Coclé is governed by federal Panama law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- N/A
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Coclé 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 Coclé is unrecognized.
Current status
Since Dec 12, 2018
Unrecognized
Article 58 of the 1972 constitution defined marriage as a different-sex union. 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 Coclé is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Panama, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Coclé is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Oct 11, 1972
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 Coclé is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Panama does not recognize genders other than male and female.
LGBT employment discrimination in Coclé is no protections.
LGBT housing discrimination in Coclé is no protections.
Serving openly in military in Coclé is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Doesn't have military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Coclé is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
LGBT Panamanians and foreigners are ineligible to donate blood in Panama.
Conversion therapy in Coclé is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Not preformed. Conversion therapy ban pending.