Greece legalises same-sex marriage

Greece has made history as the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage. Following a 176-76 vote in parliament, same-sex couples can now adopt children. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the new law seeks to eliminate significant inequalities. Despite this, the move has sparked controversy, particularly among the influential Orthodox Church, whose supporters held a protest rally in Athens led by Archbishop Ieronymos, citing concerns about the impact on social cohesion.

Mr Mitsotakis had championed the bill, but it needed opposition party support to pass, despite the opposition of dozens of MPs from his centre-right governing party.

"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, as quoted in BBC.

"The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without taking away anything from the lives of the many."LGBTQ organisations in Greece have welcomed the vote. "This is a historic moment," Stella Belia, the head of Rainbow Families, a group for same-sex parents, told Reuters. "This is a day of joy."

Same-sex marriage is already legal in 15 of the European Union's 27 member states. It is permitted in 35 countries around the world. Greece has historically lagged behind some of its European neighbours, owing primarily to Church opposition. It is the first country in South-Eastern Europe to implement marriage equality.

Montenegro and Cyprus, both small majority-Orthodox countries, have allowed same-sex unions in recent years, as did Greece in 2015 before approving full marital status this week.Civil unions may become more common as Orthodox countries align with the European Union. They are still off the table in Russia, which has cracked down on LGBTQ expression, as well as other countries in its orbit.

(Inputs from agencies, Photo Credit: Reuters)