Panama Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 38/60 + Scene 18/40 = 56/100
Updated 7 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Plan your trip · Frequently asked questions
Legal composite — 38/60 points
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No not recognised |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Partial |
| Gender recognition | Legal route — recognition possible via medical or administrative process |
| Enforcement reality | Harassment — police or state harassment documented |
Research note: Surgery plus inspection; StateDept police harassment reports — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 2005Panama's first Gay Pride march was held in June 2005 with around 100 demonstrators. ↗
- 2006Transgender people gained the right to change legal gender and name on birth certificates, but only after sex reassignment surgery. ↗
- 2008Executive Decree 332 repealed the anti-sodomy law, making Panama the last Spanish-speaking country in the Americas to decriminalize; homosexuality was also declassified as an illness. ↗
- 2016A transgender woman changed her legal name without surgery for the first time in Panama. ↗
- 2023The Supreme Court ruled after a seven-year delay that no positive right to same-sex marriage existed under Panamanian law. ↗
- TodaySame-sex activity remained legal, but marriage stayed unrecognized and discrimination protections remained minimal. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 18/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | 1.11 |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | 0.22 |
| Events per million | 0.22 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 18/40 (raw scene index 46/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama safe for gay travellers?
Panama is rated Some caution on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 56/100 overall with a legal safety component of 38/60. On enforcement reality, police or state harassment is documented.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Panama?
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Panama. Overall legal status: Legal.
Does Panama have a gay scene?
Yes. GayOut lists 22 LGBTQ+ venues in Panama, including 5 dedicated gay bars, across 1 cities with a scene, and tracks 1 Pride parades there.
Which city in Panama has the biggest gay scene?
Panama City has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in Panama, with 11 venues listed in the GayOut directory.
How many gay bars and saunas are there in Panama?
GayOut currently lists 5 dedicated gay bars and 1 gay saunas in Panama, and tracks 1 Pride parades there. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.