Costa Rica Becomes First Central American Country To Legally Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

It's official! Same-sex couples can get legally married in Costa Rica. The Central American country, as of May 26, recognizes marriage equality.

"Today, Costa Rica officially recognizes same-sex marriage," President Carlos Alvarado Quesada wrote on Twitter. "Today we celebrate liberty, equality, and our democratic institutions. May empathy and love be the compass that guides us forward and allow us to move forward and build a country that has room for everyone."

According to the BBC, just when the clock struck 12:01 midnight, two women said "yes" becoming the nation's first gay marriage. After the ceremony and continuing with the COVID-19 security and distancing measures, the newlyweds celebrated the union in a virtual party.

The passage to the legalization of marriage between same-sex couples in Costa Rica was possible after the country asked in 2016 for an opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR). The court in charge ruled in 2018 that states "must recognize and guarantee all the rights that derive from a family bond between people of the same sex."

"Our duty is to combat all types of discrimination, whether due to disability, ethnicity, culture, religious creed, sex, gender identity, and expression, sexual orientation, or any other," President Carlos Alvarado said in a statement. "And from that perspective that seeks to defend all human rights, it is the place where this step must be understood."

Despite pronouncements against the law by various sectors of the country, Costa Rica rejoice. "Costa Rica is celebrating today: marriage equality has become a reality in the country - the first one in Central America!" the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) said according to CNN. "We rejoice with you: congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make it happen!"

"Today, Costa Rica has made history, bringing marriage equality to Central America for the first time," HRC President Alphonso David said in a statement. "Costa Rica's LGBTQ community has worked tirelessly for years to make today a reality. This victory is theirs, and it inspires the entire global LGBTQ community to continue fighting to move equality forward."

As reported by the BBC, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic do not recognize marriage between two people of the same sex, while in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay it is allowed. In Mexico, gay marriage is allowed only in some of the 32 states of the country. Chile and Ecuador only recognize the civil union.