COSTA RICA: Equal marriage recognised
In May, Costa Rica became the latest country to recognise equal marriage rights, and the first in Central America to do so. The change came 18 months after Costa Rica’s Supreme Court set a deadline that the government should legislate on same-sex marriage or its ban would automatically expire. As the deadline passed, same-sex marriage became legal.
Legal change is one thing and cultural change is another. Legal change has been the result of a decades-long struggle by the LGBTQI+ community. But there is still homophobia, discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people. Once legal change has been achieved, public policy should continue to focus on structural exclusion.
Herman Duarte
