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Costa Rica's Lesbigay Community NEWS   Yes, we know that this is old news, but it sometimes takes awhile for old stories and rumors to die down, so: On August 2, 1998, at the annual pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago, the Archbishop of Costa Rica, and the President of Costa Rica made statements denouncing the planned "Gay Tour Package Event" in Quepos.  We believe that they did not have accurate information about the event, or about gay tourism in general.  A demonstration was staged by 4 adults (including the local priest and a school teacher), and a number of young school children in Quepos.  Having lived in Manuel Antonio/Quepos for a year, I can attest to the fact that the majority of residents there did not support this action, and were embarrassed by these few.  Four of us from the Board of Directors of ACES, met with the Minister of Tourism, Sra. Aida Fishman.  It was clear during this meeting that the government was confusing Gay Tourism with Sex Tourism.   This "little slap in the face" woke the lesbigay community up!  The six existing lesbigay community organizations immediately got together to discuss ideas and strategies.  A seventh group was created of gay and non-gay lawyers, (15 at the first meeting!), focusing on legal avenues for changing the discriminatory laws that are inconsistant with the Constitution of Costa Rica articles guaranteeing equal treatment of all people.  The Ombudswoman's Office cited several infractions of laws that occurred when the President and Archbishop, as well as a local tv/radio priest made their statements.  The lesbigay community is confident that this has created a great opportunity to bring the topic out into the open, and make corrections in the laws as needed.  If this process does not proceed smoothly,  it could get very dramatic before all is resolved.  It is noteworthy, that unlike the U.S., Costa Rica has laws that prohibit any person or group to incite hatred toward another person or group!  (sorry about that KKK!) It is common throughout the world, that politicians and religious leaders will lead some kind of controversial movement to divert attention away from their own personal lives, - including extra-marital affairs, homosexual affairs, or illicit financial gains.  I was told by a resident of Quepos, that the priest who led the demonstration there, was having affairs with several young women.  He has since been replaced by a priest who so far, seems to have more integrity.  Even before the Aug. 2nd statements, it was widely rumored that the Archbishop, and the tv/radio priest were actually gay.  A few years ago, there was a scandal in the media about the former Archbishop and his gay relationship with a priest. Another priest who lived (not the "local priest") in Santa Ana, (a suburb town west of San José), who died of AIDS early in '98, was often heard to make the comment that he thought he knew perhaps 2 priests in Costa Rica that were not gay.  There are other priests currently living with AIDS, afraid of being thrown out onto the streets if their illness is discovered. There are people very high up in the government who are known to be gay or bisexual. We are hoping that these people will have enough self-esteem and integrity to help support the efforts to change all laws which create a double standard for members of the Lesbigay Community.  If they don't, the practice of OUTING may make things quite interesting! This would be unfortunate, because it robs the outed person of the opportunity to demonstrate their own self-esteem, pride, honesty, and integrity. To put this in perspective, the events here are not as negative as what has been happening in many states in the US.  It is just that it caught everyone by surprise. The fact that Spain is signing into law support for gay marriages, may help the efforts here.  Who knows?  We may beat Hawaii yet!  :-) In October, '98, Atlantis Events (tours) in Los Angeles arranged for a tour package for several hundred gay tourists, staying at the Blue Bay Resort on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste.  Two local priests there organized a few townspeople to make a picket line on the road to the hotel.  President Rodriguez this time called the local police to remove the picketers saying that it is not appropriate for this type of action to be taking place in a democracy such as Costa Rica.  There are existing laws that protect people from such persecution.  The guests were held in safe area away from protesters until police could be brought from helping in flood areas (Hurricane Mitch) to clear the road. Some of the gay guests praised the way the tour/transportation company in charge of making the transfers between the hotel & airport, handled the situation, while others returned home to make negative press releases to tv networks and newspapers.  The Minister of Tourism talked with the President of Atlantis Events and sent a letter of apology  (received Nov.12th) on behalf of the Costa Rican government, stating that Costa Rica respects the same basic human rights of all people, and that gay and lesbian guests will alway be welcome here!  ACES is working with the government to make sure this kind of thing never happens again.  Click here to read this letter (in Spanish and English). This news of the President's "about face" came out during the weekend of the First Annual Lesbigay Forum in Costa Rica (Oct. 24-25).  The event was not widely advertised for various logistical reasons, and over 50 people attended representing 8 different lesbigay community support organizations.  Each group gave presentations on Sunday following the suggested guidelines: Identifying/listing the problems within their particular field of interest, causes of the problems, possible solutions, and area of responsibility for solving the problems.  (personal note: Having been very involved with many lesbigay community organizations in years past in Florida, including being the conference coordinator of the Florida Gay/Lesbian Conference in 1981, I was EXTREMELY IMPRESSED by the level of organization and how well everyone got along so well!!!!  There was not the usual divisions between groups or sexes!  I feel that the lesbigay community here is in very good hands!!!)  Sunday evening was a grand fiesta featuring the classic disco & latino dance music provided by "Power Gay" (the gay mobile disco). EVERYBODY was dancing with everybody, confirming my earlier observations of how well these gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, & straight Costa Ricans get along. In November, the local lesbigay organizations played host to the first Central American Conference for Lesbigay and AIDS Organizations with 38 representatives from all of the Central American countries.   On December 1st, Triangulo Rosa and other AIDS support groups organized a well-attended concert and candlelight march for the International AIDS Awareness Day, in Central Park of San José.  Local news media has also been carrying the stories about the lawsuits against the Archbishop Arrietta and Padre Minor for their condemning remarks against lesbigay people. In April, an article in the Tico Times quoted the new executive president of ICT (Institute for Tourism, Costa Rica) as making anti-gay-tourism remarks.  In a meeting on May 3rd, the president & secretary of ACES met with the head of ICT, Sr. Eduardo Leon-Paez to discuss the article.  Sr. Leon Paez claims he was misquoted and that ICT's policy is to advertise to the general public and not toward any particular minority market. On January 17th, 2000, a related case is being heard in court.  Harry Bodaan, former part owner of the Hotel El Parador in Manuel Antonio, is bringing a suit against Father Minor for his on-air (radio) remarks saying that "People like Harry Bodaan, (ei. gay), should be expelled from Costa Rica."  One witness for Harry Bodaan is the priest's first cousin, who claims that the priest is in fact gay himself and they have had sex together.  As this reporter understands it, Father Minor was mistakenly under the impression that the Hotel El Parador was going to hosting the gay tour group. In fact, the hotel had absolutely nothing to do with the tour package or any of the activities. Obviously, it takes time before these cases are heard in Costa Rica. More updates soon!  If you would like to register your opinion or comments, check out the Forum for Gay Costa Rica at http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=gaycr  :  If you are visiting Delphi for the first time, you need to register (free) with a screen name (can be anything you like) and your email address (which is kept confidential).  To see Delphi without registering, go to http://www.delphi.com

Letter from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute:

Click Here for English translation following

INSTITUTO COSTARRICENSE DE TURISMO 09 de noviembre de 1998 Señor Rich Campbell President, Atlantis Events In. Estimado señor Campbell:       Me dirijo a usted para expresarle las sinceras disculpas por parte de la Presidencia de la República y como máxima autoridad del Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, por los hechos ocurridos el pasado mes de octubre en Guanacaste.      No tengo suficientes plabras para explicar la conducta seguida por algunos de nuestros compatriotas, quienes mostraron una actitud intolerante, irrespetuosa y poco considerada y que no corresponde a la hospitalidad que caracteriza a los costarricenses.      Aprovecho esta oportunidad para manifestarle nuestro firme propósito de hacer respetar la dignidad y los derechos humanos de quienes nos visiten, en cualquier comunidad del país.     Espero que usted pueda hacer llegar este mensaje a todos ellos, con las muestras de mi malestar por lo sucedido y que sepan que siempre serán bien recibidos en nuestra tierra. Cordialmente, Licda. Aida F. de Fishman, Presidenta Ejecutiva Esteemed señor Campbell:                                                                                                                   . I am writing to you to express sincere apologies on behalf of the Presidency of the Republic and with the full authority of the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, for what happened this past October in Guanacaste. I do not have sufficient words to explain the conduct displayed by some of our citizens, whom showed an intolerant, disrespectful, and inconsiderate attitude which is not consistent with the characteristic hospitality of Costa Ricans. I would like to take this opportunity to state our firm position to respect the dignity and human rights of all who visit us, in every community of our country. I hope you can send this message to all of them [your tour guests] with my regrets of what happened. I want to be sure that they know they will always be welcome in our land. Cordially, Licda. Aida F. de Fishman,  Executive President [ICT]

(translated to English by Jorge Vargas & Don Chapman)

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