Colón is governed by federal Panama law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Unknown
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- N/A
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
Public Opinion
Colón is lacking public opinion data.
Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Colón by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.
Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Colón is legal.
Current status
Since Jul 29, 2008
Legal
Jan 1, 1513–Jul 29, 2008
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Prior to the Spanish colonization of Panama, no laws governed Panamanian soil. History of indigenous Guna showed acceptance of third gender individuals, known as omeggid akin to LGBT folks in modern day society. Some Guna today are accepting of homosexuality. In 1513, Panama was incorporated into New Spain and had it's territories part of a viceroyalty, becoming a province of the Spanish empire, recieving the same rights as any other province in Peninsular Spain, bearing the brunt of colonial anti-sodomy laws in place at the time.
Same-sex marriage in Colón is banned.
Current status
Since May 17, 1994
Banned
Article 58 of the 1972 constitution defined marriage as a different-sex union.
Article 34 of the Family Code (1994) establishes that people of the same sex cannot marry each other.
In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the American convetion on Human rights mandates the recognition of same-sex marriage, recommending that countries issue decrees until legislation was brought into place. In March 2023, after seven years of delay the court ruled that there is no positive right to same-sex marriage in Panama under the constitution, halting any potential change for the time being through the courts.
Article 34 of the Family Code (1994) establishes that people of the same sex cannot marry each other.
In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the American convetion on Human rights mandates the recognition of same-sex marriage, recommending that countries issue decrees until legislation was brought into place. In March 2023, after seven years of delay the court ruled that there is no positive right to same-sex marriage in Panama under the constitution, halting any potential change for the time being through the courts.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Colón is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship under federal Panama law
In Panama, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. No Laws protecting LGBTQ+ spaces from banning or governmental harassment. The constitution does not mention the LGBTQ+. There is a law against public peace disturbance that mentions homosexual behaviour as a disturbance and indecent behaviour
Right to change legal gender in Colón is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Jul 31, 2006
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2006, transgender individuals have been able change their legal gender and name after undergoing gender affirming surgery and potentially humilitating doctor's inspection as reported by some trans activists, according to Article 121 of The Civil Registry Law (Law No. 31).
In 2016, a transgender woman was able, through court permission, to change her legal name according to her gender identity, without the need to undergo surgery.
In 2016, a transgender woman was able, through court permission, to change her legal name according to her gender identity, without the need to undergo surgery.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Colón is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Panama does not recognize genders other than male and female.
LGBT discrimination in Colón is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since 2002
Illegal in some contexts
The Anti-discrimination law (Law No. 7 2018) does not explicity include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. However, there are legal provisions in specific laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity as a category protected against discrimination:
- Law 6 (2002) that dictates rules for transparency in public management, establishes the action of Habeas Data and dictates other provisions, establishes sexual orientation as confidential information, which may not be disclosed under any circumstances by State agents.
Law 16 (2002) that Regulates the right of admission in public establishments and establishes measures to avoid discrimination, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Law 12 that Regulates the activity of insurance and dictates other provisions (2012), establishes that the sexual orientation of the contracting party or insured is understood as confidential information.
-Law 6 (2017) that creates the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, establishes that confidential information is understood to be all types of data and information that are relevant to people's medical and psychological data, the private life of individuals, including their gender identity or sexual orientation.
-Law 81 (2019) on the Protection of Personal Data, personal data that may reveal aspects related to sexual preference or orientation are considered sensitive.
- Law 6 (2002) that dictates rules for transparency in public management, establishes the action of Habeas Data and dictates other provisions, establishes sexual orientation as confidential information, which may not be disclosed under any circumstances by State agents.
Law 16 (2002) that Regulates the right of admission in public establishments and establishes measures to avoid discrimination, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Law 12 that Regulates the activity of insurance and dictates other provisions (2012), establishes that the sexual orientation of the contracting party or insured is understood as confidential information.
-Law 6 (2017) that creates the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, establishes that confidential information is understood to be all types of data and information that are relevant to people's medical and psychological data, the private life of individuals, including their gender identity or sexual orientation.
-Law 81 (2019) on the Protection of Personal Data, personal data that may reveal aspects related to sexual preference or orientation are considered sensitive.
LGBT employment discrimination in Colón is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment. The Anti-discrimination law (Law No. 7 2018) does not explicity include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories.
LGBT housing discrimination in Colón is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing. The Anti-discrimination law (Law No. 7 2018) does not explicity include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories.
Same-sex adoption in Colón is illegal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2021
Illegal
Article 55 of the General Adoption Law establishes that joint adoption will be constituted when the applicants are spouses or cohabitants in a de facto union and of different sex.
Bill No.121 was passed in 2021, the bill was criticzed as cruel and banned same-sex couples from adopting children, but allowed single parents to adopt. Single LGBT individuals may be able to adopt under this technicality.
Bill No.121 was passed in 2021, the bill was criticzed as cruel and banned same-sex couples from adopting children, but allowed single parents to adopt. Single LGBT individuals may be able to adopt under this technicality.
Intersex infant surgery in Colón is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Panama but not widely practiced.
Serving openly in military in Colón is n/a.
Conversion therapy in Colón is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal and common in Panama.