Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 22:51:56 +0600
From: rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr (Richard Stern)




GIVE A HELPING HAND TO

GAY  PEOPLE IN COSTA RICA

"$25. for Triangulo Rosa."

ASOCIACION TRIANGULO ROSA

ORGANIZING THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY OF COSTA RICA


Who are we?

	Costa Rica is a quiet peaceful country located in Central America.   It is
considered to be the most democratic country in Latin America.   However, here
as almost everywhere, the gay and lesbian community has been persecuted and
ridiculed.   Latin American "machisma"  plays a large part in discrimination
against gays.
	Gays and lesbians in Costa Rica have begun to organize.  Triangulo
Rosa is the first openly gay Association to become legally recognized  in all of
Central America  in spite of significant opposition by  political and religious 
leaders here.


Triangulo Rosa has proposed the following goals:
	*Organize efforts to combat discrimination against gays and
lesbians.
	*Provide support for improving our own self-image as gay people, 
so  that we are more capable of achieving our goals.
	*Educate the heterosexual community in a form that promotes 
communication and mutual respect.   
	*Work to educate all communities  in the area of AIDS prevention,
and support those people who are already affected by the epidemic.


Our Projects:

	Here in Costa Rica, we are just getting started.  The gay/lesbian
community is just beginning to organize and there is much to do.  Triangulo
Rosa has been  holding meetings with members of our community, in order to
improve our self-esteem  and  develop our image as gay and lesbian  people
in  a country  where there have previously been no positive role models.  We
have conducted a weekly coffee house during the last two years.

	We are hoping to be able to implement the following projects.

	1)  Rent space suitable for a community center where we can conduct
workshops, support groups, and other activities.
	2)  Establish a Hotline to provide information about AIDS.
	3)   Collect funds to help persons already sick with AIDS.
	4)   Hold workshops focussing on issues such as self-esteem,
communication, political empowerment,  and  human rights.
	5)   Provide legal assistance for people who have been discriminated
against because of sexual preference.
	6)  Publish a newsletter to provide  a  means of dispersing information in
the gay and lesbian community.
	7)  Organize activities to educate the non-gay public  about who we are
with the goal  of  reducing prejudicial attitudes and beliefs.
	8)  Organize vocationally oriented programs for gays and lesbians
who have been denied access to educational programs.

	We are at this moment trying to organize the first Central American Gay
and Lesbian congress, but this effort is hampered by the social and economic
problems of the countries in this region.



What we need:

          Triangulo Rosa is asking for collaboration from our brother and
sister gay
and lesbian communities  in the form of a $25. donation.  In Costa Rica, this
relatively small amount of money can go a long away toward helping us to be
able  to implement our programs.    You contribution will be important and
significant  in helping  the gays and lesbians of Costa Rica.

	Triangulo Rosa wishes to thank the international community for its help
during our struggle for legal recognition.  Thanks also for  your help in
enabling
us to begin our programs to benefit our community here.

How  You Can Get in Touch with Triangulo Rosa

Our legal charter ("persona juridica") is: 3-002-173900

Our P.O. Box is:   Apartado 1619-4050, Alajuela, Costa Rica, Central America

Our  "e-mail" address is:     rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr

Our  fax number is (506) 234-2411

Our  telephone number is (506) 234-2411





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