LGBT rights in Nicaragua

Age of consent
Since 1 March 2008, Homosexuality has been legal by a new Penal Code. The age of consent is equal at 18, regardless of sexual orientation, gender and all sexual offences are gender-neutral.


 * Ages of consent in Central America

LGBT rights during the Sandinista era
Many LGBT Nicaraguans held prominent roles during the Sandinista Revolution; however, LGBT rights were not of any priority to the Sandinista government due to an overwhelming Roman Catholic population. It was also thought to be a huge political risk sure to be met with hostility from the Roman Catholic church. On the tenth anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution (1989), many community centers were launched for LGBT. The community centers began to form due to a staged march by activists that took place in Managua.

Post-Sandinista era
After the United States lifted the economic embargo against Nicaragua, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting LGBT rights began to operate in the country due to the absence of pressure from the United States. As a result, Nicaragua hosted in first public gay pride festival in 1991. The annual Gay Pride celebration in Managua, held around June 28, in still in motion and is used to commemorate the uprising of the Stonewall riots in New York City.

After gaining support the LGBT community suffered a huge setback when a bill formerly written to protect women from rape and sexual abuse was changed by the Social Christians. The change imposed a sentence of up to three years in prison for "anyone who induces, promotes, propagandizes, or practices sex among persons of the same sex in a scandalous manner." Activists did not keep quiet and along with their allies they protested in Nicaragua and at embassies abroad; however, no change occurred and President Violeta Chamorro signed the bill into a law in July 1992 as Article 204 of the criminal code. In November 1992 a coalition known as the Campaign for Sexuality without Prejudices, comprising of lawyers, lesbians and gay activists, amongst others, presented an appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice challenging the law as unconstitutional. However, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal in March 1994. In November 2007, a new Penal Code was drafted repealing Article 204 - Which came into affect in 1 March 2008.

LGBT life in Nicaragua
There is a modest gay social scene in Managua; however, the situation for lesbians is progressing more slowly. Lesbians are generally less visible in public spaces than gay men. Their socializing often occurs in private venues such as potluck dinner parties.