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Published Monday, January 4, 2021
Costa Rica recognized as the best
Nature Destination for gay travelers,
says agency
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services
California based Gay Travel Agency, recognized Costa Rica as the best Nature Destination for gay travelers, according to the 2020 Gay Travel Awards presented by the company.
The agency is focused on connecting the LGBTQ community with gay-friendly destinations, hotels, cruises, tours, events, entertainment, attractions, clubs, and restaurants worldwide. "Their mission is to provide the community with safe, welcoming, and curated recommendations to ensure that every vacation is pleasurable and memorable," they said in its statement.
In its fifth year, the awards recognize and reward select accommodations, destinations, and transportation companies worldwide. These recognized tour locations or destinations are "lead by example and help inspire other companies and brands to follow their spirit of diversity and inclusiveness," the agency said. "They also strive to continuously improve their amenities, safety protocols, and service excellence."
"This year has been like no other. With the pandemic raging across the globe, many travelers are restricted from traveling or waiting for a safer time," Steve Rohrlick, agency chief said.
Others awarded destinations, tour operators or companies such as Cape Airline, Fox Rent a Car, and Puerto Rico as a wedding destination. JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa is the best hotel for families, among many other awards.
The full winner's list can be read on the Gay Travel website.
Costa Rica was the first Central American country to move toward a more progressive government in regards to lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual, or LGBTQ community. In Dec. 2018, President Carlos Alvarado signed six decrees and guidelines to guarantee and improve the lives of the LGBTQ community by ordering equality and parity of rights without any discrimination.
In May 2020, seventeen months after these presidential decrees were signed, same-sex civil marriage became legal in Costa Rica.
These decrees were a result of the combined work of “organizations and civil society and the Commissioner's effort to give concrete answers to the LGTBI communities (lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual)," Alvarado said. "As a government, our commitment is to settle a historic debt and guarantee respect for this population."
The first decree allows notaries to register same-sex marriages at the Civil Registry.
The second decree guarantees access to family housing bonds to the LGBTQ community. This guideline is aimed at the National Homes Loans Bank to enable access to same-sex couples on equal terms to family housing bonuses and credit programs of the National Housing Financial System.
The third decree recognizes migratory rights, status to the LGBTQ population. This measure will regulate the recognition of migratory rights by the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration derived from unions formed by same-sex couples, either through marriage or de facto bond duly recognized in any foreign legislation. This right allows temporary residences, permanent residences, special categories or any other process of migratory regulation of foreigners who are in the national territory to be recognized.
The fourth decree is the declaration of national interest of the Protocol of Comprehensive Care of Trans People for hormones in the health services network. This protocol provides comprehensive care to transgender individuals so that they can get the treatments prescribed by a specialist to have a happy full life.
The fifth decree is for the right to declare their sexual identity and gender for foreigners in the Immigration and Identity Document for Foreigners (DIMEX) documents issued by Migration.
The sixth decree is to declare May 17 as the National Day against Homophobia (the hate directed at homosexuals), Lesbophobia (hate of lesbians), Biphobia (hate of bisexual people) and Transphobia (hate directed at transgender individuals).
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How many same-sex expat couples get married in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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