Greece takes a historic step with the legalization of gay marriage

After lengthy debate, the Greek Parliament has approved a bill that legalizes marriage between same-sex couples, a historic move that makes Greece the first Orthodox Christian country in the world to legalize these unions. The result was: 176 votes in favor, 76 votes against and 46 abstentions.

The law not only contemplates marriage, but also guarantees a series of rights in family matters for the LGTBI community that were not contemplated until now, such as legal guardianship of non-biological parents of the same sex. Possibility of recognition or adoption as. Until now, gay couples only had the right to enter into civil unions, enshrined in a law introduced by then-Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in 2015.

In his first intervention in parliament, the conservative Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has assured that this new law will “eliminate inequality”, “be visible to many people around us” and “protect the rights of children”. Mistotakis – who has faced a massive uproar within the ranks of his party, New Democracy, for promoting the measure – believes the project has been “tarnished these days by myths and exaggerations”. Also mentioned is the need for an “inclusive society” and “modernization” of the country’s institutions.

For his part, Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of the main opposition party, leftist Syriza, has been pointing out for days that it is an “incomplete” bill, which, however, represents a “big step” for society. Helen. Kasselakis warned just weeks ago that he was going to impose party discipline, which did not sit well with some progressive ranks. This Wednesday, he reiterated it again: “There will be consequences for those who vote against it or don’t vote.”

a divided parliament

There are few surprises in New Democracy, the party that has ruled the country since 2019 and which just a few months ago re-validated the mandate with an absolute majority. Antonis Samaras, a former prime minister and one of the most prominent faces of the conservative party, has voted against it, as he had been announcing for several days. Samaras was opposed to the bill immediately after its publication and during a harsh parliamentary intervention he assured that “it is dangerous”, as it could “eliminate the nuclear family of father and mother.” Other important figures in the party, such as the Minister of State, Makis Voridis, had announced their boycott.

Recent breakaway parties from Syriza, Heading to Freedom and New Left, also voted in favor of the law. Far-right parties voted against: Niki, with ultra-religious and ultra-conservative ideologies; The Spartans, with a neo-Nazi ideology and a Greek solution, with an ultra-nationalist and religious nature.

Indeed, since Mitsotakis announced his desire to revise the rules nearly four weeks ago, there have been some demonstrations against the law, organized by conservative religious groups belonging to the radical right. According to police sources, about 4,000 people gathered last Sunday in Athens’ Syntagma Square, in front of the Greek Parliament, to protest against the new law, while the powerful and influential Greek Orthodox Church read statements against the project at Sunday masses. . ,

The Communist Party (KKE) has also voted against. In a statement before the vote, the Communists had already assured that the “first fundamental reason” for refusing to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples, which establishes shared parental care, reproduction and There is commercialization of motherhood. He said, “The second reason, equally basic and interrelated, is that in practice, the articles of the bill sideline the child’s social right to the maternal-paternal relationship as a developed bio-social relationship.”

Decades of Confirmation

For decades, civil marriage between gay couples has been one of the main demands of the LGTBI community in the Hellenic country. Gay marriage, recognized in the EU’s 15 member states, remains a rift in Greek society, where the conservative Orthodox Church remains dominant.

“Greek society faces two different issues. On one side is the theme of marriage and on the other side is the theme of children. I think the problem is not the first, but the second,” lawyer Vassilis Sotiropoulos explained a few days ago. “There are two trends at the moment: people who have no problem accepting the entire package of legislation that would allow the recognition of family relationships including marriage and children, as well as adoption by same-sex couples; And those who welcome LGTBIQ+ couples marrying but who do not agree with aspects related to motherhood and fatherhood. For the moment, a part of Greek society is still not ready to debate.

Although it guarantees parental rights, the new law does not take into account that same-sex couples can opt for assisted reproductive treatment and surrogacy, as is the case with heterosexual couples who are biologically identical. Cannot conceive. The latter has been one of the most controversial issues in the debate surrounding the bill.