An Unstoppable Force for Gay Marriage in Portugal

by Michael Jones · 2009-11-30 09:57:00 UTC
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PortugalWhen Portugal's Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, was re-elected to a four-year term this year, LGBT rights activists claimed his victory as a sign that marriage equality was on the horizon. Socrates (no relation to that Greek dude famous for his methods and ethics) campaigned on the promise that gay marriage would become the law of the land if he was re-elected.

If you believe what the press says, it looks like there's clear momentum for marriage equality in Portugal. The BBC even thinks that the energy for gay marriage might even be unstoppable in the country, meaning that Europe's westernmost mainland country might become the latest country on the international stage to bite into the concept that gay and lesbian couples deserve equal rights as straight couples.

The network spoke to one gay couple who has been together for 12 years. For these guys, that's been 12 years of unequal rights, despite having the same tax responsibilities as straight couples.

"I pay my taxes like everybody. So why don't I get the same rights?" said Joao Paulo.

Amen, brother. Here's hoping that's a question you don't have to ask a few months from now.

Gay marriage is making international waves this week in another place halfway around the world as well, in Argentina. Stay tuned tomorrow for what will be the country's first gay wedding, not to mention the first officially recognized same-sex marraige on the entire continent of South America.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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