Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 08:59:14 -0600 From: cblanca@sol.racsa.co.cr (Hotel Casa Blanca de Ml. Ant. S.A.) To the international gay lesbian comunity: Please note the following conclusion concerning the series of reports made by "La Prensa Libre", daily Costarican newspaper which I put on the Internet on saturday 6/17/95: >To the international gay/lesbian worldwide community: > >After the last article was published yesterday at "La Prensa Libre" life >comes back to normal which allows the following: > >FINAL EVALUATION: > > >Thanks to your letters of protest, yesterdays edition of "La Prensa Libre" >gave a report about what people in our region (Quepos) and nationwide are >thinking about gays, together with parts of the interview I gave the >reporter Rosibel Mena V.. > > >---- >So far so good, but ....... >---- > >All 4 articles from "La Prensa Libre" were front page articles (as if the >world has nothing more important to be reported!)!!! > > 6/13/95 > Front Page: > Prostituion, Homosexuality and Lesbianisme > COSTA RICA: SEX - "PARADISES" > . the nation without legal instruments to prevent it > . sex centers all over the country > > Article Headline and Intention: > Prostitution, Homosexuality and Lesbianisme > COSTA RICA PROMOTED AS HOMOSEXUAL PARADISE > (color photo of Casa Blanca entrance with rainbow flags, photo of >Joluva >Guesthouse) > Articles starts with: "Prostitution, Homosexuality and Lesbianisme >have found in Costa Rica a paradise, worth for being promoted en the mayor >cities of the world. Since month scrupelous people have put Costa Rica on >the map for sex tourisme with messages included in satelites, sex magazins >and homosexual magazins with wide circulation in the world. > The situation qualified by the authorites as very serious for the >international reputation of Costa Rica could not have been controled for >legal limitations....." > "...... papers as "Gente 10" or the "Spartacus" which are sold >abroad are serving the owners of gay places in Costa Rica as worldwide >promotion. > But those guides leave the ecological tourisme out, which is >promoted whith big efforts by our president Jose Maria Figueres Olsen, or >the traditional tranquility, peace and democracy Costaricans are >enjoying........" > > (in this article the reporter files us (gay/lesbian) hotels to >tourist ministery, president, national tourist chamber as places for sex >tourisme and prostitution) > > > 6/14/95 > Front Page: > The law no restricts gay centers > WITHOUT DEFENSES AGAINST SEX TOURISME > . courts resolution protects gays in one or the other form > . owners for hotels for homosexuales are speaking > > Article Headline and Intention: > The law no restricts gay centers > COSTA RICA WITHOUT DEFENSES AGAINST SEX TOURISME > (Photo from Hotel Colours) > Article starts with: "Costa Rica is without any defense against >this wave of international promotion whicht defines the >country like paradise for prostitution, lesbianisme and homosexuality! >Costarican authorities are with tied hands for doing somethinmg against >this masive publicity..." > > >(this article still links Colours, Joluva and Cas Blanca to sex tourisme >for nothing else than being gay/lesbian hotels but at least this article >states the supreme courts decision that gays are protected against sexual >discrimination and that gays have the right to create their own bars, >hoteles etc.. states authorities are confirming that the mentioned three >hotels are having all legal permits and are paying all necesary taxes! On >the same page the owners of Deja Vue - who caused the supreme courts >decision for putting a lawsuit after this mostly gay/lesbian disco whas >target of a violant police action which had no legal backround! - >confirmed that gay/lesbian tourist like to travel in groups or with their >longtime companion and that's all and that gay's are as normal as any >other person. The hotel owners are confirming that they operate simply as >hoteles and nothing else!) > > 6/15/95 > Front Page: > For articles at "La Prensa Libre" > INDIGNATION IN GAY COMMUNITY > . they are receiving support letters from abroad > . they will take case to comisions for the Human Rights > > Article Headline and Intention: > For publicacions from "La Prensa Libre" > INDIGNATION IN GAY COMMUNITY > > (this article is dedicated completely to the letters of protest >being sent to us, tourist bureau, tourist chamber, etc. and contains some >of the letters fully printed, which are stating the Costa Rica's >international reputation is damaged by the discrimination of gay/lesbians. >The article contains my statements that the gay/lesbian travel market is a >clean and healthy sector of international tourisme which has nothing to do >with drugs and/or drugs, the only bad thing of this article is that at the >end we are connected again to end: Jacobo Schifter from the latinamerican >institute for prevention and edducion in health sector says that sex >tourisme is against safer sex and sex for money should not be promoted. I >accused Schifter for relating us again to sex tourisme and he called me >back immediatly to declare that he was interviewed over sex tourisme only >and that he is convinced that our place have nothing to do withit, only >that reporter Rosibel Mena printed only what was convenient for her!!) > > 6/16/95 > Front Page: > Homosexuality is something normal in the area > IMPACT OF VALUES IN QUEPOS > . formation of cildren in confuse situation > . wide ranged analyses from specialists about phenomen > > Article Headline and Intention: > IN QUEPOS IMPACT OF VALUES > . some behave tolerant meanwhile others wants to keep ideas from the > past. Many citizen consider that gays take parte of the every day live >The report names people from health ministery, teacher and citizins stating >the the time has come to accept gay/lesbians as part of the society, even >if it will cause a change in traditional values and that concerning Safer >Sex and AIDS the gay/lesbian society is the most sexually educated part of >the Costarican society. > > The only negative response came from Roman Catholic Church made by >the local priest stating that homosexuality is abnormal and not wanted by >the Lord and that the Holy Institution of Marriage between Men and Woman is >the only acceptable form of living together in human society. > >----------------------------- > >The paper "La Nacion" decided not to continue the reports about >sex-tourisme naming our hotel dedicated to sex-tourisme for being gay owned >and dedicated to the gay/lesbian travel market! > >----------------------------- > >After reading carefully all articles to find out whom we have to make >responsible I come to the following conclusions: > >1. The papers "La Nacion" and "La Prensa Libre" cannot be sewed directly >because the articles were signed by the reporter itself and therefore >representing her opinion (OK, the paper let her publishing the articles, >but that/s journalistic freedom, too) > >2. The Costarican government is not to blame: > - Tourist Ministery claimed that we have all legal permits and we >are paying all necessary taxes. > - Tourist Ministery said that they do not want Costa Rica to be >promoted as sex paradise. They never connected that statement to the hotels >Colours, Joluva or Casa Blanca. We do not want sex tourisme either! > - Supreme Court decided that gays/lesbians are protected by Costa >Rica's constitution and against discriminacion (Deja Vue case) and they are >allowed to create places dedicated to their own community! > >3. Jacobo Schifter is not to blame: > - Jacobo Schifter was against his intention related to the >gay/lesbian hotels. When he was interwieved he said clearly that he do not >consider Colours, Joluva, Casa Blanca places for prostitution nor sex >tourisme! > > > >4. The only person we have to accuse for is the reporter Rosibel Mena >V.herself for the following reasons: > - Difamation and discrimination for connecting clearly the hotels >Joluva Colours and Casa Blanca to sex tourisme and prostitution for the >synonymous use of "Prostitution" and "Homosexuality and "Sex Tourisme" > - Damage of personal reputation and for putting our lifes under >threats from homophobic persons following her prejudgments and synonymous >use of "Prostitution" and "Homosexuality" and "Sex Tourisme" > - Damage to our business reputation as honorable member of the >national / international travel market. > - Falsification of facts (like that we never were asked to be in >the package which caused the articles, that this package never started to >be promoted (statement of Amphitron Holidays) > - Putting statements of ministeries, authorities, institutions >about sex tourisme together into an article about our places which was >never the itention of the same minsteries, authorities, institutions but >which happend on purpose by her (which leaves open if all those >ministeries, authorities, institutions wants to join our lawsuit?!) > - damagin the reputation of Costa Rica, its government, its >citizens for mounting the image that Costa Rica allows the violation of the >Magna Carta of the Human Rights from the UNO and allows discrimination of >minorities!! > > >With our lawyers we will define and elaborate on monday 6/19/95 the >accusation based on above named evaluation and based on the resolutions >from the supreme court and the statements of the governmental institutiones >which are all in our favour! > > >The incredible international support in our fight against discrimination of >the gay/lesbian society and the gay/lesbian travel market helped us to get >at least >the chance to speak freely in the last two articles about what we are and >what we and the gay/lesbian supportive society are standing for! > >Without your help it would have been impossible and whow knows what >articles what have followed by her or by other reporters! > >Please continue to send letters of your support to the named numbers to >show all institutions that the gay/lesbian international society exists and >that this society defends its rights and that we are not to be named >prostitutes and sex tourists only for being gay/lesbian! > >I will keep you informed about the results of the live Talk-Show on Channel >4 this Monday 6/19/95 at 10:00 PM local time! > >Life will stay difficult for a while, until homophobics will stop to threat >us on the phone, on the streets and by spraying offenses against the walls >of our businesses as already happening in case of Colours! > >Thank you very much in the name of Colours, Joluva, Casa Blanca and the >whole Costa Rica gay/lesbian society and all tolerant Costaricans > >Kindest regards out of the tropics..... > > >Harald Holler > >Hotel Casa Blanca >Manuel Antonio / Costa Rica > UNFORTUNATELEY NOW THE RADIO STATION "MONUMENTAL" WHICH IS THE BIGGEST NEWS SENDER AND MOST HEARD NEWS RADIO STATION IN COSTA RICA STARTED TO STATE: "unfortunately the laws from Costa Rica are protecting the homosexuals which are promoting Costa Rica for sex-tourisme as gay paradise......" "....the Costarican Government must be forced to change laws to do something against those people..." It seems that one person or a group of person wants to destroy the slowly upcoming liberation for gay/lesbians in our country. Unfortunately the government was not able until today to make a statement. The difamation of gay/lesbian travellers as sex-tourist and prostitutes is dirrected also against the International Gay/Lesbian Travel Association of which we are member as well as "gay friendly" companies as American Airlines, Quantas Airlines, Virgin Airlines, Avis Rent-a-Car. Does somebody has contact to those gay-friendly companies to get a statement how they think about dbeing discriminated as promotors of homosexual sex tourisme only for the fact that the respect gay/lesbian human rights!! Please send your letters of protest still today to: Hotel Joluva: (+506) 223 - 7961 and to the following Costarican Institutions: La Nacion: e-mail: webmaster@nacion.co.cr La Prensa Libre: Fax: (+506) 223-4671 Casa Presidencial President Jose Maria Figueres Olsen: Fax: (+506) 253-9078 Tourist Ministery Ing. Carlos Roesch Fax: (+506) 255-4997 Defensoria de Habitantes Defensor Lic. Rodrigo Carazo Zeledon Fax: (+506) 296-2512 CANATUR Fax: (+506) 253-8102 Please remeber that we have to defend our hotels and ourselves in todays most homophobic Live-Talk-Show: "En La Mira" on Channel 4 at 10 pm!!! We need your help Harald Holler Hotel Casa Blanca Manuel Antonio Costa Rica ----------------------------- In case you haven't followed the whole case: here are the messages put to the Internet from 6/13 to 6/16: >to the gay/lesbian worldwide community > > >In all democratic Costa Rica, where no laws exist to discriminate >gays/lesbians the national newspaper "La Prensa Libre" published today >6/13/95 the first report (promotion of Costa Rica as a homosexuell >paradies, prostitution, gays and lesbians) of in total three reports >stating that the gay/lesbian exclusively hotels: Joluva Guesthouse, Colours >and Casa Blanca de Ml. Ant. (Casa Blanca owned by my lover and myself) are >connected to prostitution. The report states further that on the Internet >are existing services which are promoting the sex turisme to these hotels, >which is of course not true! >The very offending first report (the owners of the mentioned hotels are >described as scrupelous people) is saying, too, that the international >promotion of gay/lesbian places in Costa Rica is in deed embarrassing for >the nation and that the fact that agencies try to bring gay/lesbian >tourisme to Costa Rica is a public offense against the politc of our >President Jose Maria Figueres Olsen to promote eco-tourism. The reporter - >Mrs. Rosibel Mena - states that unfortunately the laws of Costa Rica are >not strong enough to accuse the gay/lesbian hotels! She even filed above >mentioned hotels to the national tourist chamber (CANATUR) and the Tourist >Ministery (ICT) stating that these hotels are internationally promoting >their places being dedicated to prostitution! > >The article is based on a information about a gay/lebian tour package to >Costa Rica issued by "Amphitron Holidays", Washington DC. Beside that this >information is not talking about prostitution, not one of the Costarican >gay/lesbian hotels were ever asked to be included in the package. We all do >not know that agency at all nor how we got included into their package. >The reporter Mrs. Mena visited me personally to get an interview. During >that Interview I confirmed her that we do not have any connection to >"Amphitron Holidays" and that we do not know how we got included into their >package! >In that interview I made clear that we -Casa Blanca- are in fact a >gay/lesbian hotel and explained to her that it would be better if she would >write in favour of the gay/lesbian society in Costa Rica to get more >tolerance and acceptance. >She promised to do so, but she falsificated all dates from the interview to >start an "inquisition" on us hotel owners and to ask for legal prosecution! > >I am lucky for being able to name our receptionist as witness for that what >really was talked during that interview, because she followed the whole >conversation! > >All hotels together will search tomorrow for legal support to sew the >newspaper for discrimination, falsification of information, damaging the >reputation of our buisnesses and ourselves as owners! > >For showing our Casa Blanca entrance with rainbow logo and rainbow flags >"La Prensa Libre" even connect the Gay Pride movement and symbols to >prostitution!! > >The biggest newspaper "La Nacion" will print tomorrow an interview I gave >them today, correcting the lies from "La Prensa Libre" by informing the >public with the real base and facts of the article. > >We - Colours, Joluva and Casa Blanca - would highly appreciate your kind >support by sending your letters of protest (as many as you can write): >In case somebody of you has connections to ILGA and/or the United Nations >Council for Human Rights, please do us the favor to forward this message to >them! >If you know powerful travel agencies or their travel boards please forward >this message, too!!! > >Please write the letters asap. for stopping that "inquisition" by >international protest as soon as possible! > > >I would like to thank you in advance in the name of the mentioned hotels >for your kind support, > >very kind regards > >Harald Holler >Hotel Casa Blanca de Ml. Ant., S.A. >Manuel Antonio / Costa Rica ---------- >NEW AGRESSION AGAINST GAY/LESBIAN HOTELS IN COSTA RICA > >Today's editions from the Costarican national newspapers "La Prensa Libre" >and unfortunately also "La Nacion" (which yesterday promised to correct the >discriminations and lies made by "La Prensa Libre") called an "inquisition" >down on Hotel Joluva, Hotel Colours and Hotel Casa Blanca - Costa Rica's >gay/lesbian hotels. > >Both papers are statig that gay/lesbian tourisme is naturally connected to >prostitution and sex-tourisme. Therefore the catholic church and other >institutions like the tourist bureau (ICT) are asking to find the legal >methods of closing all gay/lebian hotels down! > >In the constitution of Costa Rica minorities are protected by law from >discrimination! > >I just received dead threats by phone and I had a self nominated commission >"for the closing of hotel Casa Blanca" calling me to advise me that they >want to destroy physically our hotel! > >I have no chance to get E-Mail address for the govermental offices of Costa >Rica (I doubt that they have E-Mail!), so please support us by sending your >letters of protest to the following fax numbers. > >Please forward this message to all people and organisations which might help >us. > >We will elaborate the accusation of "La Prensa Libre" and "La Nacion" today >to present it today or latest tomorrow to the supreme court! > >Please give us as much support as possible! > >La Nacion: e-mail: webmaster@nacion.co.cr >La Prensa Libre: Fax: (+506) 223-4671 >Casa Presidencial >President Jose Maria Figueres Olsen: Fax: (+506) 253-9078 >Tourist Ministery >Ing. Carlos Roesch Fax: (+506) 255-4997 >Defensoria de Habitantes >Defensor Lic. Rodrigo Carazo Zeledon Fax: (+506) 296-2512 >CANATUR Fax: (+506) 253-8102 > > >Thank you very much for you kind support! > >Kindest regards > > >Harald Holler >Hotel Casa Blanca >Manuel Antonio / Costa Rica --------------- >Manuel Antonio 06/15/95 > >To the international gay/lesbian community: > >It's pathetic that only a few letters of protest where sent! > >I am invited for an interview today at the local radio station and to a >live show next week at one of the biggest TV channels of Costa Rica >(Channel 4 - Univision)! It would be very nice, If I could say that we >(gay/lesbian hotels and gay/lesbian society of Costa Rica) have got a very >strong international support!!!!!!! > >Our lawsuit against the papers "La Prensa Libre" and "La Nacion" will be >based on the following reasons: > >1. Both papers are stating that homosexuality and prostitution are directly >connected and they use prostitution as a synonym for homnosexualtity! > >2. For that reason they put us in a criminal backround because in Costa >Rica prostitution is forbidden by law! > >3. To equal homosexuality with prostitution is a discrimination! Costa >Rica's constitution forbids the discrimination of minorities and the laws >are not showing any difference concerning the age of consense which is 16 >years for g/l/b and heterosexuals. > >4. The Supreme/Constitutional Court (Sala IV) of Costa Rica decided last >year that the existance of gay/lesbian stores, bars, discos is not illegal >and not against the constitution and that gays/lesbian are protected by the >constitution which forbids discrimination of minorities! > >5. Both newspaper are stating that the gay/lesbian tourisme is nothing else >than 100% sex - tourisme which is against moral and culture and which is >against the government's politic of the promotion of ECO-TOURSIME!!! > >6. Costa Rica is member of the UNO and accepted the Magna Carta of the >Human Rights. Discriminations like the reported one must be made public and >must be discussed internationally. Costa Rica receives money from all over >the world for ecological and social projects. One of the biggest donations >are coming from the Netherlands, proud and tolerant host of the Gay >Olympics 1999!! > > >If these points are not enough to make you move, than I do not know what >the international gay/lesbian groups exist for!!! > >All gay/lesbian bars and discos from Costa Rica are joining us in our fight >and we will buy one page of "La Nacion" to present the letter of accusation >to the public! > >Yesterday a party was held at gay/lesbian disco "Deja Vue" which was >interrupted to make a call to join our fight against discrimination in >general and in the case of "La Nacion" and "La Prensa Libre" in particular! > >It is the first time for Costa Rica that the gay/lesbian society is joining >together to enter a political fight for our human rights! > >I will post you still today a letter from "Gente 10" - Costa Rica's new, >first and only gay/lesbian magazin about the result of the party at "Deja >Vue". > >Please note the following letter which was sent to "La Prensa Libre": > > >Original Text: > >Senor Andres Borrase San Jose 14/06/1995 >Director - Presidente >La Prensa Libre >Presente > >Estimado senor: >Como persona, como ciudadano, como humanista, como abogado, como padre y >como abuelo me encuentro indignado por la tergiversacion que ha hecho la >periodista Rosibel Mena V. entre los terminos prostitucion y >homosexualismo. >Solo la homofobia y la lesbofobia (miedo o repudio al gay y a la lesbiana) >pueden ser los motivos que impulsen la redactora en su desconocimiento. >Hoy bien se sabe que la homofobia y la lesbofobia tienen origen no solo en >factores culturales sino en las propias inseguridades sexuales del fobico o >fobica. >Ojala que la Prensa Libre cese en este tipo de articulos que solo odio y >prejuicios fomentaran entre sus lectores, contra uno de los sectores mas >discriminados socialmente. > >Atentamente >Marco Castillo Rojas >ID Card # 3-162-262 >------------------------------------ >Translation of the text: >------------------------------------ >Dear Sir, >as person, as citizen, as humanist, as lawyer, as father and as grandfather >I am furious about the distortion (twisting) of the terms prostitution and >homosexuality made by reporter Rosibel Mena V. >Only the homophobia y lesbophobia (fear or repudiation against gays or >lesbians) could have been the reasons which impulsed the reporter in her >unawareness. >Today we know very well that homophobia and lesbophobia is not also >originated in cultural factors but also by the own sexual insecurity of the >phobic person. >Hopefully "La Prensa Libre" will end this kind of articles which only will >build up hate and prejudges among its readers against the socially most >discriminated sector. > >Sincerely >Marco Castillo Rojas >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >- > >I will ask "GLTravlWeb@aol.com" to put a pedition on their homepage to be >signed hopefully by all of you stating: > >I support the fight of the gay/lesbian society of Costa Rica against >discrimination! > >I am against the discriminating twisting between prostitution and >homosexuality and the equal use of both words for gays/lesbians, as made by >the newspapers "La Nacion", "La Prensa Libre" in their articles dated >13/6/95 and 14/6/95! > >I protest against the statement of both newspapers that the gay/lesbian >tourisme is nothing else than sex tourisme. The gay/lesbian tourisme is >highly interested in the natural beauty and wildlife of Costa Rica and the >conservation of the biodiversity in the primary rainforests all over the >world. > >I kindly ask the Costarican Government and authorties to stop that kind of >discrimination which is forbidden by Costa Rica's Constitution and laws and >by the Magna Carta of Human Rights from the United Nations! > >Sincerely >......... > > > > >Please sign the pedition and/or mail/fax your letter of protest to: > >La Nacion: e-mail: webmaster@nacion.co.cr >La Prensa Libre: Fax: (+506) 223-4671 >Casa Presidencial >President Jose Maria Figueres Olsen: Fax: (+506) 253-9078 >Tourist Ministery >Ing. Carlos Roesch Fax: (+506) 255-4997 >Defensoria de Habitantes >Defensor Lic. Rodrigo Carazo Zeledon Fax: (+506) 296-2512 >CANATUR Fax: (+506) 253-8102 > > >Thank you for joining and supporting our fight against discrimination in >Costa Rica. > >Very kind regards > > >Harald Holler >Hotel Casa Blanca >Manuel Antonio / Costa Rica > -------------- >As promised here comes the second letter of protest: >----------------------- > > > > > > > >15 de Junio de 1995 > >Sr. >Andres Borrase >Director "La Prensa Libre" >San Jose > >Estimado senor: > >Sirva la presente para manifestarle mi indignacion por la desinformacion >que la periodista Rosibel Mena V. ha fomentado en sus reportajes sobre el >"Turismo Sexual en Costa Rica". >Ademas de ofrecer informacion falsa sobre los negocios dirigidos al turismo >gay y lesbico en dichos reportajes se relacionan los terminos >homosexualidad, prostitucion y drogas como si fueran una sola cosa y esto >unicamente fomenta la ignorancia, la discriminacion y el odio a la >comunidad gay y lesbica una de las mas castigadas y maltratadas en el mundo >por el simple hecho de ser diferentes. >Espero que este tipo de reportajes no se repitan y que se vigile mas de >cerca la preparacion academica de los periodistas en "La Prensa Libre". > >Atentamente > >Sr. Jose Carrasquerro Diaz >Diseno y Comunciacion J&D S.A. > >La Revista Gente 10 es una publicacion de Diseno y Comunicacion J&D S.A. y >es la primera revista dirigida a la comunidad gay y lesbica de Costa Rica >------------------------------ >Translation of the text: >------------------------------ > >Dear Sir, > >This letter manifests my indignation about the desinformation which was >established by reporter Rosibel Mena V. in her reports about "Sex-Turisme >in Costa Rica". >Not only that she offers false information about businesses dedicated to >the gay/lesbian tourisme, but in her reports she also relates homosexuality >with prostitution and drugs, as if they are synonyms and all that only >based on the ignorance, discrimination and hate against the gay/lesbien >society, which is the most punished and worst treated in the whole world, >by the simple fact of being different. >I hope that this kind of reports will not be repeated and that you will >supervise in a more eficient way the academic (scientific) preparation of >the reporters of "La Prensa Libre". > >Sincerely > >Jose Carrasquero Diaz > >(letter is written on stationary from "Gente 10" the lase line of the >stationary reads: The Magazin "Gente 10" es published by Diseno y >Comunicacion J&D S.A., and is the first magazin dedicated to the >gay/lesbian society of Costa Rica) > >---------------------- > >Beside that letter we have now confirmed that the all three gay/lesbian >exclusive hotels of Costa Rica, discriminated by "La Prensa Libre" and >partly by "La Nacion" - Colours, Joluva and Casa Blanca - are invited for >the most popular TV-live-show of Costa Rica: "En la miera" which will be >sent live on monday 6/19/95 at 10:00 pm local time on Channel 4 >!!! > >----------------------- > > >Thanks for your support > >Harald Holler >Hotel Casa Blanca > ****************************************************************************** To send a message to the entire list "queerplanet", email queerplanet@abacus.oxy.edu This list is run by the program MAJORDOMO@abacus.oxy.edu. *******************************************************************************