Are gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community accepted in Nicaragua?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
Nicaragua passed legislation decriminalizing g
ay and lesbian sexual acts and orientation in 2008.
ay and lesbian sexual acts and orientation in 2008. Nicaragua passed legislation decriminalizing gay and lesbian sexual acts and orientation in 2008.
ay and lesbian sexual acts and orientation in 2008. Posted January 19, 2014
Ana Francys Escoto
In Nicaragua there are many clusters of sexual diversity in all departments or regions.
Nicaragua does not have a special law to protect the LGBT Community, however there has been an extension of the existing legal framework in Nicaragua in relation to the protection and non-discrimination of people of sexual diversity. With the approval of the new criminal code in 2008 (Law 641), this law eliminated homosexuality as a criminal act, and also approved many articles...
In Nicaragua there are many clusters of sexual diversity in all departments or regions.
Nicaragua does not have a special law to protect the LGBT Community, however there has been an extension of the existing legal framework in Nicaragua in relation to the protection and non-discrimination of people of sexual diversity. With the approval of the new criminal code in 2008 (Law 641), this law eliminated homosexuality as a criminal act, and also approved many articles that protect the rights of LGBT, but these articles are directed to the non-discrimination of their sexual orientation.
Posted July 1, 2014
Lucy Valenti - Liv Nicaragua
Nicaragua has traditionally been a conservative 
country in the way that it deals with alternative lifestyles, but more and more the LGBT community has been accepted in the country. I don’t know if it’s because, more recently, there has been more and more information about the LGBT lifestyle provided whereas in the past it was more hidden, or for other reasons.
country in the way that it deals with alternative lifestyles, but more and more the LGBT community has been accepted in the country. I don’t know if it’s because, more recently, there has been more and more information about the LGBT lifestyle provided whereas in the past it was more hidden, or for other reasons. More and more gays and lesbians are being accepted, and there are...
Nicaragua has traditionally been a conservative country in the way that it deals with alternative lifestyles, but more and more the LGBT community has been accepted in the country. I don’t know if it’s because, more recently, there has been more and more information about the LGBT lifestyle provided whereas in the past it was more hidden, or for other reasons.
country in the way that it deals with alternative lifestyles, but more and more the LGBT community has been accepted in the country. I don’t know if it’s because, more recently, there has been more and more information about the LGBT lifestyle provided whereas in the past it was more hidden, or for other reasons. More and more gays and lesbians are being accepted, and there are groups that get together informally. Even though Nicaragua is a very traditional country, most people don’t see the gay or lesbian lifestyle as a bad thing. However, we don’t have as many or as large parades like they do in the States.
While outward and public displays of affection between same-sex couples is not often done (because people are not used to it), gays and lesbians are accepted into communities without any problem whatsoever. Just like in the United States, the gay and lesbian lifestyle is more accepted and open in Nicaragua among younger people, even to the extent of public displays of affection.
Posted July 9, 2014
Juan Carlos Espinosa - Hacienda Puerta del Cielo Ecolodge & Spa
I don’t think that gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community would have any problem moving to and living in Nicaragua. As a point of reference, I'm very familiar with Miami, and I don’t think there would be any difference for gays and lesbians living in Miami as compared to living in Nicaragua. Discrimination against gays, Lesbians and LGBT doesn't doesn’t appear to be an issue in Nicaragua.
I don’t think that gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community would have any problem moving to and living in Nicaragua. As a point of reference, I'm very familiar with Miami, and I don’t think there would be any difference for gays and lesbians living in Miami as compared to living in Nicaragua. Discrimination against gays, Lesbians and LGBT doesn't doesn’t appear to be an issue in Nicaragua.
Posted August 6, 2014
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
There are gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community in Nicaragua everywhere. There aren't any problems with that.
The government in Nicaragua is oriented to tell people that everyone is equal, that it doesn’t matter what is your sexual orientation. It has been promoting the same rights for lesbians and gays as for everyone else.
Generally speaking, I’m very surprised that Granada, which is a very...
There are gays, lesbians and others in the LGBT community in Nicaragua everywhere. There aren't any problems with that.
The government in Nicaragua is oriented to tell people that everyone is equal, that it doesn’t matter what is your sexual orientation. It has been promoting the same rights for lesbians and gays as for everyone else.
Generally speaking, I’m very surprised that Granada, which is a very conservative, traditional city, is as open as it is to accept people with alternative orientation.
Posted August 15, 2014
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
Like in other Latin American communities, the LGBT is still a taboo even though as a community, they need acceptance by the whole Latin American community. That has a lot to do with the influence of the new pope, who, being from a mostly Catholic country, he has a big influence on certain views towards these social groups.
For the most part, you will rarely find any cases where a member of the LGBT community is harassed or anything of that sort, not...
Like in other Latin American communities, the LGBT is still a taboo even though as a community, they need acceptance by the whole Latin American community. That has a lot to do with the influence of the new pope, who, being from a mostly Catholic country, he has a big influence on certain views towards these social groups.
For the most part, you will rarely find any cases where a member of the LGBT community is harassed or anything of that sort, not anymore than they will be harassed in a bad neighborhood in the States.
To be completely sincere and frank, there are a lot of festivals in Nicaragua where people hold parades and dress up in a straight drag and that is a perfectly accepted part of the festival. So it is not so big of a taboo that people don't run around the streets dressed in drag as a culturally accepted part of the parade.
Posted December 7, 2014
David Smith - Nicaragua Sotheby's International Realty
As a member of the LGBT community myself, I have been surprised and delighted at how accepting Nicaragua and San Juan Del Sur has been. I have never had a problem. As you get to know Nicaraguans and as the depth of your relationship grows, we get to know private information about one another and start sharing private information as well. I have found that the sharing of that information is considered perfectly acceptable, shareable, and...
As a member of the LGBT community myself, I have been surprised and delighted at how accepting Nicaragua and San Juan Del Sur has been. I have never had a problem. As you get to know Nicaraguans and as the depth of your relationship grows, we get to know private information about one another and start sharing private information as well. I have found that the sharing of that information is considered perfectly acceptable, shareable, and even celebrated. It has been absolutely amazing.
My own experience here in Nicaragua as a member of the LGBT has been very welcoming. There is actually no need for specific gay venues or gay restaurants. I walk around town and tell people I have a boyfriend, and the next thing they tell me is to bring my boyfriend along. It is always taken with a pinch of salt.
Very often, Nicaraguans will first check that I have said “novio” (the male form of "boyfriend / girlfriend) and that I mean “novio”, as opposed to “novia” (the female form). And then as soon as I confirm that I said, “Novio, I have a boyfriend,” it is like I told them that I had cornflakes for breakfast. There is not a negative reaction at all. To the contrary, it has been something that has been celebrated.
So I can say that my experience has been one of welcoming and I have never had any bad experience being a member of the LGBT community in the 7 years that I have lived here in Nicaragua.
Diversity is something that is celebrated and taken for granted. It fits overwhelmingly with a Nicaraguan phrase, “Cada cabeza es uno mundo”, which translates to “Each head is a world”. This is a phrase that Nicaraguans use to build respect for differences or accept differences of choice, life, opinions and other kinds of differences. They sort of shrug their shoulders if you do not agree with them because "every head is a world" and so "every world is unto itself."
That is a long answer to a very important question. It was unexpected and it was very delightful for me to experience.
Posted February 19, 2015
Esmerelda Vargas - Schuvar Tours
Gays and lesbians are accepted, but in Nicaragua there are not a lot of open places where you would see members of the LGBT. In the big cities, I know there are places that cater to the LGBT, but in general, if you are a member of the LGBT, other people will not look down on you. It is not bad, but there is not a lot of LGBT communities here, so you don’t see them. (Poster of Miss Gay Nicaragua 2012, pictured.)
Gays and lesbians are accepted, but in Nicaragua there are not a lot of open places where you would see members of the LGBT. In the big cities, I know there are places that cater to the LGBT, but in general, if you are a member of the LGBT, other people will not look down on you. It is not bad, but there is not a lot of LGBT communities here, so you don’t see them. (Poster of Miss Gay Nicaragua 2012, pictured.)
Posted May 4, 2015
Darrell Bushnell
Nicaragua is in general an accepting place. For example, many people contact me to ask, “Is there any issue with the gay community?” My response is, “Are you kidding?” The high school bands have boys as majorettes and are dressing up appropriately. I find it amazingly refreshing. In addition, there is much more racial acceptance here in Nicaragua than there is in the States. I don’t know of any...
Nicaragua is in general an accepting place. For example, many people contact me to ask, “Is there any issue with the gay community?” My response is, “Are you kidding?” The high school bands have boys as majorettes and are dressing up appropriately. I find it amazingly refreshing. In addition, there is much more racial acceptance here in Nicaragua than there is in the States. I don’t know of any racial tension at all in Nicaragua, although the east coast tends to have more of an African background than the rest of the country, which has more of a Spanish background.
(Miss Gay Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted September 6, 2015
Dr. Carlos Alemán - Centro de Diseño Denta (Clínica Dental)
Nicaragua is a very conservative society. People don’t judge others based on their preference, but relevant to the laws, the LGBT does not exist here. There is no specific group that represents them or there might be but they are not well known. However, in general, people in the LGBT community are respected. If you are gay or lesbian in Nicaragua, people will not treat you differently. You won’t be attacked, as people here do not have phobia of the LGBT...Nicaragua is a very conservative society. People don’t judge others based on their preference, but relevant to the laws, the LGBT does not exist here. There is no specific group that represents them or there might be but they are not well known. However, in general, people in the LGBT community are respected. If you are gay or lesbian in Nicaragua, people will not treat you differently. You won’t be attacked, as people here do not have phobia of the LGBT community. (Poster for a gay-lesbian-transgender event, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted October 4, 2016