Greece has passed laws to allow marriage between same-sex couples. It’s the first time marriage equality laws have been passed in an Orthodox Christian nation — a religious strand that holds deeply traditional views of marriage.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a statement: “Greece is proud to become the 16th EU country to legislate marriage equality. This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece – a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values.”
The new laws will also allow same-sex parents to adopt children.
Orthodoxy
Earlier this year, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church (the country’s dominating church) voiced strong opposition to legalising same-sex marriage.
The church’s ruling body, the Holy Synod, argued it would promote “the abolition of fatherhood and motherhood” and threaten traditional “gender roles within the family”.
Recent protests by religious groups have been held in the Greek capital of Athens.
Civil partnerships
In 2015, Greece passed laws granting civil partnerships between same-sex couples. This allowed same-sex unions to be registered through formal channels.
Momentum has been building in the years since for Greece to join the 15 other European Union countries where same-sex marriage is legal.
According to recent polling, around 55% of Greek people were in favour of marriage equality, while 53% believed same-sex couples should have the right to adopt.
The laws
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to pass same-sex marriage laws before his landslide re-election last year.
The same-sex marriage bill passed Greece’s Parliament overnight with a majority of MPs backing the motion (176 out of 300).
Mitsotakis said: “People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”
Adoption
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to pass same-sex marriage laws before his landslide re-election last year.
The same-sex marriage bill passed Greece’s Parliament overnight with a majority of MPs backing the motion (176 out of 300).
Mitsotakis said: “People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”
