Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 14:52:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Daniel Soto Mayorga <dsoto@indiana.edu>
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! 

Dear ALL,

This is an historic occasion for the Costa Rican people and the people of the
world, especially those who are GLBT individuals.

The Supreme Court of Costa Rica has added two important articles of FREEDOM
for ALL GLBT peoples to their Constitution.

The first is to Article 20 of the Constitution - the addition/inclusion of
Female (Esclavas) to description of freedoms for all people.  Not just
Esclavos (men) but also Esclavas (women).

The text will say:

"toda persona es libre en la Rep'ublica, no puede ser esclavo ni esclava
quien se halle bajo la protecci'on de sus leyes".

"All people are free in the Republic, and can not be slave (male and
female) who is under the protection of it laws"

This change will also affect Article 33 of the Constitution and
will read: " all people are equal under the law, and can not be
descriminated in any way that is again her/his humanity"
This is an addition of a NON-DISCRIMINATION provision for ALL Gays,
Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders.

An explanation of the anti-discrimination law reads: 

"Quien aplique, disponga o practique medidas discriminatorias por raza,
nacionalidad, genero,edad,opcion politica, religiosa o sexual
SEXUAL,posicion social, situacion economica, estado civil, o por algun
padecimiento de salud enfermedad, sera sancionado con pena de veinte a
sesenta dias multa."

"Who ever practice, any form of discrimination, bases in race,
nationality, gender, age, political option, sexual orientation, social
position, or economical situation, mariage status, or deseases (this
includs HIV/AIDS) will be santion by law with twenty to sixty day in
jail."

Please post this notice widely -- this is one of the most important days
in the history of Costa Rica and makes our country the only one with
non-discrimination included in the constitution for glbt folks in Central
America. Probably in all the Americas.

9/15/98