The Portuguese parliament has approved a bill which will legalize same-sex marriages. The bill now needs to be reviewed by parliamentary committee and reapproved by parliament (the Assembly of the Republic), before it is brought into effect by final ratification by President Anibal Cavaco Silva. It could be law before the planned visit to Portugal in May of Pope Benedict XVI, who the BBC calls a "staunch" opponent of gay marriage.

Like the law in Spain, the Portuguese legislation allows for same-sex marriage rather than a kind of civil union or partnership. However, the Portuguese law is less bold when it comes to the matter of adoption, which has not been included.

The bill has been strongly opposed by Portuguese conservatives, but there have not been significant demonstrations against it or other displays of popular discontent, except a petition which unsuccessfully sought to have a referendum called on the matter. This public indifference contrasts with Spain, which approved same-sex marriage in 2005, and where cardinals and bishops have stirred up a vociferous mass movement of Catholic defenders of "family values."

"Wedding" tourism has always been significant in Spain and Portugal, in spite of the bureaucratic difficulties involved, even for European Union citizens. The legalization of gay marriage in Spain opened up a new dimension of this, with some towns actively vying for this small but lucrative segment. The same is sure to happen in Portugal.