Costa Rica’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community turned out to protest for equal rights in this conservative, Catholic country on Valentine’s Day. The representatives of the community want President Laura Chinchilla to present in special sessions [of Congress] two bills that regulate the rights of the LGBT community. The first bill would extend marriage benefits to any couple, gay or straight, after three years of cohabitation. The second bill aims to extend the privileges of married couples, including insurance and pension benefits, to same-sex couples. A statement issued by the Presidency Ministry after the meeting, however, indicated that the protester’s bills would not be discussed during this year’s special sessions.

Photos by Ajita Chowhan