From AFP:
“Costa Rica legalises same-sex
marriage in first for Central America”
Costa Rica legalised same-sex
marriage on Tuesday, becoming the first Central American country to do so, as a
court ruling came into force at midnight. Planned celebrations did not take
place because of the coronavirus pandemic, but a special program about LGBT
rights was broadcast on public television and online as the first weddings were
held. "This change will bring about a significant social and cultural
transformation, allowing thousands of people to marry," said President
Carlos Alvarado in the program. Costa Rica is the eighth country in the
Americas to recognise same-sex marriage -- a group that includes Brazil,
Ecuador and Argentina, as well as Canada and the US. The move was triggered by
a 2018 ruling of the Supreme Court which declared the part of the law banning
gay marriage was unconstitutional. That ruling gave parliament 18 months to
legislate on the matter -- but it did not, so the provision was automatically
annulled. "Costa Rica is celebrating today: marriage equality has become a
reality in the country -- the first one in Central America," said the
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in
a tweet. "We rejoice with you: congratulations to all those who worked so
hard to make it happen!" Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN's Independent
Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, called it "an
extraordinary moment of celebration" in a tweet posted hours before
midnight. He expressed "gratitude to the work of so many activists, and of
quiet reflection of the lives of those who lived without seeing this
moment".
^ It’s good to see that even
during a pandemic basic human rights are still being made legal. ^
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