Panama, Central America

Homosexual acts are legal in Panama. The decriminalization occurred on July 31, 2008, when Presidential Decree No. 332 came into force. It repealed Article 12 of the Decree No. 149 of 1949, which previously criminalized homosexual relations. The age of consent is equal at 18. There are also no laws protecting gays from discrimination. Gays and lesbians are banned from both the armed forces and the police. Panama's 2007 Gay Pride march occurred on June 30. Activists from the Association of New Men and Women of Panama (AHMNP, by its Spanish initials) gathered on Via España at Via Argentina to pass out "Myths about homosexuality" leaflets and condoms.

 

 

An incredible court ruling just ordered 16 countries to make same-sex marriage legal

A landmark court ruling has ordered 16 new countries to make same-sex marriage legal. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights reached a decision today on a marriage equality petition submitted two years ago by Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis. 20 countries agreed to follow the court’s rulings when they signed the American Convention on… Read more »

Casco Viejo, Panama City

You don’t need much time to process what’s going on after the elevator door slides open onto the rooftop at the Tantalo Hotel in Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood. If you’re heading out during the day, the mind-baffling proximity of Panama City’s expansive, modern skyline across the bay from the hotel, which is itself surrounded… Read more »

Gay Panama News & Reports

1 Panama’s gays fight homophobia for real acceptance 2/02 2 Panama’s First Gay-Pride Parade 7/05 3 Declaration to Secretary General and more 6/07 4 3ra Marcha por la Diversidad Sexual en Panamá 6/07 5 Three languages, small crowd at local Gay Pride march 12/08 6 Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report 8/08 7 Panama: Gays blamed for… Read more »