Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 21:19:37 -0600
From: cblanca@sol.racsa.co.cr (Hotel Casa Blanca de Ml. Ant. S.A.)

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) 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

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