Same-sex marriage allowed in Portugal

Portugal

Other stories from Portugal

• 19 May 2010: Same-sex marriage allowed in Portugal
• 8 March 2010: Major storms batter Europe
• 21 February 2010: Madeira storm kills at least 42
• 5 February 2010: Concern about sovereign debt of some EU members roils markets
• 26 January 2010: EU to send police officers to Haiti

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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

On May 17, 2010, the Portuguese President, Anibal Cavaco Silva, signed into law a bill that allows same-sex marriages, making the predominately Catholic Portugal the eighth country in the world where same-sex marriage is allowed country-wide. The law will become effective within a few days, after publication in the official gazette.

The new law removes the previous legal stipulation that marriage is between two people of different sexes. Gay rights activists note that the law does not include provisions for same-sex couple's parental rights, including adoption, for which they say they will continue to fight.

In 1982, homosexuality was decriminalized in Portugal. In 2001, "civil unions" were granted to same-sex couples and provided certain legal, tax and property rights. However, the União de Facto limited a surviving partners ability to inherit his or her partner's possessions or state pensions.

Portugal will become the sixth country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriages (after Belgium, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden). Canada and South Africa also have legalized same-sex marriage.

Obama condemns Uganda anti-gay bill as 'odious'

Mr Obama added his voice to a chorus of criticism from the US and Europe

US President Barack Obama has criticised as "odious" proposed anti-homosexuality legislation in Uganda.

The bill calls for long jail terms or the death penalty in some cases of homosexual intercourse.

It is "unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are," he told politicians and religious leaders at a prayer breakfast in Washington.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The bill would raise that penalty to life in prison.

It also proposes the death penalty for a new offence of "aggravated homosexuality" - defined as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a "serial offender".

ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL Death penalty For "serial offenders", HIV-positive "offenders", or those engaging in homosexual activity with a minor or disabled person Life in prison For homosexual acts Seven years in prison For helping, counselling, or encouraging a person to engage in a homosexual act Fear over gay death-penalty plans

The bill has already been widely criticised in Europe and the United States.

"We may disagree about gay marriage," Mr Obama told the annual National Prayer Breakfast, "but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it is here in the United States or... more extremely, in odious laws that are being proposed more recently in Uganda."

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has distanced himself from the bill, saying it did not represent the views of his government.

Two weeks ago its sponsor, David Bahati, told a Ugandan newspaper he was willing to "amend some clauses".

The cabinet has set up a committee to look at his proposals.