Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Non-binary gender recognition
    Ambiguous
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    N/A
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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According to recent survey data available, societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights in Costa Rica is noticeable.

History

Homosexual activity in Costa Rica

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Homosexual activity in Costa Rica is legal.

Current status
Since Apr 17, 2002
Legal
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica

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Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica is legal.

Current status
Since May 26, 2020
Legal
Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica has been legal since May 26, 2020 as a result of a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice. Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to recognize and perform same-sex marriages.
Added by Mikeylito  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Dec 21, 1973–May 26, 2020
Unrecognized
Article 242 of the family law states explicitly that marriage is between a man and a woman who has cohabited for more than 3 years. The recent movement of "accidental passage" of same sex marriage has not taken effect or exercised.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Costa Rica

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in Costa Rica is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Costa Rica, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Costa Rica

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Right to change legal gender in Costa Rica is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since 2018
Legal, no restrictions
Legal since 2018.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Costa Rica

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Costa Rica is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jun 6, 2022
Ambiguous
Recognized in immigration documents.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Costa Rica

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LGBT discrimination in Costa Rica is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since May 17, 2015
Illegal in some contexts
In addition to the existing HIV/AIDS law, public workers are now also protected. Within federal agencies, same sex partnerships are also required to be recognized as a family when requesting time off for spousal medical emergencies.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
May 20, 1998–May 17, 2015
Illegal in some contexts
General law on HIV/AIDS protects LGBT people from discrimination in some contexts.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Costa Rica

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LGBT employment discrimination in Costa Rica is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2016
Sexual orientation only
Article 2 of the Law on Labour Procedural Reform (Law No. 9,343) (2016) amended Article 404 of the Labour Code to include sexual orientation among prohibited grounds for discrimination in employment.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Costa Rica

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LGBT housing discrimination in Costa Rica is no protections.

Current status
No protections
According to ILGA, laws in force in Costa Rica do not offer protection against LGBT discrimination in housing.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Costa Rica

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Same-sex adoption in Costa Rica is legal.

Current status
Since May 26, 2020
Legal
Adoption was legalized for gay couples when gay marriage became legal. Single individuals (whether gay or straight) have been allowed to adopt equally before then.

Serving openly in military in Costa Rica

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Serving openly in military in Costa Rica is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Costa Rica does not have a military.
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Costa Rica

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Blood donations by MSMs in Costa Rica is legal.

Current status
Legal
No restrictions about gay sex
Added by Simo  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Costa Rica

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Conversion therapy in Costa Rica is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Unknown.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Costa Rica

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Equal age of consent in Costa Rica is equal.

Current status
Equal
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Costa Rica.