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LGBT News Starting today, same sex couples can file for joint adoptions in Portugal

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by DeviantAttitude, Feb 29, 2016.

  1. DeviantAttitude

    Regular Member

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    This was a tricky one indeed.

    Some background: ever since same sex marriage was legalized in 2010, the left leaning parties (PS, PCP, BE) have been trying to push the joint adoption by same sex couples bill. The problem was that in 2010, the socialist party (PS) was in power. That government fell in 2011 after parliament reject finance-related bills and we had elections.

    The main opposing party (PSD) won without a majority but formed a post election coalition with a party from the center (CDS-PP). While PSD gives a sort of blank check to the members of their party in the parliament in these matters, most don't vote either way or vote against with the rare case of 3 or 4 members vote in favor of the bill. CDS on the other hand is really conservative and is all about the tradition and all those arguments the opposers usually spit out. Because of the majority they had and pressure from the center party to vote "No", it never passed.

    Fast forward 4 years. PSD+CDS now running in a coalition won again but didnt have a majority. The left united to reject the government and the President had no other choice but to put the 2nd most voted party in power. A socialist government (PS) was approved by the parliament and is now supported by a quasi alliance with the left, with a majority.

    Because of that majority, the parliament was able to pass the law. And after it was vetoed, returned to parliament by our conservative president and reapproved, Same sex couples can, starting today, adopt together a child.

    Sorry for the wall of text but im just a bit happy because of it. (!)

    *I posted this after midnight in Portugal, its currently 01/03/16 here.