Portugal Rejects
Same-Sex Marriage

Both Portugal's Socialist and Social Democratic parties Friday rejected proposals to allow same-sex marriage. Despite a push by the Green and Left Bloc, two minor opposition parties, legislators in the mostly Roman Catholic country voted against gay marriage, the Associated Press reports.

The motion for marriage equality garnered only 28 votes out of the 230-seat parliament. The opposition parties, which presented the legislation, argued that the constitution grants equal rights and discrimination protection.

Though the ruling Socialist Party overcame opposition from the Catholic Church to legalize abortion in 2007, party leaders say that legalizing marriage first requires a national discussion.

"A change of this depth and complexity should be made only after a considered discussion and after broad support has built up for it in Portuguese society, inside and outside political parties, so that a clear and unequivocal political undertaking can be given," the party said in a statement.

Fifty-three percent of Portuguese say they oppose same-sex marriage, while 42% support it, according to a Coimbra University poll published in the Jornal de Noticias newspaper on Friday.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain are the only European Union countries to permit same-sex marriage. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)