Portuguese Parliament OKs Gay Marriage

Portugal's parliament passed a bill Friday that would make the predominantly Catholic nation the sixth in Europe to permit gay marriage.

Conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva is thought unlikely to veto the Socialist government's bill, which won the support of all left-of-center parties. His ratification would allow the first gay marriage ceremonies to take place in April - a month before Pope Benedict XVI is due on an official visit to Portugal.

Right-of-center parties opposed the change and sought a national referendum on the issue, but their proposal was rejected, and the government's bill was passed by 125 votes to 99.

Gay rights campaigners applauded from the galleries, hugged and kissed outside the building, and ate wedding cake.

"This law rights a wrong," Prime Minister Jose Socrates said in a speech to lawmakers, adding that it "simply ends pointless suffering."

Socrates said the measure is part of his effort to modernize Portugal where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Two years ago his government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Canada, South Africa and six U.S. states also permit it.

The bill removes a reference in the current law to marriage being between two people of different sexes.

"It's a slight change to the law, it's true," Socrates, the prime minister, said. "But it is a very important and symbolic step towards fully ensuring respect for values that are essential in any democratic, open and tolerant society: the values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination."

Like neighboring Spain, which introduced same-sex marriages four years ago, Portugal is an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country and previous efforts to introduce gay marriage ran into strong resistance from religious groups and conservative lawmakers.

Paulo Corte-Real, head of a lobby group called Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Intervention, said Portugal had become a pioneering country in gay rights.

"This is a historic moment. We just hope (the bill) gets ratified quickly," he said.

Socrates said a referendum was not necessary because the gay marriage proposal was included in the Socialist Party's manifesto in last September's general election, when it was returned to power.

In 2001, a law allowed "civil unions" between same-sex couples which granted them certain legal, tax and property rights. However, it did not allow couples to take their partner's name, inherit their possessions nor their state pension, which is permitted in marriages.

A proposal from the Left Bloc and Green Party allowing gay couples to adopt children was voted down Friday. Gay campaigners said they would continue to fight for gay couples' parental rights.

The main opposition Social Democratic Party proposed granting non-married cohabiting couples of the same sex more rights, as in France, but its bill also was rejected.
By Associated Press Writer Barry Hatton

[steve8313]

Strike yet another blow to ignorance and bigotry! Way to go Portugal! Too bad my county is full of knuckle dragging hypocrites.

[cidaia]

There is something so genuinely amusing about people who use name-calling to demonize those who are "intolerant".

[BoldChapeau]

It's an idea whose time has come. Eventually, gay marriage will be accepted everywhere. Just like civil/equal rights for non whites and women, marriage equality will prevail because because it is just. The only ammunition the opposition really has is its own unreasoned prejudice. If they don't like gay marriage, they don't have to have one.

[cidaia]

By the same token, then, if you don't like the majority ruling that gay marriage isn't what we want in our neighborhoods, don't vote for gay marriage.

Hey, if morality is relative, then you don't have any right to object to what other people are doing, that you don't approve of.

Or were you thinking that you are exempt from the rules you expect others to live by?

[ge556]

You don't have to think that morality is relative, to support equal rights. You just have to base your morality on reason and fairness.
Unfortunately, many people's morality is partially based on old ideas and biases.

[cidaia]

Time for the 'civil rights' movement to expand to children. All children must have the right to have their real mother and real father unite in a legal contract that will regulate how everyone will honor each other and respect each others' interests.

When this is impossible, adoptive mother and father are the next best thing, but it's just lying to pretend that sexes are interchangeable - if they were, gay marriage would not be required, would it? Why do we expect that children don't mind having their parents switched at the hospital, when obviously huge numbers of adopted and artificially inseminated kids are willing to go to great trouble to find their real parents? Adoption and AI should be when it's necessary, not when the parents find it convenient. Gay marriage legitimizes all of this.

[aldon61]

A change like this really needs to pass a referendum. If enough people in Portugal approve of it, then it's no other country's business. That said though, it's doubtful it would pass by referendum.

[jankebenzone]

Thats right, why do think the gay activists shudder at the thought of a public referendum and lobby hard for that not to happen? They know the outcome wold mean moving back into the closet. Unfortunately democracy
is only for sale.

[jankowce]

"This law rights a wrong," Prime Minister Jose Socrates said in a speech to lawmakers, adding that it "simply ends pointless suffering." Human law is not right when it opposes the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Bible. The laws about gay marriage and about abortion oppose the will of God. When human law conflicts with divine law, as it does here, divine law must prevail. Any suffering Socrates refers to is either delusional or due to Original Sin. We have our free will and our opinion; neither changer God's Divine Will, no matter what we think or do. You can fool your neighbor, you can fool yourself, but you cannot fool God, since He can neither deceive nor be deceived.


Socrates said the measure is part of his effort to modernize Portugal where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Two years ago his government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition. Both homosexual acts and abortion go back to pagan practices which are now making a comeback. The devil is doing his work well, but will not prevail.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Canada, South Africa and six U.S. states also permit it. I pray to Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, through Mary the Blessed Mother of God that he will change the hearts and minds of the rulers and people of those countries that allow such defilement of the Sacrament of Marriage, which was instituted by Christ to procreate and bring them closer to Him on this earth, that they may enjoy everlasting life.

The bill removes a reference in the current law to marriage being between two people of different sexes. This is the one true definition of marriage, believe you me! Those who think otherwise will have a rude awakening in their lives hereafter!!

"It's a slight change to the law, it's true," Socrates, the prime minister, said. "But it is a very important and symbolic step towards fully ensuring respect for values that are essential in any democratic, open and tolerant society: the values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination." It's turning the law & society on their heads while eroding Christian values and defiling the sacred institution of marriage.

Our Lady of Fatima pray for Portugal and her people!

[joe_lisbon]

Buzz off!
The state is merely legislating civil marriage. The sacraments are the domain of religion. You fundamentalist Christians are just as bad as the Muslim zealots and Ayatolahs!
As for those who talk referendums, since when does the majority rule on the rights of the minorities. By that token, Blacks or even Women would still not have the right to vote in the USA.
Also, this government campaigned on the issue and got elected. So, it is just a promise kept.
Keep your ignorant religion to yourself and your like-minded friends, the Ayatolahs!

[jankebenzone]

Another nation that haven't n't got the guts to allow a public referendum on the issue because they know very well same sex marriage would be booted out the door along with the gays.

[steve8313]

Whether you choose to believe it or not marriage is a civil arrangement. The fact that you must get a license proves this. That means the law is involved (ie. -if you don't get a license your marriage is not legally binding). As Americans we are ALL entitled to the same exact treatment from the law. To think any other way is simply not conducive to the ideals of freedom. Thankfully, our Fore Father had the insight to know that you can not leave matters of civil liberty to be decided by popular vote. That's why we allow our citizens to sue the Federal government. This same protection is what has, and will keep guns as a civil right and allow you to have your choice, if any, of religion.
Either you lack a basic level of education on the subject of American Civil Liberties (by the way, if this is the case don't feel bad if your ignorant of the subject. Sadly, most "Americans" are)or your more of a cultural Socialist that you'd like to believe yourself to be.
Enjoy the freedom you wish to withhold from your fellow Americans.