Love, Law, and Leninism: Same-Sex Marriage and the Politics of Subjectivity in China vs. Cuba

What is it about?

This article compares the Chinese and Cuban governments' approach to LGBTQ+ people. While the Cuban government has embraced LGBTQ+ people and legalized sex-neutral marriage to expand the conception of who can participate in building Cuban socialism, the Chinese government forbids same-sex marriage and fears that affirming LGBTQ+ individuals will lead to greater self-centeredness and negatively impact "socialism with Chinese characteristics." I examine why Cuba and China differ in this area and propose that the Cuban vision may offer lessons to Chinese leadership, activists, and concerned onlookers alike.

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