The acceptance of others is one of the great challenges that contemporary societies face. Since 2008 in Cuba, a symposium against homophobia has been held in May with activities against all types of discrimination related to gender identity and sexual orientation. The event is coordinated by the National Centre for Sex Education (Cenesex) [es] – the country's main official promoter of the recognition of sexual diversity and gender equality. Its main objective is “to contribute to the education of the whole society, with an emphasis on the family, respecting the right to free and responsible sexual orientation and gender identity as an exercise of equality and social justice.” In several cities, especially in the host city this year, Cienfuegos, parades, festivals, films, plays and art exhibitions were held to promote respect for sexual diversity and the fight against homophobia. The writer Virgilio Piñera (1912-1979), who was silenced in the 1970s due to his homosexuality, was also honored. Parade accompanied by conga music and stilts in the central Avenue 23 in La Rampa, during the Fifth Cuban Day against Homophobia, 12 May 2012. Photo: Courtesy AIN FOTO/Omara García Mederos For the fifth consecutive year, Street 23 in central Havana was host to a conga (Cuban folk dance) which brought together hundreds of people with different histories and motivations. Many people from the academic world and civil society discussed the the topic homosexuality in meetings, panels and debates, and in particular they discussed the the vulnerability associated with HIV. As expected, the Cuban blogosphere was the center of heated debates. In the blog La isla y la espina [es], Rey Alexander Rodríguez Cureux presents one of the recurring issues being talked among Cubans since the celebration of the 5th Symposium Against Homophobia: the date on which the symposium is held. The Symposium is held on the same date as the Day of the Peasant. Cureux says in his blog that in the homophobic and chauvinistic national discourse this coincidence would be translated as “screwing the peasant's day to have a day celebrating homosexuals.” The post concludes: Quizás se debe insistir en la homogeneidad de la celebración. En que no palidezca en las provincias, después de una celebración nacional. En que antes, durante o después de ella, los medios de comunicación se hagan eco del suceso ‘social’, no en la ‘red de redes’, de acceso limitado. Que se entienda que es un llamado a la unidad, a través del respeto. Maybe one should insist that everyone takes part in the celebration. That the provinces do not pale in significance in comparison with a national celebration. So that, before, during or after the event the media can speak of a'social’ success, not just in some networks or places with limited access. One must understand that this is a call for unity through respect. Francisco Rodriguez Cruz, blogger, journalist and one of the most outspoken activists of gay rights movement in Cuba, devoted several posts to the topic in his blog PaquitoeldeCuba [es] dedicated mostly to LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexed) thematics. In a post dated 30 May [es] he talks about of the warning raised by an activist about a book recently published in Cuba that makes pejorative references to homoseuxality. The call to remove the book from sale motivated many commentators to criticise the attitude, which he believes is an unforgivable act of censorship. One reader dubbed as “the Reporter” commented on his post:. Ve a la televisión y machaca al autor, pisotéalo, arráncale los pelos pero él tiene todo el derecho de expresar su opinión. Another post [es] addresses the panel discussion that took place in Cienfuegos, where on the same day as the symposium a famous ex-baseball player publicly acknowledged the existence of gay players in Cuba and the difficulties they face due to the homophobia that prevails in the sport. ‘Sí conozco muchos atletas, y en mi deporte el beisbol, que tienen inclinación por personas del mismo sexo, pero no lo demuestran producto de ese mismo ambiente. En el deporte no se admite, dentro de los mismos atletas, ese ambiente que a veces no está acorde con un juego de beisbol o cualquier otro deporte’, dijo el antiguo pelotero. Cuánto sufrimiento e injusticia padecerían esos deportistas que en el béisbol o en otras disciplinas, tienen que ocultar su orientación sexual, no pueden hablar y mostrar sus afectos y sentimientos como el resto de sus compañeros o compañeras, bajo pena de recibir burlas y rechazo, y en casos extremos, hasta la separación de sus equipos. ‘Yes, I know many athletes within baseball who have same-sex preferences, but they do not show it.