by Rex Wockner
Costa Rica's Supreme Court ruled Aug. 10 that a voter referendum scheduled for Dec. 5 that could have banned same-sex unions was unconstitutional.
The court's constitutional arm ruled 5-2 that marriage rights are a legislative issue, not a matter for voters, and that minority rights should not be subject to the referendum process. The court said that people in same-sex relationships "form a group that is subject to disadvantages and discrimination, and require the support of public authorities to obtain their rights."
