Lawmaker Ana Helena Chacon, of the Social Christian Unity Party, introduced a bill that would legalize civil unions in Costa Rica, a country steeped in Catholicism. There was no indication on how the bill might fare, according to Reuters:
“Under the proposal, same-sex couples would be granted marital-type rights like bereavement leave, inheritance and power over medical decisions. It stops short of recognizing same-sex marriage or allowing adoption by same-sex couples.”
Said Chacon: “This is a bill that guarantees the respect and tolerance for couples that are of the same sex.”
Costa Rican activist Abelardo Araya added: “We gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders already enjoy all the duties but not all of the rights of citizenship. The country has a system of homophobia that is almost institutionalized.”