Portugal
In February 2010, Portugal's parliament passed a law legalising gay marriages. The definition of marriage in the civil code was made gender neutral by the removal of references to two people of different sexes.
On June 7, 2010, a week after the law went into force, lesbian couple Helena Paixao, 40, and Teresa Pires, 33, exchanged vows in Lisbon, becoming the first gay couple to marry in the country.
They were also the first gay couple to request to be married back in 2006, which was heavily contested by the Catholic church. Their petition was rejected and upheld by the constitutional court. A long legal and legislative battle ensued. Yet, same-sex couple claimed victory with support from the leftist parliament.
Below is a brief timeline of same-sex marriage rights activity in Portugal:
3/15/01: Civil union were extended to same-sex couples. Couples must have been living together for two years. No registration is required.
10/10/08: A same-sex marriage bill introduced into Parliament failed by a vote of 202 to 28.
On June 7, 2010, a week after the law went into force, lesbian couple Helena Paixao, 40, and Teresa Pires, 33, exchanged vows in Lisbon, becoming the first gay couple to marry in the country.
They were also the first gay couple to request to be married back in 2006, which was heavily contested by the Catholic church. Their petition was rejected and upheld by the constitutional court. A long legal and legislative battle ensued. Yet, same-sex couple claimed victory with support from the leftist parliament.
Below is a brief timeline of same-sex marriage rights activity in Portugal:
3/15/01: Civil union were extended to same-sex couples. Couples must have been living together for two years. No registration is required.
10/10/08: A same-sex marriage bill introduced into Parliament failed by a vote of 202 to 28.
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