Adiel Gonzalez, a 32-year-old former theology student, was forced to break with his church eight years ago due to his sexuality. He became a fierce LGBTQ+ rights campaigner and on Thursday, was able to tie the knot with his long-time partner and fellow activist Lazaro Gonzalez — among the first gay weddings celebrated in Cuba. Thanks in large part to the efforts of the pair and others like them, Cuba finally approved same-sex marriage on September 25 after a long battle against religious and cultural resistance in the socially-conservative country. The Cuban family code adopted last month allows not only legal unions but also adoption, surrogate pregnancy for gay couples and parental rights for non-biological mothers and fathers.