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Greece becomes first Christian Orthodox country to legalise same-sex marriage

  • Greek prime minister calls change in law for same-sex couples ‘a milestone for human rights’
  • Powerful Orthodox Church believes homosexuality is a sin, opposes same-sex marriage

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Members of the LGBT community and supporters celebrate in Athens, Greece. Photo: Reuters

Greece on Thursday became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex civil marriage, despite opposition from the influential, socially conservative Greek Church.

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A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted late Thursday in favour of the landmark bill drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right government. Another 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote and 46 were not present in the house.

Mitsotakis tweeted after the vote that Greece “is proud to become the 16th (European Union) 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,” he wrote.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attends the parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage in Athens. Photo: AFP
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attends the parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage in Athens. Photo: AFP

Scores of supporters of the reform who had gathered outside parliament and were watching the debate on a screen cheered loudly and hugged as the vote result was announced.

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