The legislation came into force on March 1, 2016, after failing four times in parliament and being vetoed by the then President of the Republic Cavaco Silva.

According to ISS data sent to Lusa agency, the entry into force of this law allowed 55 children to be adopted by same-sex couples over eight years, with 32 of these adoptions taking place between 2020 and 2023.

“Regarding the average waiting time and the characterization of children integrated into same-sex families, no differentiation is made between same-sex and different-sex couples”, assures Social Security.

The president of the ILGA Portugal Association (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Intervention) told Lusa that they have received some requests for clarification, especially about how the adoption process takes place or what forms need to be obtained from Social Security, with the association even creating a guide on the subject.

“In fact, people don't contact us again because they can solve their problems, especially because we also talk about expectations in relation to waiting time, which is high, as happens with non-same-sex couples”, said Daniela Bento.

“We don’t receive problems, but rather questions about how it works, how it doesn’t work, and then people go on their way. The information we have is that things have gone relatively well, and there are no complaints of discrimination,” she said.

The law on adoption by same-sex couples was published in the Official Gazette on February 29, 2016.