In a historic move, Greece has become the first majority- Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the leader of the center-right New Democracy party, drafted the bill which was voted in a majority across party lines in Greek Parliament. Of the 300-seat Parliament, 176 voted in favor if the bill, 76 voted against it, 46 were not present, and two declined to vote.
Mitsotakis tweeted that Greece “is proud to become the 16th (European Union) 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.”
He said, “The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without depriving anything of the lives of many. People who until recently were invisible can finally become visible,” in a speech when introducing the bill.
“The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without depriving anything of the lives of many. People who until recently were invisible can finally become visible” – Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis while introducing the marriage equality bill. pic.twitter.com/8807IjkSe6
— Niko Efstathiou (@NikoEfst) February 15, 2024
“This is a historic moment,” Stella Belia, the head of same-sex parents’ group Rainbow Families, told Reuters news agency. “This is a day of joy.”
Not everyone is as thrilled at the news. Those who oppose the new bill protested outside of the parliament building in Athens. The group held up banners and crosses while reciting prayers and passages from the bible. Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Orthodox Church, said the legalization of gay marriage in Greece would “corrupt the homeland’s social cohesion.”
It wasn’t all doom and gloom outside of the parliament building. The Greek LGBTQ+ community and allies showed up in droves to celebrate the landmark ruling, waving rainbow flags, throwing confetti, and reveling in the historic moment for gay rights.
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