Same-sex marriage in Portugal
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| Same-sex marriage |
|---|
| Performed nationwide in |
|
Netherlands (2001) |
| Performed statewide in |
| Massachusetts, USA (2004) |
| Foreign same-sex marriage recognized in |
| Israel (2006) |
| Debate in other countries and regions |
|
Argentina |
| See also |
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Civil union |
The Portuguese civil code currently bans same-sex marriage, but civil unions have been legal since 2001. However, on February 1, 2006, a lesbian couple applied for a marriage licence. Their application was refused, but the couple, Teresa Pires and Helena Paixão, have promised to challenge the ban in court, saying that it discriminates against them on the basis of sex and sexual orientation and discrimination on the basis of sex is banned on the 1976 constitution, and in 2004 sexual orientation was added as a basis for which no one should be discriminated against.
Same-sex marriage was the source of debate during the 2005 legislative elections, with the winning socialists failing to make a clear statement in favour of same-sex marriage. Prime Minister José Socrates has stated that introducing same-sex marriage legislation is not in his government's agenda, yet he has not ruled out the possibility that such legislation be introduced if his socialist government receives a second consecutive mandate in future elections. The youth wing of his party, as well as the other two left-of-centre parties with parliamentary representation have spoken strongly in favour of same-sex marriage, while the right remains extremely opposed to any such legislation.
A petition in favor of same-sex marriage with around 7000 signatures was delivered to the Portuguese parliament on 16 February 2006.
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