Greece made a huge step towards civil rights, despite the fact that some Greek Bishop had the church bells ring in “mourning” for two days. Greece made a significant step to harmonize the country’s legislation with the legislation of other European countries and officially accept the realities of 21st century: that there are same-sex couples.
194 lawmakers voted in favor of the “civil partnership” legislation that grants same-sex couples legal “full marriage” rights.
The legislation makes the termination of civil partnership more difficult (at least three months are needed) and provides rights to ‘civil partners’ in terms of inheritance, social security rights (pensions), labor and taxation.
Bill: 194 Yes – 55 No – Absent 51
The bill was passed with the votes of SYRIZA, just 3 votes from its coalition partners ANEL and the support of PASOK, Potami, the Centrists’ Union. Only 19 of out of 75 MPs of conservative New Democracy voted in favor.
As expected, racist Golden Dawn voted against the bill.
Majority of ANEL and ND MPs wanted bill modifications and assurances that the law will prohibit same-sex couple from adopting children.
The absence of the reference to “children adoption by same-sex couples” was the reason for Communist KKE to down vote the bill.
For sure, the Greek society needs still a long way to go before it accepts “children adoption by same-sex couples.” Yet, in real Greek life, a single person can to adopt a child. It’s only that with the new legislation, gay partners with “civil partnership” will not be able to adopt a child as ‘parents’.
Prior to the voting, the debate it the Greek Parliament was characterized by homophobic deliriums by some MPs and even some vulgar expressions and references.
The Church
Especially sharp against the Greek Orthodox Church was Centrists’ Union leader Vassilis Leventis who accused some bishops of “living in the Middles Ages.”
On of the most fierce opponents of the bill, Metropolit Ambrosios had the church bells in his parish Aegio ring “mournfully” and he declared two-day ‘mourning.
But the official Greek Orthodox Church and Archbishop Ieronymous refrained from taking position on the issue.
More details on the bill here in Greek.
