Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption... First Orthodox Country to Do So

Parliament Votes 176 For, 76 Against, 2 Abstentions
Includes Adoption by Children
"A Milestone for Human Rights" vs "Undermines Social Cohesion"

Greece, where 80-90% of the population are followers of the Greek Orthodox Church and which has been considered one of the more conservative countries in Europe, has legalized same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. It is the first Orthodox country to do so.

LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters cheering the legalization of same-sex marriage in Greece
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On the 16th, Yonhap News reported that the AP news agency and others stated on the 15th (local time) that the Greek parliament passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, which was proposed by the government that day. Out of the total 300 seats, 176 voted in favor, 76 against, and 2 abstained. Forty-six members did not participate in the vote. Although dozens of lawmakers from the ruling center-right New Democracy Party (ND), which holds 158 seats, expressed opposition, the bill was passed with the support of four opposition parties including the radical left-wing Syriza.

With the parliament's decision that day, Greece became the first Orthodox country to allow same-sex marriage. It is the 37th country worldwide and the 16th within the European Union (EU) to do so. The bill legalizes same-sex marriage, and married same-sex couples can now be fully recognized with parental rights including adoption. However, same-sex couples are not allowed to become parents through surrogacy. Since 2015, Greece had legalized 'civil unions' for same-sex couples, granting legal rights and benefits similar to those of opposite-sex couples as a step before full legalization, but at that time there was no provision for child adoption.

Center-right Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the parliament's decision, calling it "a milestone for human rights that shows Greece today as a progressive democratic country upholding European values." Mitsotakis, who was re-elected last year, promised to push the bill forward despite opposition within his party, stating, "We must not confuse conservatism with outdated views that do not fit modern society," and referenced that similar laws have been implemented in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Dozens of LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters waved rainbow flags in front of the Athens Parliament building to celebrate the decision. The NGO supporting LGBTQ+ families, Rainbow Families Greece, announced plans for a large-scale celebration event in Athens on the 16th local time to commemorate the passage of the same-sex marriage legalization bill.

However, the Greek Orthodox Church strongly opposed the move. Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and head of the Greek Orthodox Church, said that legalizing same-sex marriage undermines the values of the traditional family and is "an attempt that only harms Greece's social cohesion."

Public opinion remains divided. Since Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced plans to legalize same-sex marriage in January, debates between supporters and opponents have continued in Greece, and early this year, polls showed that more respondents opposed than supported allowing same-sex marriage.