Gay Marriage Bill reaches desk of the Portuguese President!

[RogueScholar]

I'm so much closer to moving to Portugal now that this looks like it's going to become reality. The transformation that has occured there since my family left in August of '67 is nothing short of miraculous. Better yet, while Pope Benedict has been having a fit about all of this, the vicar of the Pope in Portugal, Jos Cardinal Policarpo has been conspicuously silent during the entire debate. For once a parliamentary government made good on its promise to promote gay marriage if re-elected in '09, and even promises to overturn a Presidential veto if encountered.

Why can't the U.S. be this progressive in national politics? If we're moving towards a socialist government anyway, we might as well enjoy fewer restrictions on civil liberties for our trouble and money.

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5352&MediaType=1&Category=24

 

[roguejuror]

You saw what happened in Madeira?

 

[Mudcat]

My knowledge of what goes on in Portugal just increased about 10x in the last few minutes.

 

[fiveteamer]

Man, I love me some Portuguese food.

 

[Saulty]

If you knew how much it costs being married you would have changed your mind.

 

[RogueScholar]

You saw what happened in Madeira?

I've been following it, absolutely. I was amazed by the lack of decentralized services on the archipelago, it seemed like every administrative function was run directly out of Funchal, which obviously has made it much more difficult to direct relief efforts. They've made amazing progress, and the national government mobilized itself with remarkable alacrity. I guess the schools will open tomorrow and rebuilding has already begun wherever the waters have receded. What disturbs me the most is the continued deviation from established Atlantic weather patterns, which leads me to believe that global warming is now beginning to affect the thermo-haline circulation in the world's oceans. Next will be the erosion of the Azores High during the summers and an expanded Atlantic hurricane season. Needless to say I'm more mindful of my own carbon footprint than ever.

 

[Dunder]

If you knew how much it costs being married you would have changed your mind.

Exactly, I would have thought that avoiding marriage is an advantage of being gay.

 

[RogueScholar]

Exactly, I would have thought that avoiding marriage is an advantage of being gay.

It's more about equality than it is the practical implementation of marriage in my own life. I can only assume that some day I will fall so deeply in love with a man that I'll be compelled by my more basic instincts to establish some sort of civil claim to him. Should that day arrive I would like to know that the government of my country of residence would indulge my stupidity, just like they would with your average couple of breeders in love. That thought comforts me, that with the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles and rights eventually the onus of the label "gay" will become somewhat apocryphal.

 

[Bread]

Be careful of those hard-living farmers over there. They might need a bit of a time-curve on the changing of the social laws.

 

[roguejuror]

I've been following it, absolutely. I was amazed by the lack of decentralized services on the archipelago, it seemed like every administrative function was run directly out of Funchal, which obviously has made it much more difficult to direct relief efforts. They've made amazing progress, and the national government mobilized itself with remarkable alacrity. I guess the schools will open tomorrow and rebuilding has already begun wherever the waters have receded. What disturbs me the most is the continued deviation from established Atlantic weather patterns, which leads me to believe that global warming is now beginning to affect the thermo-haline circulation in the world's oceans. Next will be the erosion of the Azores High during the summers and an expanded Atlantic hurricane season. Needless to say I'm more mindful of my own carbon footprint than ever.

Yep the world is fvcked. You should see Sao Paulo, every day flooding, worst in 100 years of records.

 

[RogueScholar]

The Portuguese President attempted to stall the process by referring the bill to the Constitutional Court saying he had questions about certain aspects of the law. The Constitutional Court returned the bill unmarked to the President's desk on Friday, starting the 20 day clock he has to sign the bill before his action becomes a pocket veto. The Prime Minister has said the Parliament stands ready to overturn any veto, so I think in the next 20 days we will have a new sovereign nation in the world which performs same-sex marriage! Yay!

 

[Bread]

GL