Gay rights in costa rica

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights in Costa Rica have evolved significantly in the past decades. Same-sex sexual relations have been legal since [1]. LGBT Rights in Costa Rica: homosexuality, gay marriage, gay adoption, serving in the military, sexual orientation discrimination protection, changing legal gender, donating blood, age of consent, and more.

With its long tourism history, which continues to grow, Costa Rica is one of the safest Latin American Countries for LGBTQ+ people. The country has a strong tolerance and openness towards alternative lifestyles, making it a safe place for LGBTQ+ travelers and ex-pats to live and engage in social activities.

Costa Rica is one of the 10 most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Latin America, according to the latest LGBT Equality Index published this year by Equaldex. The report gives each country a rating from 0 to , with being the most equal, based on legal rights and public attitudes toward LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer. With an increasingly progressive attitude, Costa Ricans have established robust LGBTQ+ rights and laws.

This, coupled with a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, ensures that various sexual orientations and gender identities coexist harmoniously. On May 26, , Costa Rica turns the page to array itself in rainbow colors. This small territory of just fifty-one thousand square kilometers and five million inhabitants, located between North and South America, becomes the 29th country in the world to allow marriage between people without distinction of gender or sexual orientation.

Equal marriage in Costa Rica is finally a reality! This milestone is the result of a long process that brought together different social organizations, activists, political figures, and hundreds of Costa Ricans to fight for one goal. Their path was marked by legal battles, political discussions, and public demonstrations across the country.

It has been 17 years since the first gay couple applied to register their marriage, which was rejected by the Costa Rican State. Subsequently, several similar attempts were made, but with few results. The truth is that Costa Rican civil society never stood idly by. Hivos promoted this group from its first steps and has worked closely with it for four years in the project HIV-Costa Rica.

In , the idea of presenting a bill on Equal Marriage before the congress through a popular initiative mechanism arose. Although the process did not end as desired, the result was positive:. As the years passed, more and more actors joined the fight. Sergio Montealegre has headed a Hivos project that came about thanks to contributions from Dutch donors.

An issue that touches him personally. For years Sergio tried to have his marriage with Manuel officiated in Costa Rica. He had to wait until today with mixed feelings; happy, but hurt by the messages posted by religious groups and people on social media. This Central American nation thus becomes the sixth in the region, after Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador, to recognize and allow same-sex unions.

Since its publication, and thanks to funding from individual donors in the Netherlands, Hivos has been working to ensure that El Salvador, Panama and Peru fully ratify and recognize the rights of LGBTI people in their territories.

But we cannot stop here. Many challenges remain. But what is certain is that Latin America and the Caribbean are finally starting to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

costa rica gay marriage

Legal changes are the first step. Now it will be essential to work hard so everyone be truly free to be who they are without discrimination or exclusion. Equal marriage in Costa Rica is finally a reality May 26, On May 26, , Costa Rica turns the page to array itself in rainbow colors. Impact Area. See also.