Chinchilla says she would not oppose legalization of gay marriage in Costa Rica / News Briefs / Current Edition / Costa Rica Newspaper, The Tico Times

Chinchilla says she would not oppose legalization of gay marriage in Costa Rica

Posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - By Tico Times

But most Costa Ricans would. A national poll on sexual diversity gave a snapshot on Tico opinions about LGBT rights, including on topics like same-sex marriage, adoptions and gay public displays of affection.

EFE

During her visit to California this week, Laura Chinchilla said that she would not object if Costa Rica's courts ruled in favor of legalizing gay civil unions.

President Laura Chinchilla said Tuesday she would not object to a ruling legalizing gay marriage. Two gay couples, as part of the Diversity Movement, asked a Costa Rican court Monday to be married in a civil union, drawing attention to the issue.

Chinchilla made the statement during the last day of her visit to California, as part of a 6-day visit to the United States. The Latin American leader noted during her campaign for president in 2009 that she was a supporter of traditional marriage. She maintains that belief. However, she qualified the issue by saying that if a Costa Rican court allowed gay couples to marry, Chinchilla would not oppose the decision.

But she does not consider gay marriage part of her "national agenda."

"There are complex issues that require us to prioritize, such as employment or security," Chinchilla said. "Obviously, if there is a decision of a court of law, we could not object to it."

Same sex marriage is allowed in few Latin American places like Argentina, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico. But many bills issued in favor of legalizing gay marriage often faces strong opposition by the powerful Catholic Church.

On Tuesday, the country held events celebrating the Day against Homophobia -- an internationally-recognized movement that's been realized in Costa Rica since 2008. The day stems from World Health Organization's decision to no longer list homosexuality as a mental illness on May 17, 1990. The United Nations later declared that date to be International Day against Homophobia, with the purpose of promoting rights for gays, lesbians and transsexuals.

In addition, to the Diversity Movement's same-sex marriage requests other functions helped promote gay rights. A poll on sexuality, which was also the subject of a forum discussion in the Spanish Cultural Center in downtown San José, revealed Tico attitudes toward gay rights issues.

The survey results came from the National Survey on Sexual Health and Reproductivity, which was conducted last year and collected information from 3,197 citizens (1,601 males and 1,596 female) ages 15 to 80 on sexual diversity.

On certain, notably less controversial issues, Ticos were overwhelming in favor of attitudes favorable toward the LGBT community. Approximately 73 percent of Costa Ricans disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement "I feel uncomfortable in the company of a homosexual person." Almost 80 percent thought that homosexuals should frequent the same public places as heterosexual couples, and 88 percent supported a homosexual person's right to work wherever he or she desires. And 89 percent agreed they could be friends with an LGBT member.

However, more than three-quarters of respondents found it shocking to see homosexual couples kissing in public. Only 45 percent believed that homosexual couples should be allowed to work with children. And what are typically seen as the most controversial topics -- civil unions and adoption -- Ticos overwhelming disapproved of those measures for homosexuals. About 70 percent of Costa Ricans disagreed (the majority strongly disagreeing) that gays should be permitted to marry in civil union or should have the right to adopt children.

Two-thirds of those surveyed were Catholics, while just less than a quarter were evangelical Christians. The rest were either did not practice a religion or were non-Christians. Evangelical Christians gave answers less in support of gay rights than persons of other religious backgrounds.

Gay rights support followed a clear trend when it came to age. Older poll respondents were overwhelmingly against gay rights issues. For example, about 34 percent of people between the ages of 15-34 supported gay civil unions, while 62 percent of those 65-80 concurred with that statement. Young people supported each gay rights measure by about 25-30 percent more than those on the other end of the spectrum.

EFE contributed to this report.

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Comments

José Solano

Thursday May 19 2011

Sorry Shirley but this is not about "coming out." This issue is about marriage and its meaning. Please be kind to homosexuals when they "come out" and let them know that change is possible. People change from heterosexual to homosexual and from homosexual to heterosexual. If you have some doubt about what you should be take a good look in the mirror with your clothes off. That should clarify things. You biology is the fundamental indicator of what you should be. But if you have contrary inclinations know that in Costa Rica you will not and should not be persecuted. Remember, a great many people have an inclination to commit adultery but they don't have to. It's sometimes hard but you can control yourself.

Peace.

Shirley Yamada

Thursday May 19 2011

This article may be helpful to those discussing this whole issue.

http://www.care2.com/causes/civil-rights/blog/how-to-react-when-someone-comes-out/

Phil Duncan

Thursday May 19 2011

Very insightful Jose. Thanks.

José Solano

Wednesday May 18 2011

We must see that there was a degree of political double talk in Doña Laura's statements. She was in California, one of the most liberal states in the US, where the people nevertheless democratically rejected homosexual marriages. She was looking to improve relationships and cultivate tourism and investments so she said what was most politically astute so as to stay somewhere outside of this quagmire conflict issue, that is, maintain the position that she is a "supporter of traditional marriage" while saying what can she do if the Costa Rican court imposes homosexual "marriage" on the Costa Rican people, regardless of what they think and believe. (Sorry for the long sentence.)

It's the one-person court with a homosexual judge in California that's trying to impose same-sex "marriage", undermining the will of the people and the democratic process in California. In every place on earth where the people have been allowed to vote on this matter they have overwhelmingly rejected homosexual "marriage."

Why? Because it's an absurdity. It is simply impossible for people of the same sex to form a marriage. Marriage by definition, since time immemorial and in all places, has meant the complementary union of man and woman, which alone has the possibility to reproduce. Even in ancient Greece, when homosexuality was rampant with perhaps a majority of men engaging in it, they never conceived that same-sex people could form a marriage. All marriages were heterosexual.

The people of Costa Rica do not discriminate against homosexuals. They do not persecute homosexuals. Homosexuals have the same rights that all other people have in Costa Rica. If they wish to form a marriage they must do so like everyone else does. If they wish to have loving and sexually intimate relationships with their own sex they may also do so without persecution in Costa Rica. (In this sense Costa Rica is very liberal in comparison with many other countries.) As the survey noted: "Ticos were overwhelming in favor of attitudes favorable toward the LGBT community." But they just can't accept that such relationships can constitute a marriage.

The Costa Rican people, like the vast majority of humanity, including many homosexuals, simply recognize that it's preposterous to imagine same-sex people can form a marriage. You would have to warp the meaning of marriage. And with the warping of the meaning will come an enormous propaganda campaign to have children and everyone believe such relationships are real marriages and moral and that all religious, sociological and anthropological views to the contrary are wrong and must be challenged. Catholic and other religious adoption agencies would inevitably have to close down as is already happening in other places, and on and on. Does Costa Rica need this? And yes, religious people have every right to vote and influence their society.

What homosexuals are primarily seeking is social approbation but this is the wrong way to obtain it. It merely produces never-ending social conflict. As President Chinchilla recognizes, Costa Rica has enormous problems to address, e.g., roads and bridges, education, crime, health services, employment, etc. It doesn't need to morally polarize society and create greater stress.

Peace.

Phil Duncan

Wednesday May 18 2011

About Gay Marriages. If this law were to pass, shouldn't it be up to the citizens who live in this country? wouldn't this bill have to be voted in? or can it pushed in by the government for their own agenda? Wouldn't this promote gays flocking into Costa Rica to get married raising the amount of tourists who come here? Of course a Costa Rican marriage certificate between 2 gays from the USA would not hold water back in the states. But that wouldn't stop gays from coming here to get married, or relocating here.

There's no way this bill would be voted in by the citizens of Coast Rica, because of the catholic church and it's influence on the people who live here. So I don't see what all the hoopla is about? Unless the government can push the issue for their own agenda? I have a feeling this would cause a great disturbance to this catholic nation and it would create a bigger problem than what it's worth.

I'm not sure where the rest of you live, but where I live, just about the whole town shuts down on Sundays and everybody is in church, and that would be in the Catholic church. It's just seems to me that the good people of Costa Rica, have high standard of family values and it all starts with them being in church on Sundays. Even my favorite bar is shut down on Sundays because of these values.

As for me, I could careless one way or the other about gay marriages. Of course I was raised in church as well, but not the Catholic church. I was raised with the idea that marriage should be between a man and a women. But times are changing, so you have to go with the flow and your better off not getting upset over these issues. I'm more than sure if this was to pass, the people of Costa Rica would just blame it on the USA and the gay influence there.

I've already seen right here on Tico times on these blogs, where some tico's blame the Americans for some of the problems here in Costa Rica. From crime, to their kids sitting on the couch playing videos games all day.Cchanging their heritage and their way of life. We xpats just better stay out of the politics here in Costa Rica, when it comes to these kinds of issues.

Gaby Salazar

Wednesday May 18 2011

I've never posted a comment on here before, however, I do feel strongly about this topic and disagree with previous posters on several points.

First, I don't understand what Civil Unions have anything to do with the Church. By granting the LBGT community the right to marry via a Civil Union doesn't "force" the Church to perform their weddings - one has nothing to do with the other. You can just as easily marry in the eyes of the law without bring "God" into it. I married a wonderful husband last year via a Civil Union and have been loving every minute of it. I didn't need to get married through a Church and wouldn't expect everyone else to either.

I strongly believe that there should be a separation of Church and State because the Church is doing EXACTLY what the previous poster accuses the "Gay Rights Community" of doing - of forcing their ideals and way of life on the rest of us - of "forc[ing] their particular agenda into the minds and hearts of people who want no part of it". I want no part of a community that persecutes others simply because they love another human being and want to have the same rights as the rest of us.

Being allowed to walk the streets hand in hand is not forcing any kind of special treatment or asking us to change our way of life. Geez - calm down. Basic and equal rights for all is the only way to progress forward and evolve. By hanging on to an antiquated and persecuting ideal is NOT the way to live your life, and more importantly, FORCE others to live.

This is just my opinion and is not meant to offend anyone. I understand that others will have different ideas than mine and have just as valid reasons. I hope I expressed mine adequately.

Joe Cobb

Wednesday May 18 2011

With all due respect Mr. and Mrs. Towner, I think the better question is: What are you personally afraid of?

David & Patricia Towner

Wednesday May 18 2011

With respect to gays who might read this comment, this is not against you as individuals, but against in my eyes what your community is attempting to do throughout the world. You are told you need what is being done and that it is right and just. Ask yourself, what are you personally afraid of? Why do you need everyone to be like you? What do you really want and need? Is it for power over the hearts and minds of others you are fighting, or just to gain the respect you deserve as individuals without forcing yourselves and your ideals on others?

I believe our President is a wise and just person who loves our country and is doing the best she can for it. In many initiatives I support her strongly. Unfortunately in this one I most definitely DO NOT. If the State, representing the legal majority of the population of Costa Rica, as determined by a separate ballot, chooses to provide the right for homosexual marriages as a State performed function, that is the right of the Costa Rican people to decide once they clearly understand the responsibility. On the other hand, there is absolutely no purpose in FORCING the Church to perform gay marriages, as it is SPECIFICALLY AGAINST the Word of God and therefore against the wishes of God and His Church.

Ask yourself, why are homosexuals so determined to FORCE the Church to capitulate and perform marriages when they understand the Bible clearly speaks out against Homosexuality in favor of protecting the natural family? Is God is an idiot and a Homophobic (I hate that branding and it simply means a normal person with a normal upbringing and values)? NO, He is either our GOD in total, or He is nothing but earthly words and ideas. If He commands against homosexuality as a perversion the same as adultery, pornography, and the like, does the gay right movement believe they will change His mind or back Him into a corner? Not likely. Or maybe they don’t really believe in God and this is simply a POWER PLAY to force their particular agenda into the minds and hearts of people who want no part of it. Is that not far more likely and far uglier a reason?

I do personally not like or dislike homosexuals as individual people any more than I like or dislike anyone else for no reason. With all people, I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt. As individuals, they stand on their own merit as we all do. If they are respectful to the feelings of others and do not flaunt they personal preferences, they have a right to decide how they wish to live their lives privately, and a responsibility to live it respectfully in public, the same as we all do. They have a right to equal employment, and a right to our respect and care as people. The have a responsibility to understand if they purposely highlight their sexuality in public, it may be not well taken by the majority. It is the Gay Rights Community, a political entity, and their apparent agenda to FORCE THEMSELVES on everyone and destroy our way of life I despise. They are the same to me as Hitler’s regime which was hated for what it did in WWII. Does that mean we should hate all Germans for what was done then? God forbid no. Most of them I have met are good people and a pleasure to know. I can say the same for the few gays I have met, they have been a pleasure to know and my life would have been poorer without their friendship.

I hope that Costa Rica will come to a good and fair decision on how to handle this question with respect for all who have an interest, and not be bullied or swayed by “popular” world ideals. Most of the world is now in turmoil because of their willingness to do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. Costa Rica has a solid history of standing on it’s own two feet and deciding for itself what is right for it’s people. Let’s hope it continues to put the will of the people of Costa Rica first and foremost.

jim harrison

Wednesday May 18 2011

Lesbian and homosexual parents might be just the type of mentors that the hordes of young juvenile street criminals need in Costa Rica. President Laura might want to make some fast changes in the adoption laws so the unwashed, knife and gun carrying little faces around Morazon Park and Avenida Central can get new parents just as soon as possible. Go Laura!!