In the first case of a gay marriage in one of Portugal’s prisons, lesbian couple Patrícia and Teresa – both serving time for theft – tied the knot this week and are now living in a joint cell.
The authorities at Matosinhos’ Santa Cruz do Bispo jail have reportedly given the newlyweds space in the “Casa das Mães” area, normally used by mothers with young children.
Thus the pair have a larger than usual cell, equipped with a private bathroom and even a baby’s crib.
This is something that could never happen to a heterosexual couple as jails in this country remain sex-segregated.
According to Correio da Manhã newspaper, the two women met while serving time for internet fraud and theft. One is the mother of three children.
Jorge Alves of the prison guards’ union told CM that guards are “not equipped” to deal with these kind of situations, nonetheless staff at the jail organised all the arrangements and even gave the women the choice of a civil ceremony ‘on the outside’ or a wedding in jail.
Said CM the women chose the latter as that way they did not need to marry in handcuffs.
The paper added that none of the women’s relatives attended the wedding service.
The newlyweds are reported to be between the ages of 31 and 34.
Staff opted to house them in the “Casa das Mães” wing as this would give the couple “more space and comfort”, added CM.
