The recent report of the United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (‘SOGI Expert’) addresses the relationship between the right to freedom of religion and belief, and to live free from violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The report mentions that unfortunately there are still religions that exclude certain believers from practicing a religion because they are LGBTIQ+. To do this, they invoke religious tenets according to which the incorporation of LGBTQI+ people into that religious denomination is not allowed.
The SOGI Expert notes that this situation could be considered a violation of at least two human rights. The first, the right of people to live free from violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The second, of the right to freedom of religion and thought of the practitioners of a religion who consider that LGBTQI+ people have the right to live free of violence and that therefore have the right to live spirituality on equal terms with others. Indeed, the report shows that there are several religious denominations that are pro-LGBTQI+: the National Church of Iceland and the Episcopal Churches of the United States and Scotland. At CELIG we are also aware of similar religious denominations in Costa Rica.
At CELIG we provide specialized services to the LGBTQI+ community. If you want more information or make an appointment with us, call us at 4800-0248 or write to info@celigcr.com.
We are located in San José, Barrio Escalante.
M.Sc. Ana Isabel Sibaja Rojas
CELIG – Center for Equal Litigation
