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The law is expected to come into effect in April, just in time for the visit of Pope Benedict
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Portugal votes in favour of gay marriage
Portugal's parliament passed a law today legalising same-sex marriage, despite fierce opposition from conservatives in the mostly Roman Catholic country.
The Socialist government's bill had won the support of all left-of-centre parties, with the rightists proposal for a national referendum on the issue, via a petition that collected more than 90,000 signatures, being rejected.
After prime minister Jose Socrates opened the debate with an appeal for backing for the measure, saying that it would put right an ancient injustice that had caused unnecessary pain, there was heated argument when the Socialists attacked as discriminatory a counter-proposal from the centre-right Social Democrats for an alternative civil union law for same-sex couples.
The bill will now be reviewed in committee before returning to parliament for a final vote. It will then have to be ratified by President Anibal Cavaco Silva, but in the event of his refusing to do so, parliament is empowered to overturn his decision. The law is expected to come into effect in April - shortly before the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, a staunch opponent of gay marriage. Two years ago, Socrates' government lifted the ban on abortion.
Many countries have introduced civil partnerships, giving lesbian and gay couples some of the same rights as married couples, but the bill's ratification in Portugal would make it the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages, along with Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
