Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Greece has become the first Christian-majority country to legalize same-sex civil marriage in the world.
The same-sex civil marriage bill enjoyed landmark support as it was passed by the Congress on Thursday night with a cross-party majority of 176-76 votes.
Supporters of the bill gathered in Athens, Greece's capital city, to celebrate the same-sex civil marriage bill that was passed at 00:42.
The same-sex civil marriage bill drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' center-right government, also allows same-sex couples to legally adopt children but resists gay men acquiring biological children through surrogate mothers in Greece.
Mr. Mitsotakis described the passing of the bill as a "milestone for human rights" - one which showed Greece as a "progressive and democratic country, passionately committed to European values".
"Invisible People will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children [will] finally find their rightful place," he said.
Supporters of the bills from other parts of the country also trooped out to celebrate the passage of the bill they described as a landmark one.
"This took a long time to be adopted in our country... but at least it happened and that's what is important," said a man who only gave his first name, Nikolas, told Reuters.
"We are no longer invisible," another supporter of the same-sex civil marriage bill claimed.
Although the same-sex civil marriage bill in Greece enjoyed overwhelming support in the congress who voted 176-76 votes, it faced a very strong opposition from some religious sections in the country.
In protest against the bill, some powerful Orthodox Christian churches in Greece mobilized members to protest the passage of the bill
Some religious people gathered near the parliament house holding prayer books and religious icons to protest the bill.
Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Orthodox Church, claimed the bill would "corrupt the homeland's social cohesion" and erode traditional family values.
The Round Table understands that same-sex civil partnerships have been allowed in Greece since 2015, however, the law only conferred legal guardianship to the biological parents of children in those relationships, leaving their partners in a bureaucratic limbo.
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Category: World-News
Tag: Greece Becomes First Orthodox Christianmajority Country To Legalize Samesex Marriage
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Published 2/16/2024 7:34:12 PM