English
2021 November 24 Saying “only a sadistic God would create a gay person”, and the government refuses to ban conversion therapy. Reference: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/therapists-costa-ricans-homosexuality-wrong/
English
2021 August Article in English describing how transgender women’s rights are violated by direct, social and structural violence in Costa Rica. Interviews transgender incarcerated women to narrate their experience and state of vulnerability. Complemented with a socio-legal analysis of the justice framework. Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354035115_
Featured
2021 March 4 Academic article in Spanish, with summaries in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Published by Universidad Nacional, one of the main universities in Costa Rica. Violence against trans women in public spaces: Between sexual harassment and transphobia. Quote: “To the majority of women interviewed, public spaces are not safe
News
2020 December 8 Tati Quirós was murdered by gunshot near a tourist area. News coverage for shock value, disrespecting her privacy or identity. Violence agains trans people is not recognized in Costa Rica. These cases are treated as generic murder. This happened in 2020 but legality has not changed. Original
Spanish
2020 Report by Hivos America Latina (in Spanish). Describes hate manifestation, and provides examples of violence against trans people from 2016 to 2020. It highlights how Costa Rica does not recognize gender identity and has no laws against specific transphobic hate crimes. That situation hasn’t change since the report
English
2020 A police officer launched a series of insulting and homophobic remarks towards a male couple. Reference: Homophobic Remarks by Police in Costa Rica Under Investigation - Costa Rica Star NewsA complaint that unfolded in social media circles has caught the attention of the media and the Ministry of Public
Video
2020 April 1 Interview in Spanish. “Being a trans woman is hard, we have the lowest life expectancy in the world”, says Victoria Rovira trans activist. “Diversity doesn’t mean inclusion”. Reference: #Costa Rica| «Ser mujer trans es difícil, tenemos las expectativas de vida más bajas en el mundo», activista
Spanish
2020 March 3 News article in Spanish. Two women were verbally and physically attacked. Video recordings show the men were recording themselves from a nearby car, while they yelled, touched, hit and kicked the women, all while laughing and placing bets. Reference: https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/video-sujetos-atacaron-brutalmente-a-mujeres-trans-en-el-centro-de-san-jose/
News
2019 October 30 News article in Spanish. Downtown San Jose, 2pm. Police officer violates trans woman’s rights and threatens further violent action. Reference: https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/acusan-a-oficial-de-fuerza-publica-de-quebrar-cedula-a-mujer-trans/
News
2019 March 5 María was murdered while working. After her death the commissioner of LGBTI Affairs of the Presidential House called for trans people to be respected in society. Note the figure of Commissioner of LGBTI Affairs was removed by the following government in June of 2022. Link in English:
Featured
2018 June 19 News article (in Spanish), describing the murder of Kenisha, its aftermath and how the government dealt with it. It narrates how the government never recognized her identity, and misgendered her in all official reports. Reflects on how the lack of public policy and apathy are two of
Video
2018 June 19 Video in Spanish. Trans people tell their personal experiences. One tells how she was witness to one of her friends’ murder, and how police officers not only did nothing, but were disgusted to even touch her. Another one narrates how he barely escaped an attack by men,