Businesses support LGBT+ inclusion and the freedom to marry in Costa Rica
Costa Rica became the first Central American country to legalize civil marriage for same-sex couples in May 2020. Open For Business worked with Si Acepto to show that businesses strongly support doing business in LGBT+ inclusive countries with the freedom for same-sex couples to marry. Many companies in Costa Rica are supportive of civil marriage for same-sex couples and understand that a more LGBT+ inclusive Costa Rica will be better for companies and for Costa Rica’s overall economic growth.
This is a strong step toward a more open and LGBT+ inclusive society, which is good for business and economic growth on several levels. Increased levels of LGBT+ inclusion can enable Costa Rica to:
Develop and attract high-value industries: Evidence shows that LGBT+ inclusive environments have greater levels of entrepreneurialism, are more innovative and attract more foreign direct investment.
Increase tourism and boost national reputation: Civil marriage for same-sex couples could make Costa Rica more attractive to the growing LGBT+ tourist market.
Attract human capital & talent to the country: Civil marriage for same-sex couples will make it easier for companies to relocate and attract top talent to Costa Rica.
Improve business performance: Companies which are more LGBT+ inclusive, and which operate in LGBT+ inclusive environments, have better financial performance because they have motivated employees who speak up and are more dedicated to the success of the company.
The following companies are publicly supporting same-sex marriage in Costa Rica
The Cost of LGBT+ Discrimination in Costa Rica
Evidence presented in this report shows that LGBT+ discrimination in Costa Rica has real costs to the economy. These costs come from a number of angles and have been found to occur in economies around the world. In this report, we investigate the impact of unequal health outcomes, economic discrimination and missed revenue of same-sex weddings. Recent research has shown that LGBT+ discrimination is reduced in countries with marriage equality. Therefore, extending civil marriage to same-sex couples in Costa Rica will be a significant step to creating a society and an economy that is truly inclusive and “open for business”.
