In sharp contrast to Costa Rica’s outright welcome to lgbt people, its becoming known for tolerance and its friendly “live-and-let-live attitude”, is Jamaica’s continuing treatment of lesbians and bisexuals that hasn’t apparently improved since a Jamaican town’s announcement of a “Gay Eradication Day” in 2007.
Jamaica has been a resort destination for Caribbean culture, regional food, unique music, and beautiful sand beaches. But within this paradise lies the Jamaican tradition of violence – popular Jamaican music contains the lyric “When you hear a lesbian getting raped/It’s not our fault … Two women in bed/That’s two sodomites who should be dead.“
These Jamaican anti-gay lyrics have become tangible in violence and even murder, such as in 2004 of Jamaican gay rights campaigner Brian Williamson, founder of J-FLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays, the country’s first and only LGBT lobbying, advocacy and support group.
In 2004, Human Rights Watch produced a report called Hated to Death that focused on homophobia within Jamaica. Details included incidents of lesbians being driven from their homes under threat of death. Rebecca Schleifer, of Human Rights Watch, has said: “Discrimination against people based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation is widespread and entrenched. It is expressed from the pulpit to the schoolroom to the parliament. It is very important that the voices of Jamaicans who suffer this discrimination and are trying to overcome it should be heard.”
Costa Rica offers a mix of Caribbean and Latin cultures, exquisite food, unique experiences from sandy beaches, to world class surfing, volcanoes and eco-tourism beyond compare. Add to this mix of ambience is a popular culture of acceptance and you have one of the best places to vacation and enjoy what life has to offer in the world.
San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, has more gay & lesbian bars that any other country in Central America, and has become a tourist destination for many lgbt’s from North America and Europe. In the relatively large gay scene in San Jose you will find many western style bars, restaurants, clubs, saunas, hotels and guest houses.
According to Adriana De La Cruz of the Hotels Desire Group in Costa Rica, “Catering to lesbian and bisexual travelers is not just our job…it’s in our nature …. I should know since I’m part of the lgbt lifestyle. We welcome joie de vive as life is short and must be enjoyed!” Hotel Desires have locations in San Jose www.hoteldesirecostarica.com and on the coast at Jaco Beach www.copacabanadesirehotel.com.
The Costa Rican people are accepting and dedicated to making everyone’s stay an enjoyable and a memorable one in their country. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and a particularly good destination for the lesbian and bisexual traveler.
