The Greek parliament has now passed a groundbreaking law, being the first orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The landmark decision is definitely a significant victory for human rights in the country, shifting it towards a more inclusive and progressive society.
176 out of 300 lawmakers voted in favor for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country on Thursday, following months of intense public political discourses that reflect majority of the citizens’ commitment to human rights. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself affirmed the outcome, labeling it as a “milestone for human rights” as Greece is dedicated to being a democratic nation that protects its stakeholders.
Same-sex couples in countries that do not recognize their marriage not only suffer from the lack of ability to get wed in and of itself, but also from the inability to legally adopt children. The legislation addresses this very issue, as same-sex couples now receive full parental recognition for their adoption. This is a huge shift from the previous legal framework that only gave this right to heterosexual couples.
However, surrogacy, similar to many nations in the world, still remains in question as the ethicality of it is still debatable. Prime Minister Mitsotakis mentioned how surrogacy is harmful to women as it turns them into “child-producing machines on demand.” Debates regarding the commodification of childbirth are at an all-time-high, however, the legislation still recognizes the status of an existing offspring, whether they are born or adopted via surrogacy abroad.
This is a huge win for the LGBTQ+ community, but considering how Greece is an orthodox country, many including the influential Greek Orthodox Church voiced out their opposition against the decision.
On the other side of the clash, X users celebrate this and are responding to homophobic sentiments, joking about how the ancient Greeks were very much gender fluid, and practiced homosexuality.
