Costa Rica legalises same-sex marriage

Costa Rica legalised same-sex marriage yesterday, 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 programme 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,” President Carlos Alvarado said.

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 as 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 International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said 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”.