Portugal

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

10.3 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

Robust, large-sample estimates of the sexual and gender minority population have not been conducted in Portugal. Despite the lack of visibility of LGBTQ+ communities in quantitative statistics, which often favor heterosexual or cisgender individuals, Portugal ranked #7 among 49 European countries in regards to LGBTQ+ human rights protections (ILGA-Europe, 2018).

Portugal's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION

Marriage for Same-Sex Couples	Yes
Civil Unions	No
Joint Adoption	Yes
Second Parent Adoption	Yes
Medically Assisted Reproduction	Yes*

*for female same-sex couples

PROTECTION

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	Yes
Broad Protections	Yes
Criminalization of Violence	Yes
Ban of Conversion Therapy	No

CRIMINALIZATION

Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply
Blood donations by gay/bisexual men legal?	Yes*

*Parliament unanimously approved in 2010

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Studies:

Costa, P. A., Almeida, R., Anselmo, C., Ferreira, A., Pereira, H., & Leal, I. (2014). University Students’ Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting and Gay and Lesbian Rights in Portugal. Journal of Homosexuality, 61(12), 1667–1686. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2014.951253

Costa, P. A., & Bidell, M. (2016). Modern Families: Parenting Desire, Intention, and Experience Among Portuguese Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals. Journal of Family Issues. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16683985

Costa, P. A., & Davies, M. (2012). Portuguese Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Sexual Minorities: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Gender Role Beliefs. Journal of Homosexuality, 59(10), 1424–1442. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2012.724944

de Oliveira, J. M., Costa, C. G., & Nogueira, C. (2013). The Workings of Homonormativity: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Discourses on Discrimination and Public Displays of Affections in Portugal. Journal of Homosexuality, 60(10), 1475–1493.

Gato, J., Leal, D., Moleiro, C., Fernandes, T., Nunes, D., Marinho, I., Pizmony-Levy, O., & Freeman, C. (2020). “The Worst Part Was Coming Back Home and Feeling Like Crying”: Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students in Portuguese Schools. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02936

Gonçalves, J. A. R., Costa, P. A., & Leal, I. (2020). Minority Stress in Older Portuguese Gay and Bisexual Men and Its Impact on Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 17(2), 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-019-00385-1

Hilário, A. P., & Marques, A. C. (2019). Trans youth in Portugal: Gendered embodiments. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 0(0), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2019.1649464

Pereira, H., Serrano, J. P., de Vries, B., Esgalhado, G., Afonso, R. M., & Monteiro, S. (2018). Aging Perceptions in Older Gay and Bisexual Men in Portugal: A Qualitative Study. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 87(1), 5–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415017720889

Rodrigues, L., Grave, R., de Oliveira, J. M., & Nogueira, C. (2016). Study on homophobic bullying in Portugal using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 48(3), 191–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rlp.2016.04.001

Report:

Rainbow Europe. 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://rainbow-europe.org/#8654/0/0