Greece’s parliament approved a bill permitting same-s*x civil marriage on Thursday, marking a significant triumph for advocates of LGBTQ rights. The decision was met with cheers from observers within the parliament and by dozens gathered on the streets of Athens.
The legislation grants same-s*x couples the right to marry and adopt children, representing a milestone achievement after years of advocacy by the LGBT community for marriage equality in Greece, a socially conservative nation.
Greece stands among the pioneering Orthodox Christian countries to permit such unions.
“This is a historic moment,” Stella Belia, the head of same-s*x parents group Rainbow Families, told Reuters. “This is a day of joy.”
The bill garnered approval from 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament and will be enacted upon its publication in the official government gazette.
Despite members of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right New Democracy party abstaining or voting against the bill, it secured adequate support from the leftist opposition, showcasing a rare display of cross-party unity amidst a tense debate.
“It’s a very important step for human rights, a very important step for equality, and a very important step for Greek society,” stated Nikos Nikolaidis, a 40-year-old historian who participated in a rally supporting the bill prior to the vote.
Recent opinion polls indicate that Greeks hold divided views on the issue. The influential Orthodox Church, which views homosexuality as a sin, has vehemently opposed same-s*x marriage, while many within the LGBT community feel the bill falls short of addressing their concerns.
Importantly, the legislation does not remove barriers for LGBT couples seeking to utilise assisted reproduction methods.
Additionally, surrogate pregnancies will remain unavailable to LGBTQ individuals, although the bill does acknowledge children already born through such means abroad.