Heredia Host Country’s First Gay-Lesbian Summit

Marking April as the Costa Rican Month of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Trans-gendered (GLBT) Pride, various GLBT groups, as well as human rights and community groups, are convoking this country’s first-ever national conference on GLBT issues.

The First National GLBT Conference 2006 will be held April 28-30 in Birrí, Heredia, north of San José, where opposition was riled after news of the conference was published in local media.

The Diversity Movement, one of the principal sponsors of the event, spoke out against what it called “yellow” journalism by some Costa Rican media in their writing about the conference. In a press conference called specifically to address what representatives said were misconceptions about the event, the president of the Diversity Movement, Abelardo Araya, said the coverage was generating myths and prejudice in the community of Birrí, the news service ACAN-EFE reported.

Araya added that GBLT representatives have since met with members of the Birrí community to explain what the conference would entail and dispel any misconceptions.

Debates, analysis, panels and the discussion of various GLBT issues will make up of most of the conference, touching on topics such as health, equality, human rights and spirituality, among others.

More information about the event can be found at www.orgullogaycr.com and www.gaycostarica.com.