Este mes de agosto lanzamos una columna nueva aquí en Genre Latino. En Genre Conexiones, planeamos a traerles información sobre la situación LGBT en otros países del mundo latino. En muchos de los países, la situación, justo como aquí en los EEUU va cambiando día a día. Es obvio que en la mayoría de los países todavía queda mucho que hacer para asegurar que hay la igualdad para todos, pero en los últimos pocos años, hemos logrado mucho.
Costa Rica, situado entre Nicaragua y Panamá, ha salido como líder en la tolerancia y protección para la comunidad LGBT. Con un gobierno y economía estable y una dedicación a la protección de la tierra y el ambiente, Costa Rica es una destinación favorita, sobre todo para los turistas estadounidenses.
Historia de tolerancia
Líder del gay turismo latinoamericano
Viajando a Costa Rica
Costa Rica está dividida en zonas distintas. Hay dos aeropuertos internacionales con vuelos diarios desde varios destinos en los EEUU. En la capital de San José, el aeropuerto Juan Santamaria Internacional tiene varios vuelos directamente de Fort Lauderdale y Miami. En la costa oeste del Pacifico, en la provincia de Guanacaste, hay un aeropuerto internacional en las afueras de la ciudad de Liberia. El aeropuerto internacional Daniel Oduber tiene vuelos diarios de ida y vuelta a Miami, y varios otros destinos en los EEUU.
San José
En la zona de la capital, San José, hay hoteles, bares, discotecas, y saunas para nuestra comunidad. Hasta hay un centro comunitario para la comunidad LGBT. Colors Oasis Resort es un hotel con 21 habitaciones. El resort es un ¨oasis¨ para el viajero gay, y está ubicada cerca del centro del capital. Para más información, visite ColorsOasis.com
Maunel Antonio-Quepos
Además de hoteles pequeñas, hay las cadenas grandes también que tienen resortes de lujo. Hay varios Hilton Hoteles hasta el Four Seasons. Si quieres saber más sobre viajes a Costa Rica, unas buenas fuentes de información son CostaRicaGayMap.com y TravelCostaRicaNow.com
Costa Rica, situated between Nicaragua and Panamá has come to the forefront as a leader in tolerance and protection of the LGBT community. With a stable economy and government and a dedication to protecting the Earth and the environment, Costa Rica is a favorite destination, especially for American tourists.
History of tolerance
Starting in the1970´s, the Costa Rican LGBT community has been fighting for rights, and they have achieved many of their goals. In 1971, the government declared that sexual acts between two adults of the same sex are legal. The 1990´s were fraught with setbacks and victories for the anti-gay community. In 1990, the president tried to prohibit single women from entering the country, saying that they were coming for lesbian encounters. Later in the decade, a gay pride parade was canceled after violence was threatened and The International University of the Americas was found to be expelling students and firing faculty who were found to be gay. Everything started changing as more tourists starting arriving in Costa Rica and as the society became more liberal in its thinking. The first 15 years of the new millennium have seen a growing LGBT community in Costa Rica, and just this year, the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis flew the gay flag at the Presidential Palace, a symbolic act in the name of diversity, in particular for ¨a group that has faced so much discrimination.¨
Leader in LGBT Latin-American Tourism
With thousands of miles of beautiful beaches, national parks, volcanoes, and a dedication to eco-tourism, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for gay travelers. But it should be clearly pointed out that it´s NOT South Beach. Gay tourists in Costa Rica should be careful with public gay acts (even holding hands). But in general the ¨ticos¨ are very tolerant and the saying ¨Pura Vida¨ applies to everyone. It can be taken to mean, live and let live.
Traveling to Costa Rica
Costa Rica is divided into 7 distinct zones. There are two international airports that have several daily flights to different destinations in the US. In the capital of San José, Juan Santamaria International has several flights every day to and from Fort Lauderdale as well as Miami. Over on the northwest coast in the province of Guanacaste, there is Daniel Oduber International which is just outside the small regional city of Liberia. This airport also has daily flights to and from South Florida as well as several other US cities.
In San José, Costa Rica´s capital city, there is a vibrant LGBT scene. There are hotels, bars, nightclubs, and saunas that cater specifically to the gay community. Colors Oasis Resort is a 21 room hotel that provides an ¨oasis¨ to gay travelers. It´s close to the city center and other gay nightlife. For more information, visit ColorsOasis.com
Manuel Antonio/Quepos
Besides boutique hotels that cater specifically to the gay community, there are also big hotel chains that have beautiful resorts. Hilton Hotels has several as well as the Four Seasons. If you would like know more about traveling in Costa Rica, two good resources are CostaRicaGayMap.com and TravelCostaRicaNow.com.