When Anabel decided to assume her true sexual orientation, the most sacred space she had as a shelter, the family, was shattered the very moment she opened her mouth. Self-proclaiming herself as a lesbian unleashed a crusade in her home that involved offenses, beatings, and a lot of psychological violence, something that, at this point, still hurts her.

"It was like a jolt, from deep inside... You may expect your parents to support you in whatever path you decide to take, and when you find yourself alone and repudiated you begin to consume yourself, from the inside.

"The worst thing was not the insults, nor even the bladed weapons that were raised in the worst crises, what destroyed me the most was that they turned my children against me and it has cost me a lot to add them to my new life".

In the midst of the maelstrom that she unconsciously unleashed, bridges appeared towards what would be her normality, a neutral space, without self-flagellation or remorse.

"I learned about the Lesbian Network from Lázara, the coordinator, and from the moment I arrived there I finally felt like I was among family. I found the place to talk about my concerns, without hiding or softening the details. Together with my partner, I discovered that I have no problem, that they are the ones in the wrong, and that my relationship is nothing more than the union of two people who love each other."

MORE THAN HANDS, BRIDGES

Behind the microphone, the story of Lázara Gutiérrez overwhelms and shakes. Precisely because she was mistreated, exiled from her home, and condemned to wander aimlessly, today she radiates strength. At the head of Las Tunas´ network, she extends bridges of understanding to girls like Anabel, who need a hand to hold on to in the most defining and saddest moments.

"From the beginning, we conceived the network as a confraternity," says Lázara, "we came to it broken and full of scars that make you turn your back on society and hide. We knew that this was not the way, so on December 3, 2015, we finally materialized the project.

"We are practically a family of 15 to 20 members. It's up to us to restore everything that is broken, to accompany and support each other because in many cases we don't have anyone else to do it. Here we are activists and we attend, above all, to problems of violence."

"We take the cases very seriously, if the girls or their families are being abused, we provide them with the necessary support to resolve the conflicts. We go to the institutions, we have the means to access the Prosecutor's Office and, of course, we are there for them, because in our network no one is alone."

"We have participated in workshops and national activities organized by the Cenesex. We travel to other provinces for training, exchanges of experiences. We received workshops on violence, vulnerable groups, labor rights. As a result of COVID-19, our actions are limited to the virtual space, but the network has always been very active."

"As promoters we want to reach out to the communities, to make ourselves heard. Homophobia and transphobia do a lot of damage, not abstract, but real; it is the cause of many women making attempts on their lives. And the family has an essential role, people are the way they are, but what they do need is the support of their loved ones".

Ariadna has been immersed in the operation of the network for five years. She is a brave young woman who has found in this affiliation the space to raise her voice in favor of a more inclusive society.

"Since I joined the group, I have learned a lot, I understand issues that I didn't understand before and that have nothing to do with sexual orientation. The specialists from the Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, Elia Marina Hidalgo and Mayelín Ayala, have helped us grow as people, to conduct ourselves safely in society."

"We have learned about individual and collective rights, about sexually transmitted diseases, and how to behave more responsibly. They also provided us with therapeutic accompaniment. I wish all the girls who right now are confused and suffering because of their sexual orientation would join our network, because they would receive the strength to move forward."

FROM COUNSELING AND ACCOMPANIMENT

Mayelín Ayala García, a specialist in the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program, recognizes the successes and strengths of this group, which is now in its sixth year and has set out to grow in local society.

The work with the network is very important for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program," Mayelín points out, "because this is a vulnerable group that requires more attention."

"For this reason, we plan to hold frequent workshops not only on gender violence but also on other vital issues. We want them to acquire information on STI prevention and disseminate it."

"Our work with the girls has been strengthened because they have become more organized through the network, and we are committed to maintaining these links in order to develop new strategies."

OF SOLUTIONS AND RECONCILIATION

Some time ago, Kenia came to the network because she urgently needed help. Her sister had been brutally assaulted by her ex-husband and she didn't know how to deal with it. The institutions she went to had treated the case as if it were merely a conflict between husband and wife, which could be resolved within the family.

They supported us and took on the problem as if it were their own," says Kenia. As a group, we went to all instances, and we made ourselves heard. I feel very proud of our group of Amazons; it is the space to take care of each one of us, and help us to conduct ourselves better in society".

Las Tunas Lesbian Network shows an amalgam of sad stories that have managed to move towards reconciliation. They are girls willing to defend their rights and never bow their heads again. On the occasion of May 17, International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, they take advantage of digital spaces to paint Las Tunas with the colors of inclusion.