“A historic day”: Greece allows marriage and adoption of children for same-sex couples

La Grèce a voté ce jeudi 15 février 2024 en faveur du mariage et de l'adoption d'enfants par des couples de même sexe (photo d'illustration). Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium – MAXPPP

Greece voted this Thursday, February 15, 2024 in favor of marriage and the adoption of children by same-sex couples, a major societal reform. The law was adopted despite fierce opposition from the influential Orthodox Church.

In Greece, of the 254 deputies present in the unicameral parliament, 176 voted for marriage and the adoption of children by same-sex couples, 76 against and two abstained, after two days of debate, Thursday February 15, 2024.

The vote has passed: as of tonight, Greece is proud to become the 16th EU country to legislate marriage equality. This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece – a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values.

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) February 15, 2024

Once the law is enacted, Greece will become the 37th country in the world, the 17th country in the European Union and the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize adoption for same-sex parents.

"A turning point"

Right-wing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed "a turning point for human rights" in a "progressive and democratic country, passionately attached to European values", cites in particular France 24.

When the result was announced, dozens of people, waving rainbow flags, burst into joy in front of Parliament in the center of the capital. Athens.

"A barrier (…) removed"

For LGBT+ associations, Greece experienced with this vote "a historic day", in the words of & #39;Adriana Zahari, a 22-year-old student present before Parliament quoted by our colleagues from France 24.

"From tomorrow one more barrier between us (citizens, Editor's note) will be removed and will become a bridge of coexistence in a free state between free citizens", commented right-wing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, notably echoed by BFM.