by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
Only about 20 gay or lesbian couples have gotten married in Portugal since it became possible June 7. Another 30 weddings are scheduled before the end of the year.
Portugal has about 10.6 million residents.
Meanwhile, two administrative changes have been made to resolve snafus encountered by same-sex couples.
People who married in other countries before the Portuguese law took effect now will have their foreign marriages recognized. Previously, those marriages were not recognized but, at the same time, such couples couldn't marry in Portugal because they were already married.
The second change removed a requirement to include the gender of the person one intends to marry on a required certificate of matrimonial capacity that a foreigner must obtain from his or her native land before marrying in Portugal. There were problems with getting such certificates from some nations that oppose same-sex marriages.
One does not have to live in Portugal to get married there.