Proving more progressive than California, the cute little country next to Spain, Portugal, will legalize same-sex marriage. Conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva plans on "reluctantly ratifying" the gay marriage law, making the Catholic-heavy country the sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples get hitched.

So, why would a conservative leader allow such a thing? Silva, according to Associated Press, put it this way:

"Given that fact, I feel I should not contribute to a pointless extension of this debate, which would only serve to deepen the divisions between the Portuguese and divert the attention of politicians away from the grave problems affecting us."

How very, very logical. If only anti-gay folk who voted for and donated to Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban, knew such clarity, the state might be better able to focus on actual problems.

Read more about Portugal's win for civil right SFGate.