Greece became first majority Orthodox Christian country to legalise gay marriage

Greece has become the first majority Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex marriage after its conservative prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, led the charge on changing the law. Mitsotakis celebrated the win yesterday as a “milestone” for Greece, reflecting its status as a “progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values”. A majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted late on Thursday in favour of the bill, which allows same-sex couples to adopt children and gives full parental rights after marriage. The focus on parental rights and the chance to “institutionally seal” the relationships of gay couples is likely what enabled Mitsotakis to push back against opposition from within his own party and outrage from the Greek Orthodox church. He also needed the support of the opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis, Greece’s first gay party leader. Right-wing politicians and Orthodox bishops have already begun campaigns against the law, but Mitsotakis has promised that as of today, the “barriers” would be removed.