PORTUGAL: Lisbon residents react to ratification of gay marriage law

Record ID: 277269

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Lisbon residents react to ratification of gay marriage law
  • Date: 19th May 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LISBON RESIDENT, JOSE MARQUES, SAYING: "I do not agree, I agree with a civil partnership, but marriage I see between people of different sexes."
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Legal System,General
  • Reuters ID: LVADAXVKXHQU94Y1GXFECE4WCYLE
  • Story Text: Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva ratified on Monday (May 17) a law allowing marriage between same-sex couples, despite his personal beliefs.
    The law gives gay marriages the same rights as heterosexual marriages, including those on taxes, inheritance and housing, but does not offer the right to adopt.
    On Tuesday (May 18) opinions on Lisbon streets were divided.
    "If the president gave his agreement, very well, but in my opinion marriage is between a man and a woman, between man and man, woman and woman they can do what they want, the president agreed," said Lisbon resident Maria do Rosario.
    Another Lisbon resident, Jose Marques, told Reuters that he would agree to a civil partnerships, but dismissed same-sex marriage.
    "I do not agree, I agree with a civil partnership, but marriage I see between people of different sexes," he said.
    Nilton, who was born in Brazil but has lived in Portugal for the last 11 years, said it was up to each person to decide on the matter.
    "I am not against nor in favour. Each one can decide what to do with his life," he said.
    Some of Tuesday's newspapers said the president had reluctantly ratified the bill to avoid diverting the country's attention from battling a deepening economic crisis.
    Portugal's parliament last January passed the bill by the minority Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Socrates that would legalise same-sex marriages. The government rejected at the time alternative proposals by the centre-right opposition for civil partnerships and a referendum on gay marriage.
    Among the small number of countries in the world that permit gay marriage are the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada. In the United States, gay couples can get married in five states and in Washington, D.C., although most states have bans in effect.
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