It is the first Orthodox country where the government has legalized same-sex relationships, despite significant opposition from the church.
The Greek Parliament approved on Thursday, February 15, a bill allowing same-sex marriage. Greece has become one of the first Orthodox countries to allow such unions, Reuters reports.
The bill was approved by the 176 members of the 300-seat parliament and will take effect when it is published in the government’s official gazette.
Members of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right New Democracy party opposed the bill, but it received ample support from the left-wing opposition.
The document gives same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children and is the result of decades of campaigning by the LGBT community for marriage equality in the socially conservative country.
Greece became the 16th EU country whose law introduced such an opportunity.
“This is a historic moment. This day brought joy … “Stella Belia, head of the same-sex parent group Rainbow Families, told the agency.
The Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Jerome, commented on what happened as “a new reality, whose desire is only to destroy the foundations of the united unity of the people.”
Let’s remember that in June 2023, the Parliament of Estonia adopted changes to the law allowing marriage between two adults, regardless of their gender.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky responded to a petition about same-sex partnerships.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.