Greece, on Friday, became the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage. After Thursday’s vote of 176-76 in the parliament, same-sex couples will now be able to legally adopt children.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the decision and said the new law would “boldly abolish a serious inequality”.
However, the legalisation has split the country, with the Orthodox church showing resistance – a protest rally was held in Athens.
In the capital’s Syntagma Square, many held banners, and crosses, read prayers and sang passages from the Bible.
Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Orthodox Church, said the measure would “corrupt the homeland’s social cohesion”.
The bill needed a simple majority to pass through the 300-member parliament.
PM Mitsotakis advocated for the bill, yet he needed the backing of opposition parties to pass it, as numerous MPs from his center-right governing party were against it.
“People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place,” the prime minister told parliament during a debate ahead of the vote.
“The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without taking away anything from the lives of the many.”
The vote has been welcomed by LGBTQ organisations in Greece.
“This is a historic moment. This is a day of joy,” Stella Belia, the head of same-sex parents’ group Rainbow Families, told Reuters news agency.
Fifteen of the European Union’s 27 members have already legalised same-sex marriage. It is permitted in 35 countries worldwide.
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