Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has championed a bill that could see Greece become one of the first Orthodox Christian countries to legalize same-sex marriage. Addressing parliament, Mitsotakis heralded the move as a triumph for democracy, urging lawmakers to “say yes to equality” ahead of the vote scheduled for later Thursday.
This proposed legislation not only grants same-sex couples the right to marry but also the ability to adopt, marking a significant victory for the LGBT+ community in a nation where conservative values have traditionally prevailed. Mitsotakis’s call for progress comes amidst a divided public opinion and staunch opposition from the influential Orthodox Church, which condemns homosexuality as sinful.
Despite potential resistance from within his own centre-right New Democracy party, the Prime Minister is expected to secure the necessary support from leftist factions, highlighting a rare moment of cross-party collaboration for a cause that transcends political boundaries.
However, the bill’s journey is not without its critics. Far-right party Elliniki Lysi has denounced the legislation as “anti-Christian” and detrimental to national interests. Additionally, LGBT+ advocates argue the bill doesn’t go far enough, pointing out remaining barriers in assisted reproduction and surrogate pregnancy rights for LGBT+ individuals, though it does recognize children born abroad through such methods.
The road to this pivotal moment has been long and fraught with challenges. In 2008, attempts by same-sex couples to marry were annulled by a top court, sparking a prolonged battle for rights that saw incremental progress with the legalization of civil partnerships in 2015 and gender identity recognition in 2017, culminating in the ban of conversion therapy for minors two years prior.
