Greece has become the inaugural Orthodox nation to sanction same-sex marriage
The decision was reached on February 15 by the Greek Parliament, securing a resolute majority vote for the legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. This significant development places Greece as the 37th nation worldwide, and notably the first among Orthodox countries.nations, to embrace same-sex marriage. The legislation garnered support from 176 out of the 245 members of the Greek Parliament who were present during the voting process.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who heads the conservative party New Democracy, personally supported the adoption of the law. At the same time, despite the opposition of dozens of deputies from his party, the legalization of same-sex marriage was supported by opposition deputies, including representatives of the leftist Syriza party, led by Stefanos Kasselakis, who is openly gay. On social network X, formerly known as Twitter, Prime Minister Mitsotakis celebrated this moment as a historic step in ensuring human rights, emphasizing that it reflects modern Greece, known for its progressive and democratic values, standing on a platform of European values.
During parliamentary discussions, Prime Minister Mitsotakis expressed confidence that the new law would “markedly enhance the quality of life of many citizens without affecting the lives of the majority.”
The Greek Orthodox Church is against the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the new law is facing criticism
The Greek (Hellenic) Orthodox Church, recognized as the “dominant religion” in the nation and holding sway over numerous members of Mitsotakis’s party, staunchly opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage. Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Jerome II, stated that the new legislation is an effort to enforce new standards on society, which, in his opinion, destroy the foundations of society.
On Sunday, a rally against the new law was held in Athens, in which about four thousand individuals participated, holding icons and crosses in their hands. In the latest parliamentary elections in Greece, right-wing liberals again won. Greece has emerged from the financial crisis that caused problems in the eurozone. Sociological data suggests that Greece is the most religious country in Europe.The Pew Research Center suggests that approximately 90% of Greek inhabitants identify as Orthodox Christians, with 58% of them indicating that religion holds significance in their lives. However, only 16% attend church regularly, which also remains the highest in Europe.
As AFP notes, in 2015, Greece passed legislation permitting civil partnerships for couples of the same sex although not marriage, when the Syriza party was in power. Last October, the leader of the party, Stefanos Kasselakis, wedded his partner. in the US, sparking criticism from homophobic conservative politicians. The law passed under Syriza’s rule does not permit same-sex couples to adopt children; adoption is only allowed for one partner who has the right to formal adoption, not both. It also did not address inheritance issues for same-sex couples. LGBT organizations in Greece welcomed the new law. “Today is a day of joy!” – one of them, Rainbow Families of Greece, said on social networks.