Weddings
This Lesbian Couple Among Costa Rica's First Same-Sex Weddings

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As expected, Costa Rica became the first Central American country to recognize marriage equality beginning today. A few happy couples couldn't wait to say their vows and at midnight, in a televised event, Alexandra Quiros and Dunia Araya became two of the first same-sex couples to marry after the ruling went into effect.
Quiros and Araya, who were married in Heredia, Costa Rica are likely not the only couple to take advantage of the new laws; due to the ongoing pandemic, many likely did so privately in quarantine ceremonies.
"In a few hours, same-sex couples and their families will have the same rights as any other couple or family in this country," President Carlos Alvaro Quesada tweeted ahead of the deadline according to a translation. "Together, under the same flag, let's build a better nation." Only hours after that tweet, he reaffirmed his support with another.
"Costa Rica officially recognizes equal marriage," he wrote. "Today we celebrate freedom, equality, and democratic institutions. may empathy and love be the compass that allows us to get ahead and build a country where all people fit."
Costa Rica is now the sixth Latin American country to recognize marriage equality. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and most recently Ecuador, already allow same-sex marriage, as do parts of Mexico. Elsewhere in the Americas, Canada and the United States recognize the right to marry.
Costa Rica's fight to this point has been multilayered. Earlier this month, punches were thrown between lawmakers over the matter, while others tried to delay its passing. But advocates have remained undaunted.
"With their experience, their struggles... they have helped build a society where there are no second-class families or second-rate people," Enrique Sanchez, Costa Rica's first openly gay member of parliament, told Reuters news agency of the advocates.
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Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
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