Portugal Legalizes Adoption for Same-sex Couples

(Blogmensgo, gay blog of February 11, 2016) On February 10, 2016, the parliament of the Republic of Portugal with absolute majority approved a new bill allowing a same-sex partner to adopt the other partners’ children. A lot of ups and downs have led to this decision.

All left party deputies plus about twenty deputies of the oppositional right party voted for the new law.

Portugal introduced same-sex marriage in 2010 via a bill that explicitly excluded the adoption of children by a same-sex spouse.

The parliament had already voted for a similar bill in December 2015, which president Aníbal Cavaco Silva vetoed.

The absolute majority of the deputies now overwrote the presidential veto.

There had been lots of twists before the bill was finally accepted:

• February 11, 2010: The Portuguese parliament legalizes same-sex marriage, and the first same-sex weddings are celebrated on June 11. The new law however explicitly prohibits in vitro fertilization and adoption for same-sex couples.
• May 17, 2013: In first reading, the parliament accepts a bill on adoption of children by a partner for gay and lesbian couples (99 votes for and 94 votes against the text, 9 abstentions).
• March 2014: After a lot of back and forth, the parliament rejects the text in the second reading (112 against 107 votes).
• October 4, 2015: The socialists, whose election pledges contained the adoption right for same-sex couples, win the parliamentary election.
• January 25, 2016: President Aníbal Cavaco Silva vetoes the bill.
• February 10, 2016: The parliament overwrites the veto and accepts the bill.

Commentary: As far as we understand the text, the same-sex spouse can only adopt the other partners’ biologic children.

Frank-S / MensGo
(Via Europe 1 of February 10, Le Quotidien and La Croix of February 11, 2016)