Marriage is NOT about children at all – that is old fashioned Catholic Code crap, it is in fact all about the adults and how they feel they want to express their love in a legally binding way that is recognised by the state – regardless of the gender or seuality of the person or persons involved (I go so far to say that I personally even support polygamy – as well as opposite sex marriage and same sex marriage). Same sex marriage is NO WAY AT ALL a “threat” to opposite sex marriage – it will in fact do the exact opposite despite what the lying critics will tell you. It will “strenthen” marriage to a way that make society better, creat jobs, creat more happiness, lower crime, save government money and even go so far to build on a creative enterprised economy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE EVIDENCE IS THERE PEOPLE!!!!

But it is true that “adoption is all about the children” – but that is not an excuse to deny this right for a loving same sex couples to adopt a child so they can be looked after, loved and nurchered on a case-by-case basis.

YES they both should be legally avaliable to same sex couples – but when it comes to adoption rights “the child’s best interest” must come first with ALL adoptions.

* Civil unions were invented in Vermont by a Court Order back in 2000 – not Denmark, people still think it was Denmark.

* Denmark was actually the first country to have a “registered partnership” – NOT a civil union.

* In 1984 3 counties in California invented the term “domestic partnership”.

* The Netherlands was the first to have “unregistered cohabitation” way back in 1979 and also was the first to legally allow full “same sex marriage” in 2001.

Portugal is unique in the fact that I believe it’ll be the only country which has same-sex marriage but doesn’t have same-sex adoption rights but it isn’t unique in that fact that marriage was legalised before adoption was. As Robert and Paul pointed out it was the same situation in Belgium where adoption came a few years after marriage did.

Yes LOLA, Lusembourg and Iceland definitely next,maybe Denmark. After that, I think once homophobe Sarkozy the French PM is ousted and replaced by a left winger or other progressive, Segolene Royal might easily make a comeback. Marriage equality was part of her agenda and had wide support among younger voters. The roman cult in France will have a harder time fighting back since France has no state religion even though its the majority cult. France also only recognises civil marriages that can be solemnised in a religious ceremony but only by choice.

E > Marriage;Adoption;ART;Gender Law;Blood;Army
P > Marriage;ART;Army;Constitution
AND> Adoption
Gibraltar > Army

With the same sex marriage there will be another factor to aprove same sex couples to adopt which is the fact that Assisted reproductive tecnology is availabe ONLY for married women. Well, until now only straight women were able to get pregnant this way (because they were the only ones being albe to get marreid). With the same-sex marriage law, the adoption is in fact restricted to same sex couples, but legislators have forgoten to block Assisted reproductive technology to same sex married women… so portuguese state will have a big issue to resolve and the only solutions is to unblock adoption to married gays and lesbians.

Belgium did not allow gays to adopt children until “3 years after same sex marriage was allowed”.

Source (from pinknews): http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1225.html/#

Iceland will be next for same sex marriage in 2011 (already allows full joint adoption of children in registered partnerships). Albania, Luxembourg and Solvenia will allow same sex marriage from 2011 – if approved this year by their Paliaments (not sure if these also include IVF access and adoption access).

NOTE:
Albania does not even have anti-discrimination statutes – let alone any sort of recognition of same sex relationships (but does have an equal age of consent since 2001). Homosexuality was decrimilized in 1994.

No to South America -
Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil will allow gay marriage by 2012.

The US states of WA, OR, CA, NJ, NY and Maine (don’t know the appreviation for Maine) will allow gay marriage by 2012.

Nepal will be the first in Asia to allow same sex marriage in 2011.

New Zealand I know will be the first in Oceania to allow gay marriage in 2014. It will not be until 2034 that Australia will allow same sex marriage (I just know it).

Sarkozy may be a bigot, but Segolene isn’t much better. She has zero idea about foreign policy and would be an embarrassment for France.

The Iberian peninsula will not be a totally full equality zone until Portugal gets adoption rights and Andorra gets… well, the whole package.

LOLA…I wouldn’t mind betting that the next country will be France. Get bigot Sarkozy out of the picture and they’ll get somewhere. Remember, Segolene Royal, the woman who ran against him in the last election? She supported full marriage equality and had a huge amount of support from the younger voting generation. We in the UK, don’t even have one candidate prepared to stick his or her neck out to include marriage equality in its agenda. Luxembourg is another one to watch. If a dozen EU countries get on board over the next decade, the EU won’t have much choice. The entire Iberian peninsula is now a totally full equality zone in Europe, truly amazing and inspiring and a shining example of what democracy is all about.

Shame about adoption rights though. We can only pity the children who are forced to remain in care whilst being denied good loving parents as a result. But this is certainly fantastic progress for the LGBT community in Portugal and let’s hope it sparks progression in other European states. I think Slovenia will be next. But in all honesty Albania looks more likely to grant full marriage rights to the gay population before Britain.