Homosexuality in Portugal

Geographical location of Portugal

In the aftermath of the Salazar dictatorship, Portuguese society has become liberalized and acceptance of homosexuality has grown, especially in the last decade.

legality

Eight years after the Carnation Revolution , homosexuality was legalized in 1982. The age of consent has been revised and uniformly adjusted after it was previously not designed uniformly. The age of consent was previously 14 years for heterosexual people and 16 years for homosexual people.

Anti-discrimination laws

The Portuguese constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation . In Portugal, anti-discrimination laws have been in place since 2004 to protect sexual identity in labor law. Homosexual Portuguese citizens can serve in the army.

Recognition of same-sex marriages

In Law No. 7/2001 of May 11, 2001 on the protection of de facto civil partnerships ( uniões de facto ), couples who have lived together for more than two years, regardless of gender, are given similar protection and with similar obligations provided, like heterosexual marriage. So this applies to heterosexual and homosexual cohabiting couples .

The adoption of non-biological children, on the other hand, is only permitted for couples of the opposite sex in a de facto partnership (Art. 7). Since 2013, Portugal has allowed the joint adoption of biological children.

A law to protect against domestic violence , which also covers same-sex partnerships, was passed.

On January 8, 2010, endorsed Parliament of Portugal , the same-sex marriage (excluding adoption) with the votes of the ruling Social Democratic Party Partido Socialista and the supporting favorable left party Left Bloc and the left-ecological Unitary Democratic Coalition . President Aníbal Cavaco Silva submitted the law to the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitutional) on March 15 to review the constitutionality of all parts except for adoption. On April 8, 2010, 11 out of 13 judges voted in favor of the declaration of constitutionality prepared by rapporteur Victor Gomes. The reasoning stated that the previous marriage should not be abolished according to the constitution, but the legislature is free to adapt and develop the rules. The Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva declared on May 17, 2010 that he would sign the law and not exercise his right of veto.

The first homosexual marriage was concluded in June 2010 between a lesbian couple in Lisbon.

On December 20, 2015, the Portuguese Parliament passed a draft law allowing joint adoption rights for married same-sex couples. On February 10, 2016, a veto by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva was overruled by an absolute majority in parliament.

Social situation

Gay Pride in Lisbon

Portuguese society is generally tolerant of LGBT people. Homophobic violence has been very rare in recent years. The community and LGBT scene can be found in Lisbon and Porto as well as in the Algarve with various bars, pubs and nightclubs. In Lisbon, the lesbian and gay district is located around the Bairro Alto and the Principe Real . Gay Pride events are held annually in Lisbon and Porto, and tens of thousands of visitors attend. A European LGBT film festival, the Queer Lisboa - Lisbon Gay & Lesbian Film Festival , is shown in Lisbon every September .