Greece’s Parliament Set to Vote on Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Marriage
ATHENS, Greece
Landmark Bill Receives Support Despite Opposition from Greek Church
Greece’s parliament is preparing for a historic vote on Thursday to legalize same-sex civil marriage, a groundbreaking development for an Orthodox Christian country’s legislation. The proposed reform, which is backed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government as well as left-wing parties, is expected to receive significant support. Despite opposition from the Greek Church, most opinion polls indicate a favorable view among the Greek population, with minimal divisions emerging on the issue.
Amid the ongoing discussions, State Minister Akis Skertsos emphasized during the recent debate that Greek society had already embraced the idea of same-sex marriages, stating, “We are not deciding on change in this chamber. It has already happened … Society changes and develops without requiring parliament’s permission.”
Ending a Long-standing Injustice for Same-Sex Couples
Many politicians argue that legalization of same-sex civil marriage is crucial for addressing a long-standing injustice experienced by same-sex couples and their children. The proposed bill grants full parental rights to married same-sex partners with children. However, it currently excludes parenthood through surrogate mothers in Greece, a privilege available to women due to health-related reasons. It is worth noting that same-sex civil partnerships have been permissible in Greece since 2015, but only provided legal guardianship to the biological parents, which left the partners in a bureaucratic limbo.
Opposition from Greek Church and Conservative Organizations
Unsurprisingly, the primary opposition to the bill stems from the traditionalist Church of Greece, which also disapproves of heterosexual civil marriage. Church officials have focused their criticism on the potential implications to traditional family values arising from the bill, expressing concerns that such legislation may pave the way for future extensions of surrogacy rights to homosexual couples.
Despite these oppositions, the same-sex marriage law is not expected to have a significant political impact on Mitsotakis’ government, which secured an easy reelection last year while capturing much of the centrist vote. Political attention is currently focused on other challenges, such as ongoing protests by farmers regarding high production costs, as well as opposition from students against the planned removal of a state monopoly on university education.
Wide Support and Emotional Reflections on Past Struggles
A majority of opinion polls suggest that Greek citizens support legalizing same-sex marriages. However, survey results highlight the public’s resistance to extending parenthood via surrogacy to male same-sex couples. The bill’s advocates argue that the reform represents an important symbolic shift, acknowledging the suffering and bureaucratic struggles endured by same-sex couples while living in the shadows for many years.
Greece’s ongoing debate on same-sex civil marriage has caught the attention of various factions, resulting in both small protests by church supporters and conservative organizations against the proposed law. Additionally, certain far-right groups have called for a demonstration outside the parliament. Nevertheless, parliament is expected to pass the university bill later this month, as public opinion leans toward its approval.
