Comments on: Portugal’s supreme court approves same-sex marriage bill

By: Fred in the U.K.

Fred in the U.K. — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:07:20 +0000

@Pierre

U.K. Embassies around the world can, and if needs be do, perform weddings (and Civil Partnerships) for British Nationals (so long as the host government does not object). I have no idea if Canadian Embassies operate similarly, but if they did you might be able to find one, in a country you could both visit, who would marry you.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:38:28 +0000

pierre,

I don’t have offhand a list of contacts, but the nations which conduct same-sex marriage are:

Belgium
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Canada
South Africa

There are also five US states plus Washington DC. And Mexico City might be an option.

Additionally, Canada may recognize other forms of partnership, such as the UK’s civil partners. Pretty much most of Europe has some form of partnership recognition.

By: pierre

pierre — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:55:46 +0000

Is there list of countries with same sex marriages, and the requirements for those respective countries?.. or at least links in each of those countries where the requirements would be posted? I am Canadian, but cannot get my Pakistani partner here for a marriage: his visa requests are being denied, even for a visitor. So we’re looking where we can both meet, get married, then confront the Canadian government with a request for spousal visa. thanks… Pierre [you may respond to my personal email address]

By: occono

occono — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:42:31 +0000

He wouldn’t have the backing of Polls on that though.

By: Fred in the UK

Fred in the UK — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:58:36 +0000

@Timothy (TRiG)
Surely, the Taoiseach should have access to decent legal advice about whether same-sex marriage would be constitutional? Correct me if I am wrong but I doubt that he is arguing that the Irish State should never do anything that could ever reasonably be argued to be unconstitutional, even if there were a stronger argument that it was constitutional. Therefore I have difficulty in not concluding that the Taoiseach is hiding alleged constitutional issues to avoid either supporting or opposing same-sex marriage.

All that said I doubt much would change if the Taoiseach were forced to abandon the constitutional argument and state that many Irish Citizens are deeply opposed to same-sex marriage and Civil Partnership is a reasonable compromise.

By: Timothy (TRiG)

Timothy (TRiG) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:30:25 +0000

When I wrote to the Taoiseach (who’s also one of my TDs) about marriage equality, his response mentioned constitutional issues. He said he’s not sure whether same-sex marriage would be constitutional. I’ve read the constitution, and there’s a lot that needs changing (all those religious oaths for public servants, for a start), but there’s no specific definition of marriage. All the naysayers have to go on is a notion of the intent behind the word marriage when the constitution was written.

TRiG.

By: Marriage equality almost there in Portugal | gaelick

Marriage equality almost there in Portugal | gaelick — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:29:01 +0000

[...] Boxturtle [...]

By: pierre

pierre — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:02:27 +0000

If/When passed, will marriage be allowed for nont-residents, non-citizens?

By: Jutta Zalud

Jutta Zalud — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:36:47 +0000

In case somebody can read Portugese, here is the full text of the decision (46 pages on my printer) http://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20100121.html
and the google-translation into English: http://translate.google.at/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tribunalconstitucional.pt%2Ftc%2Facordaos%2F20100121.html&sl=pt&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

By: Lynn David

Lynn David — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:37:26 +0000

Can Brazil be far behind?