In 2016, former Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis vowed to expand the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. He called on to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to require the countries to implement same-sex marriage.

In 2018, the Costa Rican constitutional court made headlines after they declared same-sex couples in the nation will be allowed to register for marriage by mid-2020. Tens of thousands of citizens spilled out to the nation's capital to participate in the 2019 pride march. According to reports, members of the Lutheran Church in Costa Rica joined the pride march organized by March for Diversity. Activists from Nicaragua also engaged in the rally in hopes their government would also allow LGTBQ+ community members to register for marriage.

According to a report by Q Costa Rica, people of the same sex can start registering with the Civil Registry on May 26, an announcement applauded by many. The ruling was called a 'historic decision' as it would make Costa Rica the first socially conservative country in Central America to officially acknowledge the right.

However, recent reports suggest politicians may be delaying the enactment of the landmark gay marriage ruling. Costa Rican lawmakers and government officials criticized their fellow politicians, leading to a punch-up between party members.

On Tuesday, 20 politicians reportedly introduced a motion that would delay the ruling from taking effect for up to 18 months. The lawmakers claimed they 'lacked enough time' to review the decision due to other issues such as the COVID-19 crisis.

Rights activists and government officials say the conservatives' efforts to delay the ruling undermined the constitutional court's decision on the matter. Luis Salazar, the presidential commissioner for affairs concerning the LGBTQ community, believes arguing on an issue that has already been settled. He said the country still had other problems to resolve while confronting the pandemic.

According to local media, the argument over the ruling came to a head-on Tuesday when the National Liberation Party's deputy, David Gourzong, reportedly got involved in a physical altercation with a legislative adviser, Giancarlo Casasola Chaves.

In a statement released to the press, the legislator apologized for attacking the deputy but claimed: "insults lead to violence." He said he was offended when the adviser used insulted lawmakers who signed the document in a WhatsApp chat.

He announced he would seek legal actions against the official despite being called to resign by fellow politicians.

Thirty-eight of Costa Rica's 57-member assembly are required to vote in favor of the ruling to be able to bring the issue to the top of the list. If they fail to accumulate the needed votes, the ruling would most likely be suspended until the May 26 deadline.

Enrique Sanchez, the nation's first openly gay congressman, believes the politicians who uphold conservative views had little chance of gaining the majority.

Many Latin American countries are beginning to embrace same-sex marriage and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Gay couples are allowed to register for marriage in other countries in the Americas-including Argentina, Colombia, Brazil. Ecuador, Uruguay, and some parts of Mexico.


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