Q COSTA RICA – Thousands marched through downtown San José this Sunday to push for progress in the fight against discrimination for the LGBT community.
They demanded that the Rodrigo Chaves government take decisive action to address the issues facing this population.
Despite two PAC governments (2014-2018 and 2018-2022), there’s been a sense that the current government is not doing enough to recognize gender identities and implement laws that punish discrimination.
The march’s main call was for these critical issues to be taken seriously.
Full recognition of gender identities and a law that penalizes discrimination were part of the slogans.
Que hoy se llenen de orgullo, protesta y alegría las calles de San José. Que las voces de cientos de miles de personas LGBTIQA celebren nuestra existencia, lo que hemos avanzado, denuncien toda la violencia que aún recibimos y exijan a gritos nuestros derechos. pic.twitter.com/de3xGlxixK
— @maggiewill (@maggiewill) June 25, 2023
#OrgulloLGBTI #Resistencia pic.twitter.com/96AptMMrvo
— Rocío Alfaro Molina (@R_AlfaroMolina) June 25, 2023
The LGBTQ+ community in Costa Rica have valid worries, according to ex-commissioner Margarita Salas, who believes the government isn’t seriously focused on helping them out, and that key issues like stopping conversion therapies, preventing discrimination and recognizing gender identities, especially for trans people, are not progressing.
“In terms of the rights of the LGBTQ+ population, we still have full recognition of the gender identity of trans people pending. No progress has been made on this issue and, of course, incorporation into the workplace and quality health care is also pending. The recognition of gender identities is one of the great pending issues”, said Salas.