Portugal: President Silva to ratify national marriage equality law

[racaulk]

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal's conservative president announced Monday he is reluctantly ratifying a law allowing gay marriage, making the predominantly Catholic country the sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva said he would not veto the bill because majority liberal lawmakers would only overturn his decision. The country must focus instead on battling a crippling economic crisis that has increased unemployment and deepened poverty, he said.

"Given that fact, I feel I should not contribute to a pointless extension of this debate, which would only serve to deepen the divisions between the Portuguese and divert the attention of politicians away from the grave problems affecting us," Cavaco Silva said.

He said he was setting aside his "personal convictions," though he did not elaborate and did not take reporters' questions.

<---snip--->

Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7009183.html
____________________

Portugal will become the eighth country (the sixth in Europe) to allow nationwide marriage equality for all of its citizens. Nations that already have marriage equality laws nationwide are the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, and Sweden. A few nations (including the United States) have various municipalities within their borders where same-sex marriage is legal, but marriage equality is not yet a legal reality nationwide.

Congratulations, citizens of Portugal! :hi:

[Teka]

1. Gee, a leader that puts aside their personal bias/bigotry...

Wish the US had a leader like that.

[IrishEyes]

2. Great!

It's about time. Congratulations to the people of Portugal. It's a wonderful country to visit.