Portuguese Lesbian Couple First to Legally Marry

http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=251 10

by Leslie Dobbins | Article Date: 06/07/2010 4:00 PM

The first same-sex marriage in Portugal took place between a lesbian couple a month after same sex marriage was signed into law. Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao have been together since 2003 and were married in front of 30 guests at a Lisbon registry office.    The couple said the day was a "great victory, a dream come true." The same sex marriage bill, passed by parliament in January and ratified by conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva in May, made Portugal the sixth European country to legalize gay marriage behind Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. Marriage is now defined as “contract between two people wishing to form families through the full communion of life.” However, there is a catch, under the new law gay couples are not allowed to adopt children.  One small step…..