Marriage Equality in Portugal

Portugal’s conservative president Anibal Cavaco Silva announced last week that he is ratifying a law that will give Portugal marriage equality. The previous law, similar to the 2006 amendment to the Wisconsin State Constitution, stated that marriage is between two people of different sexes.

Marriage equality has been a controversial issue in Catholic Portugal, with right-leaning religious groups and left-leaning government groups disagreeing. Cacavo Silva ratified the law to prevent further attention devoted to the issue so that Portugal can focus on their current economic crisis.

"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.

Portugal is the sixth European nation to adopt marriage equality, behind Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway.

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