Asked if things are improving for Cuban gays, Milanés said: ”I don’t know what to tell you. I have many homosexual friends who still complain that they are discriminated against, that they lack opportunities. There are no queers in the Party. And those are signs that they are still alienated. To the best of our knowledge, none of the rulers have come out of the closet yet.

The translation of Milanés’ remarks was done by the Miami Herald.

Milanés also said things haven’t really changed in Cuba since Fidel Castro stepped down as president.

What I don’t understand is how everything stays the same,” he said. ”The government said a year ago that many things were going to change, but we stayed the same and the people are very desperate. Raúl Castro still has not had an opportunity to demonstrate what he thinks, because his brother Fidel is there and still emits his opinions. Owning a (mobile) telephone and being allowed to enter a (tourist) hotel is not reform. When it comes to freedoms, we’re going backward.