Compare LGBT Rights in Costa Rica & Panama

Equality Index ?
69 / 100
39 / 100
Legal Index ?
85 / 100
43 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
54 / 100
34 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1971
Legal
Since 2008
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2020
Banned
Since 1972
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorshipNo censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, no restrictions
Since 2018
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2006
Gender-affirming careLegalLegal
Legal recognition of non-binary genderRecognized
Since 2022
Not legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2022
No protections
LGBT discriminationIllegal in some contexts
Since 2015
Illegal in some contexts
Since 2002
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation only
Since 2016
No protections
LGBT housing discriminationNo protectionsNo protections
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2020
Single only
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryN/A
Since 1948
N/A
Since 1989
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2007
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2001
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1971
Equal
Since 2008
Public Opinion
Support for same-sex marriage (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
35% Approve
65% Disapprove
22% Approve
78% Disapprove
Acceptance of gay people in public office (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
57% Approve
44% Disapprove
38% Approve
62% Disapprove
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
61% Good place
33% Not a good place
45% Good place
45% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull Details

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