Comments on: Portugese parliament rejects gay marriage proposal

By: João Paulo (PortugalGay.pt)

João Paulo (PortugalGay.pt) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:08:35 +0000

Just one quick note: the law that recognizes gay couples (as well as opposite-sex couples) living for 2 years does not have any inheritance rights whatsoever. And it is very different from other laws like France preciselly because it is based on the assumption that persons do not need to register their partnership and so it cover only basic needs (like staying in the house for a few years if your partner dies, but the house still goes for your partner's family).

I don't think that our PM sexual orientation has anything to do with this… and that is not the way to go: we (LGBT persons) have to convince more politics and the population in general that civil marriage is a necessary right for gay couples. Right now the majority of portuguese citizens is against gay marriage, and so are the politics.

The current situation did change a lot of minds, but not enought… we have to keep the pressure and hopefully we will get it sooner or later.

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By: Ricardo Duarte

Ricardo Duarte — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:44:31 +0000

As a gay Portuguese citizen who was present at last Friday's protest weddings in front of the national parliament I'd like to have a word in all this. I think it was a sad day for Portugal as a whole that this opportunity of equality was wasted on political rambling, bickering and the good old closet.

The two parties that introduced the bill were aware that the party in power the "socialists" (if they deserve to be called that) might well oppose their proposal. As expected they did, claiming that "it wasn't in the socialists' current agenda" and "would not be intructed by other parties" as they so arrogantly put it. They have said before that it wouldn't be placed on the agenda until the next legislature. Let's see if they stick to their guns.

I believe the real intention of the same sex marriage proposal was to get a national debate going which they very successfully managed to do. Everyone is talking about it now. Traditionally, cotrovertial political proposals in Portugal don't usually get approved first time round but do on the second, as happened with the civil partnership and abortion laws. I therefore think it is only a matter of time before this proposal is approved.

I believe that the most difficult barrier to overcome is that of the closet. What I mean by this is that I know for a fact that our prime minister José Sócrates IS gay! Therefore the closet is working against us as it usually does, given that he is walking a tight rope by passing this law and trying to remain in the closet. (This was not an expression of sympathy)

All in all, I think the result was positive. Even though the proposal was defeated…it is not dead and will pass in a not too distant future.

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By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:38:21 +0000

Bo, yes. Marriage should be available to anyone who wishes to enter into such a contract and for those who don't, civil partnerships are another option but they are not the same and are not defined as such on statute. I doubt if many straights would opt for civil partnerships but I am in full support of it if they do. Why should gay men and women be against marriage for those who want it, there should be choice, not a ban, especially in the UK. Segregation is never about equality, just look at the court ruling in Connecticut and what it said about that and the judges are all straight. Its evidence enough. All this nonnsense about not recognising legal marriages of same sex couples married elsewhere and once entering the UK are told that they are not married but are in a civil partnership is preposterous and offencive. Can't the authorities read "Certificate of Marriage" for what it is, for pete's sake? My gut feeling about that is if they do, then it opens the floodgate for those of us who deserve and should have the right to marry if we so choose, just as straight couples do.

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By: Steve Hope

Steve Hope — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:58:29 +0000

Loads of gays and lesbians and their friends spend their holidays in a country otherwise dependent on agriculture and fishing. Could a boycott help to change Portuguese deputies' voting habits?

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By: Bo

Bo — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:04:28 +0000

Portugal does recognise same-sex relationships as de facto relationships, affording them a number of rights. Thus, the situation in Portugal is not much different than that in France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, etc.

Unfortunately, while I lament Portugal's rejection of same-sex marriage, very few countries in Europe recognise it – only Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.[2]

The European Union must take action to normalise this situation and erase the differences between all the different european states.

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By: Mihai Bucur

Mihai Bucur — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:29:47 +0000

Unfortunately, while I lament Portugal's rejection of same-sex marriage, very few countries in Europe recognise it – only Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.

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By: PCG from Portugal

PCG from Portugal — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:12:47 +0000

For the above ignorant, Portugal was one of the first countries to introduce some sort of legal recognition to same sex couples (some 7 years ago). The Law says ones has to live in communion for at least 2 years and enables these couples to enjoy tax benefits and some inheritance rights.

Although I do not intend to get married, I am fully in favour of full same sex marriages like in Spain, Holland, Belgium and Canada. The Portuguese Prime-Minister (himself well known to be gay although not official) has always said the Gay Marriage is not on the CURRENT political agenda, but would introduce it on the next Government's Political Agenda, that is, after the elections next year.

It is inevitable that all European Union member states sooner or later will have to legalise Gay Marriages, at least to be in line with European Union Treaties and Directives (yes directives, they exist to protect people's right, not undermine souveranity).

Gay Issues cannot be handled the same way in every country. Each country has different socities and the Gay Issues are to be tackled with correct timing for each country.

To be very honest, the Portuguese society is not yet prepared to accept Gay Marriages and if one puts too much pressure on this, it may well jeaopordise gay acceptance among the Portuguese.

If gentlemen is talking about sanctions to be brought against Portugal, then we may also have to include at least 20 other European Union member states – welcome to the real world.

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By: Pete & Michael

Pete & Michael — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:28:06 +0000

If Portugal is in the European Union then sanctions should be taken by the European Parliament for not giving its citizens whom are homosexual equal rights of marriage or Civil Partnership.

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