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Photo: Presentes Archive/Milena Pafundi (Mexico)

On Tuesday, May 26, Costa Rica became the first Central American country to legalize same-sex marriage. From the first minute of the day, the articles of the Family Code that prohibited same-sex marriage in the country were repealed.

Due to global pandemic restrictions, all celebrations took place via social media and television (both national and private). The entire world was able to watch and celebrate on Sí Acepto Costa Rica's social media channels. Starting at 9 p.m. on Monday the 25th, a commemoration was held, reviewing the history of the LGBT+ community in the country. With music and international greetings, the event progressed until, after midnight, the first same-sex marriage was celebrated.

Dunia Daritza Araya Arguedas (24) and Alexandra Quirós Castillo (29) said "I do" live before lawyer Ana Cecilia Castro Calzada and thousands of people who shared their joy and that of a country gaining access to this right. This makes it the first country in Central America to approve it and the 29th in the world.

On Monday the 25th, President Carlos Alvarado Quesada stated on his social media: “Same-sex couples, and their families, will have the same rights as any other couple or family in this country. Together, under one flag, let us build a better
nation.”

READ MORE: Inter-American Court of Human Rights: States in the region must guarantee gender identity and marriage equality

Shortly before its approval, in statements to the news website ABC, former Vice President and current ambassador to Spain Ana Helena Chacón said: “Costa Rica will celebrate another victory in the area of ​​human rights. Love should not be lived in secrecy.”

"In a few hours, my country, #CostaRica , will recognize marriage equality. A night of celebration and gratitude for the activism of so many people; a night of reflection on all those who lived without seeing this moment. #yesIacceptCR #IESOGI, " wrote Costa Rican Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Diversity, on his Twitter account.

Some members of parliament are not so happy with the expansion of rights and have recently been trying to postpone it. However, the Constitutional Chamber rejected their request for an additional 18 months to consider its implementation.

The refusal escalated into a physical altercation. In an incident condemned by politicians and LGBTQ+ organizations, National Liberation Party (PLN) deputy David Gourzong Cerdas attacked Giancarlo Cassasola, an advisor to Green Party deputy Gustavo Viales.

READ MORE: “Unstoppable”: the book that tells us about LGBTI rights in Latin America

Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica was impossible due to restrictions in the Family Code. Thanks to an Advisory Opinion issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) that declared in favor of the rights of homosexual individuals, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (also known as Chamber IV) declared the Code unconstitutional. At that time, it gave the Legislative Assembly 18 months to address the issue. This deadline expires this Tuesday, and the ban on same-sex unions has been overturned.

While there were some levels of protection and recognition for these unions in the country, this achievement is a huge step forward and a source of hope not only for the country but for the region, especially for the countries that are part of the IACHR.

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