Costa Rica Glbt Travelers

Attitudes toward GLBT travelers can vary drastically from region to region in Costa Rica. Legally, all Costa Rican citizens are considered equal, regardless of their sexuality, and consensual homosexuality and bisexuality are not a crime. Although gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities exist and may even thrive in the largest cities, the government of Costa Rica still has a rather unfavorable outlook toward homosexuality (even if laws banning homosexuality no longer exist), and keeping a low profile about your sexuality is probably your best bet. In general, the government, media, and citizens of Costa Rica are much more open about homosexuality than they were 10 years ago, yet the traditional Roman Catholic family and the machista culture might still make gay and lesbian life uncomfortable. Generally, there are not too many establishments catering exclusively to gay and lesbian clientele.

However, Costa Rica is known for its tolerance and friendliness. Homosociality (camaraderie between members of the same sex, particularly men) is more common than you may be accustomed to; hand-holding between two men cannot be interpreted according to Western norms. Listed here are organizations, catalogs, and publishers offering materials addressing some specific concerns. Out and About (www.planetout.com) offers a newsletter addressing travel concerns and a comprehensive site, as well. The newspaper 365gay.com has a travel section (www.365gay.com/travel/travelchannel.htm).

Gay’s the Word, 66 Marchmont St., London WC1N 1AB, UK (☎+44 20 7278 7654; http://freespace.virgin.net/gays.theword). The largest gay and lesbian bookshop in the UK, with both fiction and non-fiction titles. Mail-order service available.
Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St., Philadelphia, USA (☎+1-215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com). An international lesbian and gay bookstore with mail-order service (carries many of the publications listed below).
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), Avenue des Villas 34, 1060 Brussels, Belgium (☎+32 2 502 2471; www.ilga.org). Provides political information, such as homosexuality laws of individual countries.

Additional Resources: Glbt
Spartacus International Gay Guide 2008 (US$33).
Damron Men’s Travel Guide, Damron Road Atlas, Damron Accommodations Guide, Damron City Guide, and Damron Women’s Traveller. Damron Travel Guides (US$18-24). For info, call ☎+1-800-462-6654 or visit www.damron.com.
The Gay Vacation Guide: The Best Trips and How to Plan Them, by Mark Chesnut. Kensington Books (US$15).
Gayellow Pages USA/Canada, by Frances Green. Gayellow Pages (US$20). It also publishes regional editions. Visit Gayellow pages online at http://gayellowpages.com.