Same sex marriages could be starting in the European country of Portugal as early as May this year according to the latest reports.
The Parliament finished up and passed the law legalising gay marriage back on 11th February, then the laws were sent to the countries president to be approved. Then on 13 March, President Cavaco Silva told reporters he sent it to the Constitutional Court for review, and the court must act on the review by 8 April.
It's all about going back and forth, as the bill is then sent back to the president, who has another 20 days to think it over, he'll then sign off on it, which means it becomes national law.
Should the Constitutional Court find some problem with the law, which is considered to be highly unlikely, Parliament would almost certainly just amend the law slightly to get it passed the court. There is a big positive movement both inside and out of Portugal's political system to have the law in force before the summer. The countries Prime Minister José Sócrates has publicly said legalising same-sex marriage "rights a wrong" and increases freedom and equality.
"It is truly a fantastic start of 2010 for LGBT people in Portugal and Europe as a whole," said Martin K.I. Christensen. from the ILGA "It is clear that a European consensus is fast emerging on marriage equality."
Jason Shaw
GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent!
Jason's own blog is The Seafront Diaries.
© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw
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