How equal is equality? Discussions about same-sex marriage in Portugal

Abstract

In Portugal, public and political discussions about same-sex marriage have been going on since the 1990s. In 2010, same-sex marriage was legalized under intense dispute since it excludes same-sex couples from adoption and reproductive rights. During parliamentary debates, political parties and civil organizations linked to the Catholic Church resorted to conflicting ideas of 'equality' and 'difference' to advance their claims. In this article, we analyse the contents of petitions, bills and parliamentary proceedings concerning the legal recognition of same-sex unions, highlighting the presence of conflicting notions of equality linked to pervasive beliefs about the inadequacy of homo-erotic desire and practices.

Cohabitation and Romantic Relationship Quality Among Portuguese Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Individuals

“…Our study builds upon the work that has been mainly conducted in the United States (Lehmiller, 2010;Lehmiller & Agnew, 2006) and presents findings from the Portuguese context, where the legalization of same-sex unions was approved almost two decades ago (Brandão & Machado, 2012;Oliveira et al, 2013;Pereira & Monteiro, 2017). One of the soundest finding was that cohabitation among LG individuals is associated with the expression of long-term commitment, and the experience of greater relationship quality.…”

“…Briefly, de facto same-sex relationships were approved by the Portuguese parliament in 2001 (Laws n. 6/2001 andn. 7/2001, May 11 th ;Brandão & Machado, 2012). These bills set a common ground for a series of legislative changes proposed and approved afterwards, changing the panorama of LG rights in Portugal: the same-sex civil marriage law approved in 2010; the gender identity provision in 2011; and the adoption and joint adoption by same-sex couples law in 2016 (Oliveira, Costa, & Nogueira, 2013;Pereira & Monteiro, 2017).…”

Gender Fundamentalism and Heteronormativity in the Political Discussion About Lesbian and Gay Parenthood

“…If on one hand the approved law recognizes same-sex couples' entitlements, on the other, as had already happened in other European countries (e.g. Brandão & Machado, 2012), the condition for the recognition of gay and lesbian couples is their exclusion from parenthood. The opposition to the possibility of a partner in a samesex couple adopting the biological children of the other partner came from parties from the entire political spectrum, including the majority forces within which the bill was drafted.…”

The Italian public debate on same-sex civil unions and gay and lesbian parenting

“…Discourses on lesbian and gay parenting become the place where other political fears are reflected: fears about the technology, the demographic policies, the nation's unity and the transmissibility of culture. As it had already happened in other countries, the condition for the recognition of gay and lesbian couples is their exclusion from parenthood, denying them access to adoption or reproductive technologies (Brandão and Machado, 2012). France and Portugal, for example, approved same-sex couples' adoption years later than the law on civil unions.…”