Support New York bestselling author Jeff Rivera in his personal fight against discrimination.
Today's Kiss and Tell Report.
This weekend we were all beaming and celebrating the fact that gay marriage is now legal in New York State. Civil rights for one group of people increases civil rights for all of us. I feel proud to be a New Yorker and I couldn’t wait to write about being clearly in an “Empire State of Mind.”
As often happens, I was brought back to Earth by an urgent private message and call to action from bestselling New York City based author Jeff Rivera. Jeff Rivera and his male partner Geovanny Delgado Castro were in a Costa Rican restaurant, bar and casino called Gran Bingo Multicolor holding hands and enjoying a meal. This was not a family establishment and a heterosexual couple at another table was even kissing and canoodling.
To the surprise of Jeff Rivera and his partner, the restaurant management approached them and asked them to leave. They were told that they would be escorted out by security if they did not stop holding hands immediately. They have since entered into their own personal battle against prejudice and discrimination as the story has become twisted and convoluted. Rivera has a YouTube video from the Gran Bingo Multicolor security camera to back up his story. Jeff Rivera’s case will be soon examined by the Parliament or Supreme Court in Costa Rica and he is asking for our help. If they lose the case the Multicolor bar and casino can sue them!
You can find the full story of what happened in Costa Rica on Jeff Rivera’s blog. Every email sent from anywhere in the world helps. Tourism and opinions from prospective tourists abroad matter. Who would want to enjoy a vacation in a place where people are discriminated against?
Send your email of protest and support for Jeff Rivera to discrimination@onlyincostarica.com. Click that pre-set email link and it will take you less than three minutes. Be sure to include their Case Number #Exp 1149-81-0007-CO. There is a sample letter at the bottom of this post from Jeff Rivera if you need help in phrasing.
In the meanwhile, here’s the exclusive statement that Jeff Rivera gave to us on being discriminated against for being gay in Costa Rica:
"When something happens to someone else, it's very easy to just turn the page of the newspaper to the Sports section, say 'Tssk, tssk' and move on with your life. But when this happened to us I realized even in 2011 we have so far to go. This court's decision can have a ripple effect for anyone who is considered different in the entire world."
Well said, Jeff.
What you might want to say in your email of support:
Dear Magistrate,
I am in full support of Geovanny Delgado Castro and Jeff Rivera. Discrimination should not be tolerated whether it is against gays, lesbians, blacks or Asians. And furthermore, my family, my colleagues, my friends, and I do not plan on coming to Costa Rica until this issue is resolved in a fair and just way. The WORLD is watching. Please, make the right decision with their case: #Exp 1149-81-0007-CO.
Find updates on this case on Jeff Rivera’s blog. I will also personally keep you posted on twitter @abiolatv.
Do the right thing, Costa Rica. The world is watching.
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And there you have it. I'm Abiola Abrams and love, lifestyle and inspiration are my passion. Come play with me on the lifestyle blog, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
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