Costa Rica recognises first same-sex marriage in Central America

Pama City, June 3: For the first time in the history of Central America, a family court in Costa Rica has recognised a civil union between a same-sex couple thus opening the doors for economic rights for such couples. The two-year-long legal battle of Gerald Castor and Cristian Zamora, who have been living together for 12 years, for their domestic partnership to be recognised seems to have borne fruit with a court in San Jose on Tuesday giving its approval to the union. The couple based their case on the General Law on the Young Person that came into effect in 2013 and recognises “the right to recognition without discrimition contrary to human dignity, social and economic effects of domestic partnerships that constitute publicly, notoriously unique and stable”. This decision paves the way for the couple to enjoy economic rights in regards to inheritance, pensions, hospital visits, division of assets in case of separation, and others. The Castro-Zamora case also sets a precedent in the Central American region where the laws of most countries, including Costa Rica, do not recognize same-sex civil unions or marriages. (IANS)