Fernanda Sosa is a Cuban-American actress who has been married to Miami Dade County’s Sheriff, Mario Diaz Ordaz for the past 17 years. She was born in Cuba and educated at the University of San Francisco. While attending law school in Berkeley, CA, Fernanda participated in the AIDS/HIV civil rights case involving her former partner, Carol Downer. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not deny AIDS benefits to those with HIV or AIDS because they did not have the nationality or citizenship based on their sexual activity with a person infected with the communicable disease. While the Court’s ruling did not specifically cite the age requirement, it did state that persons could not be denied benefits based on their age or nationality, as long as they fulfilled other mandatory requirements including being a U.S. citizen, holding a green card, or serving in the military. Although the AIDS ruling technically bars contracting the disease through sexual activity, the Court has interpreted the law in a way that favors those who do, as the HIV age requirement was an unreasonable limitation at the time.
Fernanda Sosa is currently starring in the popular television drama, Orange is the new black, which has been receiving high ratings during its second season. Although the first season was plagued by criticism from conservative groups for its romantic and trendy spin on an historic event, Sosa appears to have landed a role that compliments her resume and talent. In the current press cycle, there are increasing reports of young actors being romantically involved with young actresses rather than pursuing a career in the legal profession. This case illustrates the point that age should not be a barrier to appearing on prime time TV, especially if that star happens to be someone who is a national treasure.
Fernanda Sosa’s marriage to Mario Diaz Ordaz, while not technically illegal according to the Cuban authorities, does raise questions about the norms of Cuban society. Her status as a Cuban national ensures that she will not face discrimination while attempting to wed another person, but her marital ties are less certain regarding her status as a wife. Despite her marital ties to a foreigner, the marriage itself raises many questions regarding morality and commitment. Was Sosa concerned that her marriage to Ordaz would hurt her chances of appearing for an award winery in LA? Can a Cuban woman marry another foreign national without undergoing marital rites?