 per cent to 33.1 per cent, National Electoral Council president Alina Balseiro Gutierrez reported, though the returns from a few polling stations are still to be counted.

The reforms had met unusually strong resistance from the growing evangelical Christian movement in Cuba despite an extensive government campaign in favour of the code, including thousands of informative meetings and extensive media coverage backing the measures.

The code would allow surrogate pregnancies, broader rights for grandparents, improved protection of the elderly and measures to counter gender-based violence.

While voting on Sunday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged that the reforms did not command universal support.

“Most of our people will vote in favour of the code, but it still has issues that our society as a whole does not understand,” he said.

The measure had been approved by Cuba’s national assembly after years of debate about such reforms.

One prominent supporter of the measure was National Centre for Sex Education director Mariela Castro, a daughter of former president Raul Castro and niece of his brother and predecessor Fidel.

Meanwhile, Cuba braced for Hurricane Ian today. It was due to hit the socialist island late last night.

Authorities suspended classes in Pinar del Rio province and planned evacuations as Ian gained strength while approaching the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa.

The storm is on track to hit Florida as a major hurricane this week.

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