Panama, Central America

Boquete is a small town tucked into the green mountain highlands of Panama, in western-most Chiriquí Province, about 60 km. from the border with Costa Rica. Because of its altitude, some 1,200 metres above sea level, its climate is refreshingly cooler than that of the lowlands. Its scenic location, temperature, and natural environment make it extremely popular with Panamanians, and with tourists from all over the world.

Old Town (Casco Viejo) Panama is a small section of the much larger Panama City. Located on a rocky peninsula it was the hub of life a hundred years ago during the construcion of the Panama Canal with elegant buildings, churches and hotels and many common residences. But the area was too small to hold the increasing population who moved across the bay onto the mailand and built modern Panama City. Casco Viejo was neglected for decades and it decayed. Today it is under restoration and is a UNESCO Heritage site.

Panama City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 813,097, with a total metro population of 1,206,792, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Panama City is the political and administrative center of the country. The Panama Canal Railway Company is a railway line that links the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean across Panama in Central America. The route stretches 47.6 miles (76.6 km) across the Isthmus of Panama from Colón to Panama City. The first attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under French leadership, but was abandoned after 21,900 workers died, largely from disease and landslides. The United States launched a second effort, incurring a further 5,600 deaths but succeeding in opening the canal in 1914.  

Intro: The view of modern Panama depends on where you stand: in a luxury high-rise city condo or a tiny jungle village or a small working class town. All three will present a different face of homosexuality in this famous canal country. Homophobia runs high but gay life carries on openly, hidden or appreciated in different parts of the country. But only one LGBT organization stands against HIV and discrimination.   By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com March 2010   Forces in Panama Life Not unlike other Latin American countries, Panama has a strong prejudice against homosexuality. “There are no gay rights here,” declared Ricardo Beteta, director of Panama’s only LGBT advocacy organization, AHMNP (Asociación Hombres y Mujeres Nuevos de Panama, ‘New Men and Women of Panama‘). “Thanks to the power of the Catholic church homophobia runs high. Can you believe that a friend of mine, because he is a minister from

A guest writer for Reuters offers a realistic and raw glimpse of mostly daunting gay life in this small country with the famous canal.Yet there are small signs of hope for easing of machistic policies and attitudes. Following this is a commentary from a recent visitor to Panama who found his own satisfying scene. Also see: Gay Panama Update 2009 Gay Panama News & Reports 2002 to present (1) By Robin Emmott (Reuters) February 20, 2002 Updated July 2007 Panama City She was beautiful. She was sassy. She was adored. As Ana Carolina passed through the crowds, high on her carriage of feathers, she waved and danced — Panama City’s Carnival queen. But Ana Carolina was Jorge, and Jorge is gay. In Panama you can lose your job for being gay. There are no gay lobbyists, no openly gay politicians and no local gay magazines. In this unashamedly macho society,