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#Videocrux - Portugal MPs approve gay marriage Portugal MPs approve gay marriage
Portugal's parliament Friday approved plans to legalise gay marriage, less than three decades after revoking the country's ban on homosexuality, but rejected proposals to allow same sex couples to adopt. The bill passed with limited public controversy in what has traditionally been one of Europe's most socially conservative countries. After less than three hours' debate, Friday's parliamentary vote went mainly along party lines, with the left-wing majority backing the measure proposed by Prime Minister Jose Socrates and the right-wing opposition voting against.
"Moment of celebration, even if law has flaws"
The bill passed with limited public controversy in what has traditionally been one of Europe's most socially conservative countries. After less than three hours' debate, Friday's parliamentary vote went mainly along party lines, with the left-wing majority backing the measure proposed by Prime Minister Jose Socrates and the right-wing opposition voting against. Socrates said the aim of the legislation was to remedy decades of injustice towards gays, recalling that as recently as 1982 homosexuality was a crime in Portugal.

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