LGBTIQA+ population in Costa Rica: advances in (national and institutional) rights and prospective for universities

Abstract

The paper presents a general overview of the legal conditions of the LGBTIAQ+ population in Costa Rica. Civil marriage and trans identities are legally recognized but were achieved through an international ruling; thus, there is still no national legislation on the matter (section 2). Then, the situation of the University of Costa Rica (section 3), the country’s largest higher education institution, is addressed in terms of the advances in sexual and gender issues in the previous decade (2010-2020). Previously, as a preamble (section 1), the context of discrimination and lack of rights experienced by this historically excluded population is discussed. In addition, Recognition and Affirmation Initiatives (IRA in Spanish) arise as a response to the adverse realities faced by sexually diverse people (IRA is a concept proposed by the author, also presented in this article). The main emphasis of the paper (section 4) consists of recommendations for universities concerning actions with the purpose of fostering respectful, inclusive, and discrimination-free spaces. The last section contains a final reflection about the transformation of the university and social change.