Portuguese government aims to permit gay marriage

12/18/09 AP:

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal's Socialist government has drawn up a proposal that would make Portugal the sixth European country to allow gay marriage. The law is almost certain to pass [in the Parliament], as the center-left Socialist government has the support of all left-of-center parties, who together have a majority in Parliament ... The proposal changes Portuguese law to remove references to marriage being between two people of different sexes, Cabinet Minister Pedro Silva Pereira told a news conference Thursday, adding the government will send its proposal to lawmakers for a debate, probably in January.