Recognition of Same-sex Relationships
As of October 2010, Costa Rica law does not recognize same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.
In 2006 the Supreme Court rejected a claim that the Constitution requires the government to recognize same-sex marriages. Human rights lawyer Yashin Castrillo Fernandez had sued arguing that certain constitutional provisions relating to equal rights and international law required the legalization of same-sex marriage, but only two of the justices agreed. The majority wrote that at the time the Constitution was approved, "marriage" was understood to be a union between a man and a woman. The court decision did state that the national government had the power to enact civil unions.
In 2008 the LGBT rights association Diversity Movement, persuaded some lawmakers to introduce a civil unions bill. Deputies Ana Elena Chacón (Social Christian Unity Party) and José Merino (Broad Front Party) expressed support for the proposed bill stating that, "gays and lesbians are no less Costa Rican than the rest of us. We're not talking about marriage or adoption, but about basic civil rights.".
On July 2010 the Constitutional Court (Sala IV) ordered the TSE (Supreme Elections Tribunal) to stop the effort of preparing the referendum to take place on 5 December of this year that will allow citizens to decide the future of civil unions for same sex couples in Costa Rica. The Recurso de Amparo (appeal) was presented by lawyer Quirós Salazar, alleging that the referendum violates the rights and freedoms of individuals. The petition for referendum has been organized by the Observatorio de la Familia, a religious conservative group seeking to stop legislation that promotes civil unions for same sex couples.
Read more about this topic: LGBT Rights In Costa Rica
Famous quotes containing the words recognition of and/or recognition:
“Tragedy, as you know, is always a fait accompli, whereas terror always has to do with anticipation, with man’s recognition of his own negative potential—with his sense of what he is capable of.”
—Joseph Brodsky (b. 1940)
“By now, legions of tireless essayists and op-ed columnists have dressed feminists down for making such a fuss about entering the professions and earning equal pay that everyone’s attention has been distracted from the important contributions of mothers working at home. This judgment presumes, of course, that prior to the resurgence of feminism in the ‘70s, housewives and mothers enjoyed wide recognition and honor. This was not exactly the case.”
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)