As a Miami born-and-raised Cuban American, I grew up with many misconceptions about Cuba, its government, and its people. Time and time again, I would search for articles or videos on LGBTQ life in Cuba, but what I found was very limiting and unsatisfying. With the exception of a few films, I found that the drag community was not well documented and therefore I wanted to build my own opinions on what it is like to be a drag queen in current day Cuba. I ventured to Cuba with the CubaOne organization on their first LGBTQ focused trip. The purpose of this trip was for six fellows Cuban Americans and me to connect to our Cuban roots, as well as attend Cuba’s ‘Dia contra la homofobia’. Not only did we learn about the country’s rich history, but we came out of it with a completely transformed perception of Cuba, its politics, and the local people - as well as with friendships that will last a lifetime. My expectations on this trip were to meet the queer Cuban people, more specifically the LGBTQ activists, artists, and performers who are making a difference in their communities. Those expectations were certainly met and...