| . |
Pires and Paixao, the
lesbian couple, had
campaigned for a change
in the law since a registry
office turned them away
when they first tried to marry
in 2006.
Officials argued the law
stipulated that marriage
was between people of
different sexes. The women
appealed to Portugal's
Constitutional Court
because the constitution
forbids discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
The court rejected their
appeal, but left-of-center
parties in Parliament
supported the government
bill which removed the
reference to marriage being
between different sexes.
lesbian couple, had
campaigned for a change
in the law since a registry
office turned them away
when they first tried to marry
in 2006.
Officials argued the law
stipulated that marriage
was between people of
different sexes. The women
appealed to Portugal's
Constitutional Court
because the constitution
forbids discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
The court rejected their
appeal, but left-of-center
parties in Parliament
supported the government
bill which removed the
reference to marriage being
between different sexes.
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Lesbian couple weds in Portugal's 1st gay marriage
by Barry Hatton
LISBON, Portugal — A lesbian couple wed Monday in Portugal's first same-sex
ceremony since the predominantly Catholic country introduced a law allowing gay
marriage last month.
Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced Portuguese mothers in their 30s who have
been together since 2003, married in a 15-minute ceremony at a Lisbon registry office.
"This is a great victory, a dream come true," Pires said as the couple kissed and
hugged.
"Now we're a family, that's the important thing," Pires said, adding they would continue
to fight for equal rights for homosexuals, including adoption.
The ceremony came less than a month after Portugal's conservative president ratified
a gay marriage law passed by Parliament in January. His approval made Portugal the
sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed.
The center-left Socialist government said the law is part of its effort to modernize
Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Three years ago the same
government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition.
Lesbian couple weds in Portugal's 1st gay marriage
by Barry Hatton
LISBON, Portugal — A lesbian couple wed Monday in Portugal's first same-sex
ceremony since the predominantly Catholic country introduced a law allowing gay
marriage last month.
Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced Portuguese mothers in their 30s who have
been together since 2003, married in a 15-minute ceremony at a Lisbon registry office.
"This is a great victory, a dream come true," Pires said as the couple kissed and
hugged.
"Now we're a family, that's the important thing," Pires said, adding they would continue
to fight for equal rights for homosexuals, including adoption.
The ceremony came less than a month after Portugal's conservative president ratified
a gay marriage law passed by Parliament in January. His approval made Portugal the
sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed.
The center-left Socialist government said the law is part of its effort to modernize
Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Three years ago the same
government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition.
Portugal |
Teresa Pires e
Helena Paixão
casam
Teresa Pires e
Helena Paixão vão
casar-se esta manhã.
Teresa e Helena vão
ser o primeiro casal
do mesmo sexo a
casar em Portugal,
depois de uma
tentativa falhada em
2006, quando o
conservador e os
tribunais recusaram o
pedido por não estar
previsto na lei o
casamento
homossexual. A
jornalista Teresa
Correia conta que
ambas estão
ansiosas.
Teresa Pires e
Helena Paixão
casam
Teresa Pires e
Helena Paixão vão
casar-se esta manhã.
Teresa e Helena vão
ser o primeiro casal
do mesmo sexo a
casar em Portugal,
depois de uma
tentativa falhada em
2006, quando o
conservador e os
tribunais recusaram o
pedido por não estar
previsto na lei o
casamento
homossexual. A
jornalista Teresa
Correia conta que
ambas estão
ansiosas.