We went through torture during those months because, for the first time in my country, gay people were feeling fear.
We weren’t talking about taxes or infrastructure or poverty, they were talking about gay rights, yes or no? The politician, who left office in April, said: “We just went through elections in Costa Rica, and the country split in half. This was the first time this had happened, making it a truly symbolic act which offered hope and solidarity to LGBT people across the country.Speaking at The Economist‘s Pride and Prejudice conference on LGBT issues in London Thursday, former Costa Rican Vice President Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría said the divisions had been “hell.” In 2014, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the rainbow flag was flown side by side with the Costa Rican flag over the Casa Presidencial. There are signs, too, that Costa Rica wants to be seen as welcoming to the LGBT community. Cosmopolitan areas such as the capital, San José, and the expat and gay hotspots such as Manuel Antonio, are particularly liberal. In general, although there are still people for whom LGBT issues are taboo, this is more likely to be expressed privately. The stereotypical Latino “macho” culture also exists in Costa Rica, though this is slightly more watered down than elsewhere in the region. Catholicism does still hold sway here, and as with many societies, the more religious and conservative sectors of society will object to homosexuality – although travellers are unlikely to face harassment as a result of this.ĭo, of course, be respectful if visiting places of worship, dressing appropriately and avoiding public displays of affection – although this is advised for couples of any orientation. In most respects, Costa Rica is an open minded and tolerant society. The controversial mention of “scandalous sodomy” was removed in 2002. However, same sex sexual relationships between consenting adults, in private, was not criminalised. In 1971, the country established the universal age of consent at 18, regardless of sexual orientation, although the constant battle between Catholic beliefs and progressive views meant that “scandalous sodomy” was still illegal.
Same sex sexual relationships were decriminalised in Costa Rica as early as the 1880s, although they were still seen as sinful. Under Spanish colonial rule – with its conservative, Roman Catholic morality – homosexuality was declared a sin, and outlawed. We hope that Costa Rica continues to push forward with equal rights, as it has done with ecotourism, and that other Latin countries decide to follow its leadership once again, this time in recognition of the LGBT community.Īs with many places in the world, Central America did not discriminate against homosexuals until the Europeans arrived. There is still a long way to go before equality is achieved, but Costa Rica is one of the most welcoming places in the region for LGBT travellers, despite the prevalence of traditional, religious attitudes and often macho culture. It was one of the first countries to fully embrace the concept of ecotourism, and brave actions such as living almost entirely off renewable energy, and abolishing its military (whose funds were then diverted into renewable energy, amongst other initiatives) have cemented its place as a forward thinking, conscientious nation.īroadly speaking, this pioneering attitude is now leading the way for LGBT rights in Latin America. In the field of responsible tourism, Costa Rica has long been viewed as something of a pioneer.