Gay rights in Costa Rica

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Costa Rica remains a fairly conservative country when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Most citizens affiliate with the Catholic Church and subscribe to the beliefs of machismo that creates a climate where homosexuality is seen as immoral, but is often tolerated as long as remains a private matter. For most Costa Ricans sex is an intimate personal topic and tend to live by a "don't ask, don't tell" way.

Contents 1 Criminal law 2 Civil rights 3 Family law 4 Political parties 5 Gay Life 6 References

[edit] Criminal law

Homosexual sexual conduct between consenting adults in private is not a crime. It was decriminalized in 1971. The universal age of consent is 18.

[edit] Civil rights

No legislation exists to protect LGBT people from discrimination in the public or private sector. The absence of anti-discrimination protections mean that people that are identified as being LGBT often face harassment, and discrimination.

In 1990s the Costa Rica Human Rights Committee and the Costa Rica Supreme Court issued rulings that that protected the freedom of LGBT people to organize into gay rights associations and to have up gay bars and nightclubs. In light of these government changes, a number of low-key LGBT human rights associations, and nightclubs became to appear.

In 1992 the LGBT human rights association called "Pink Triangle" (Triangulo Rosa) was created and it was followed by by other organizations such as the "Good Water Association of Human Rights" that focus on human rights and health care issues impacting the LGBT community [1]. The organization operates with a handful of volunteers.

In the later 1990s the Costa Rica Catholic Church organized protest against LGBT tourism and sex tourism. Yet, Costa Rica still remains a popular designation for gay-friendly tourism packages.

[edit] Family law

Marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Costa Rica does not offer legal recognition to same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits. Recently a court challenge didn't force the government to offer some level of recognition to same-sex couples.

[edit] Political parties

Most Costa Rica political parties prefer to ignore LGBT rights issues, with some exceptions. The Libertarian Movement Party generally supports a Libertarian perspectives on gay rights.

[edit] Gay Life

There is a vibrant nightlife scattered in San Jose; Discos, saunas, night clubs, cafes and bars for gay or gay friendly including "bochinche", "al despiste", "punto G", "la avispa", "puchos" and others. On the Pacific coast the town of Manuel Antonio is very gay oriented-friendly and some hotels and bars are gay owned. There is a nude gay beach here called "la playita". The rest of the country lacks special places for gay people.

[edit] References

• Goodwater Human Rights Association

• LGBT Travel Guide.

• LGBT Human Rights

• LGBT Rights Costa Rica