International Day Against Homophobia

Cuba's gay community celebrated unprecedented openness -- and high-ranking political alliances -- with a government-backed campaign against homophobia on Saturday.

The meeting at a convention centre in Havana's Vedado district may have been the largest gathering of openly gay activists to date on the communist-run island. President Raul Castro's daughter Mariela, who has promoted the rights of sexual minorities, presided.

"This is a very important moment for us, the men and women of Cuba, because for the first time we can gather in this way and speak profoundly and with scientific basis about these topics," said Castro, director of Cuba's Centre for Sexual Education.

Damon Miller was in Grade 8 when everyone at his school learned he was gay. A female friend, sick of rumours that she was dating Miller, let his secret out.

The gossip quickly spread through his junior high school, subjecting Miller to frequent torment from bullies. One day, a group of them followed Miller home and beat him behind his apartment.

"Oh my God, I'm going to die," Miller thought as he lay in the alley. The abuse didn't end there.

When Miller reported the incident to his principal, one of the attackers claimed Miller was trying to hit on him. The principal tried to expel Miller for sexual harassment.

Then when a close relative received a report from the principal, she told Miller she hoped he got AIDS.