Equality Forum 2013 Highlights

CUBA WILL BE in the spotlight at this year's Equality Forum. But the guest of honor, Mariela Castro, a Cuban LGBT civil-rights activist, won't be here to accept her award at Saturday night's dinner because she couldn't get a visa.

The daughter of President Raul Castro - and the niece of Fidel Castro - reportedly has a visa to visit New York for U.N. meetings but isn't authorized to travel to Philadelphia. She directs Cuba's National Center for Sex Education.

"You would think she was a known terrorist. She's a mother of three," Malcolm Lazin, the forum's executive director, said Friday. "She's an international civil-rights activist and we're supposed to be a democracy."

State Department spokesman Noel Clay declined to comment.

In addition to the panel that was to have featured Castro, the Equality Forum will have 17 other panel discussions at this year's gathering, which opens Thursday with a national religious colloquy at the University of the Arts.

Participants include the Rev. Gary R. Hall, who made headlines earlier this year after announcing that same-sex marriages would be performed at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Two openly gay members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, Rep. Brian Sims and Rep. Mike Fleck, are scheduled to be among those participating in Friday's political roundtable at the National Constitution Center.

Most events are free and open to the public. Details are available at EqualityForum.com.

- Jenice Armstrong