Portugal Ready to Leagalize Gay Marriage

According to sources, José Sócrates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, has been busy developing a new government after the elections in September. Part of that new government is equality for the country’s LGBT citizens. On October 23, Sócrates stated that legalizing same-sex marriage will be one of the new leadership’s first changes.

According to a post on PortugalGay.pt:

“The measure is part of the official program of the party and according to government sources, the move will be done as soon as the government is complete.” (Complete as in completely formed).

Portuguese lawmakers from all parties are in favor of the move and support marriage equality, leading to the belief the bill will pass with ease.

Portugal has recognizes “de facto unions” for both opposite and same-sex couples since 2001, but much like civil unions, they only grant limited rights to couples, so the lawmakers feel it’s time to even the playing field.

Portugal would become the nineth country to legalize same-sex marriage, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and Nepal in offering its LGBT citizens marriage equality.

Introducing the World’s First Lesbian Bishop

From Metro:

Yesterday was a historic one for the church: Eva Brunne, 55, became the world’s first openly lesbian bishop. Only two weeks ago the Lutheran Church of Sweden — the country’s largest — said yes to same-sex marriages. Metro spoke to Eva Brunne before her ordination in Stockholm.

You’ll be the world’s first openly lesbian bishop. How does it feel to have so much public and media attention devoted to your sexual orientation?

I don’t think a heterosexual bishop would ever be asked about his wife or marriage, but I am happy if I, to some degree, can be a symbolic figure. Of course there are other things in my life that qualify me as a bishop.

But it is an important symbolic issue.

Yes, it is important to many people who also live with a same-sex partner that a bishop can also do that. But it’s not a big issue at home in Stockholm. I have yet to be in a workplace where it has been an “issue.”

More here!

Swedish Lesbians Suck Sperm Banks Dry

From: The Register

Sweden’s fertility clinics are racking up a serious backlog of people waiting for artificial insemination, due in part to a “spike” in demand from lesbian couples for vital supplies of man juice.

So bad have things got that expectant customers at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg are now forced to wait 18 months for treatment.
Click here to find out more!

The problem, the Göteborgs-Posten explains, is that a 2005 law change granted “female same-sex couples” the right to fertility treatment at Swedish hospitals. Previously, this privilege extended only to married women or those who were “registered heterosexual partners”

Read the rest by clicking here.

Sweden Appoints Lesbian Bishop

The Church of Sweden has appointed a lesbian as the Lutheran bishop of Stockholm. Eva Brunne, who is in a registered partnership, is believed to be the world’s first lesbian bishop.

She won the post by 413 votes against 365 votes and will succeed Bishop Caroline Krook, who is to retire in November.

Brunne, 55, has a three-year-old son with her partner Gunilla Linden, who is a priest.

Read the entire story at: Pink News!

Sweden Recognizes Same-Sex Marriage

Sweden is now the fifth European country that fully allows and recognizes same-sex marriage. The four other European nations are the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and Spain.

On Wednesday, the Swedish Parliament adopted a new law that gives same-sex couples the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples. The law is to take effect on May 1.

Sweden has recognized civil unions of homosexual couples since 1994, but the law was deemed discriminatory as it did allow for use of the term marriage for all consenting adults.

Even though the new law gives full marriage rights to gay couples, there is a protection clause for religious institutions, as it will be up to individual churches to decide if they want to marry same-sex couples.

According to the Swedish news agency TT, the 349-seat legislature overwhelmingly passed the measure in 261-22 vote, with 66 lawmakers abstaining or absent.

Congrats to Sweden and its citizens on moving towards equality for the human race.

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