Portugal: Gay Marriage Bill Gets Final Approval

The final wording of a gay marriage bill approved by Portugal's Parliament received approval on Wednesday, Portugal's IOL Diario reported. The government's Committee for Constitutional Affairs unanimously agreed on the bill's final language.

The measure now heads to the desk of President Anibal Cavaco Silva. Cavaco Silva is a Roman Catholic and a member of the PSD party, groups which oppose the legalization of gay marriage, and he has publicly stated his opposition to gay marriage.

Opposition to gay marriage in the mostly Roman Catholic country has been nominal, but last Sunday opponents staged a huge rally attended by thousands. A crowd estimated at 5,000 marched down Lisbon's main downtown artery Av. da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) calling on the president to reject the gay marriage bill and demanding a referendum on gay marriage, although Parliamentarians have already rejected such a measure.

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Portugal: Thousands Attend Anti Gay-Marriage Protest in Lisbon

Thousands of Portuguese poured onto the streets of Lisbon Sunday in protest of a gay marriage law currently seeking the president's approval, the Spanish news agency EFE reported. Organizers estimated the event, called "in defense of the family," attracted a crowd of 5,000, but no official figures were reported.

Demonstrators marched down Lisbon's main downtown artery Av. da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) calling on President Anibal Cavaco Silva to reject a gay marriage law approved twice by lawmakers. Silva is a Roman Catholic and a member of the PSD party, groups which oppose the legalization of gay marriage, and he has publicly stated his opposition to gay marriage.

However, Silva has several options before him, including vetoing the bill. Commentators in the Portuguese press have speculated he could forward the issue to the Constitutional Court. Last year, despite the fact that Portugal's Constitution outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation, the court denied a lesbian couple the right to marry in a narrow 3-to-2 decision. The ruling prompted Socialists to draft the gay marriage bill.

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Portugal: Parliament Approves Gay Marriage Bill

Portugal's Parliament approved a gay marriage bill on Thursday, the AP reported. The bill, however, does not include the right to adopt. Passage of the bill in the Socialist-controlled Parliament was never in doubt, but a presidential veto threatens to prevent the bill from becoming law.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva is a Roman Catholic and a member of the PSD Party, groups which oppose the legalization of gay marriage, and he has publicly stated his opposition to the bill. The president has 20 days to reject the bill.

Socialists and their allied parties, however, say they have the votes to override a presidential veto.

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Portugal: 52% Support 43% Oppose Gay Marriage

Fifty-two percent of Portuguese support legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a new Eurosondagem poll for Rádio Renascença, SIC TV, and the Expresso newspaper.

Parliament voted 125-92 to legalize same-sex marriage on Jan. 8. Barring unexpected complications, the first gay weddings will take place in April or shortly thereafter.

The bill that legalized same-sex marriage specifically excluded access to adoption for married same-sex couples.

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Portugal: Catholic Bishops Slam Gay Marriage Bill

Portuguese legislation that would allow gay couples to marry is still far from becoming the law of the land, said a spokesman for the Portuguese bishops' conference. The legislation "still has to be signed by the president, and also there is a question about it being unconstitutional," the spokesman, Father Manuel Morujao, told CNS in a telephone interview in mid-January. Whether Portugal's constitution allows a change in the definition of marriage is the current debate that President Anibal Cavaco Silva has been avoiding, said Father Morujao. Silva was quoted in the Portuguese press saying that he was unable to "say even one word" about the issue, pointing out that constitutional law is not the president's competency. Father Morujao said the nation's bishops had urged a referendum on gay marriage, and he said the issue has the potential to fracture Portuguese society. Full Story from the Boston Pilot

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Portugal: Parliament Passes Gay Marriage Bill

Portugal's parliament passed a bill today that would make the predominantly Catholic country the sixth in Europe to permit gay marriage. The conservative president, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, is thought unlikely to veto the socialist government's bill, which won the support of all left-of-centre 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-centre 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. Full Story from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/08/portugal-parliament-legalise-gay-marriage

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Portugal: Gay Marriage to be Legalized Friday?

Catholic Portugal, traditionally one of Europe's most socially conservative countries, is expected to approve the legalization of gay marriage on Friday with a minimum of fuss. With the governing Socialists and other left-wing parties enjoying a strong majority, the new law is likely to sail through the first reading debate and gain final approval before a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, due in Portugal in May. In contrast to Spain, where the lead-up to the legalization of gay marriage in 2005 brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets, the bill in Portugal has provoked only muted opposition even from the right. While normally vocal on the role of marriage and the family in society, the Catholic Church has refused to mobilize on a subject which, according to Lisbon's Cardinal Patriarch Jose Policarpo, is "parliament's responsibility". Full Story from Inquirer.net: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20100106-245900/Catholic-Portugal-set-to-legalize-gay-marriage

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Portugal: Ready to Legalize Gay Marriage?

Portugal's Socialist government has drawn up a proposal that would make Portugal the sixth European country to allow gay marriage. The law is almost certain to pass, as the center-left Socialist government has the support of all left-of-center parties, who together have a majority in Parliament. Right-of-center parties oppose the measure. The proposal changes Portuguese law to remove references to marriage being between two people of different sexes, Cabinet Minister Pedro Silva Pereira told a news conference Thursday, adding the government will send its proposal to lawmakers for a debate, probably in January. If approved by Parliament, the proposed law goes to Portugal'sconservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who can ratify or veto it. A veto can be overturned by Parliament. Full Story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution: http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/portuguese-govt-aims-to-243857.html

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Portugal: Likely to Pass Gay Marriage Early in 2010 - Video

The gay community in Portugal is confident that, after much pressure, same-sex marriages will be allowed within a matter of months. While neighbouring Spain permitted gay marriage almost five years ago, so far much of Portuguese society has staunchly opposed the concept. However, it is thought the Socialist government may pass gay marriage or civil partnership into law as soon as early in the New Year. Full Story from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8385935.stm

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Portugal to Legalize Gay Marriage

Sources close to Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates, who is forming a new government following September elections, said Oct. 23 that legalizing same-sex marriage will be one of the new team’s first actions. "The measure is part of the official program of the party and according to government sources, the move will be done as soon as [formation of] the government is complete," writes correspondent João Paulo from PortugalGay.pt. Sócrates’ Socialist Party captured 97 of Parliament’s 230 seats. With 31 additional votes from members of the Left Bloc and the Communist Party, both of which support gay marriage, Sócrates should be able to pass the bill easily. Full Story from Bay Windows: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=98738

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Portugese PM Who Promised to Legalize Gay Marriage if Re-Elected Wins Another Term

Socialist leader Jose Socrates, set for another four years as Portugal's prime minister after elections Sunday, has antagonized many — even inside his own party — with his determination to reform and modernize Portugal. But the 52-year-old civil engineer, who once described himself as a "ferocious animal" in politics, is unrepentant. During the parliamentary election campaign he vowed to keep breaking the chains holding Portugal back, saying he will not "waver in implementing reforms, even when they are met with incomprehension, obstacles and opponents. Full Story from the AP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jL9erDRYTS0lmiZSpB6BB2QO9X8QD9AVU2PO0

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Socialist Party Leads in Portugal Poll - Has Promised to Legalise Gay Marriage

Portugal's ruling Socialists have extended their lead over the main centre-right Opposition, but are still short of an absolute majority in Parliament, according to a poll published yesterday, three days before a general election. Prime Minister Jose Socrates' Socialists have the support of 40 per cent of voters against 31.6 per cent for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) led by former finance minister Manuela Ferreira Leite, the Marktest poll for business daily Diario Economico and news radio TSF said. ... The party platform includes a promise to legalise gay marriage in what was seen as an effort to cut the appeal of the far-left Left Block which is forecast to almost double its vote to more than 10 per cent. Full Story from the Jamaica Observer: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090924T200000-0500_160399_OBS_POLL_SHOWS_SOCIALISTS_EXTEND_LEAD_AHEAD_OF_PORTUGAL_VOTE.asp

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