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<p>Friday 8th January 2010, the Parliament of Portugal passed a bill to remove marriage discrimination. Sadly, at the same time it rejected the proposal to allow entitlement of adoption by same-sex couples. The bill still needs ratification by the President Anibal Cavaco Silva. The ratification would make Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow marriages of same-sex partners after the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Norway and Sweden.</p>

<p>After receiving the news from Portugal, ILGA-Europe spoke to a very excited Paulo Côrte-Real from the Portuguese member organisation, ILGA Portugal. He explained the process what is going to happen to the passed bill. It is now in the hand of President Anibal Cavaco Silva – if he vetoes, the bill will go back to the Parliament for another round of voting. But if he ratifies, it could come into effect already in April 2010.</p><p>Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of the ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said: <i>“It is truly a fantastic start of 2010 for LGBT people in Portugal and Europe as a whole. It is clear that a European consensus is fast emerging on marriage equality.”</i></p><p>Linda Freimane, Co-Chair of the ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, continues: <i>“We have to cross our fingers for the ratification, and certainly not forget that there still is a fight for full equality – and that is also including entitlement to adoption.</i> </p><p>ILGA-Europe congratulates the Portuguese member organisations for their incessant work towards equality of LGBT people in Portugal.</p><p><b>Ends</b></p><p>For more information please contact Communications Officer <a href="mailto:nanna@ilga-europe.org" target="_self">Nanna Moe</a></p>

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