In Panama, the Supreme Court rejects the recognition of same-sex marriage

Panama’s Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed 1^er March the recognition of same-sex marriage, in a judgment approved by six of its nine magistrates. The institution has been seized since 2016 of several appeals from homosexual couples against the family code of this country. This only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman.

“The right to equal marriage is nothing more than an aspiration which, although legitimate for the groups concerned, does not fall into the category of a human right or a fundamental right”had already estimated the Panamanian Court in a judgment dated February 16.

“Preserving the human species, and therefore society”

The requesting couples invoked the unconstitutionality of these provisions to seek recognition of their marriage celebrated in other countries.

However, “despite changes that may occur in reality”gay marriage “does not enjoy conventional and constitutional recognition” in Panama, according to the judgment approved on Wednesday.

The norms imposed by the family code reserving marriage to the union of a man and a woman “are objective and rationally justified by the general interest to give preference to those unions which can found families, preserve the human species and consequently society”according to the Supreme Court of Panama.