Greece has become the 36th country, and the first Christian Orthodox-majority one, to legalize same-sex marriage.
The BBC reported that same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after the 176-76 vote that took place in parliament on Feb. 15. However, same-sex couples cannot have a baby through a surrogate, as even Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, "The idea of women who are turned into child-producing machines on demand … that is not going to happen," per CNN.
But Mitsotakis said the new law would "boldly abolish a serious inequality." He pushed for the bill but required the support of opposition parties to get it passed, with dozens of MPs from his own center-right governing party opposing the measure.
Fifteen of the European Union's 27 members have already legalized same-sex marriage, which is permitted in 35 countries worldwide.
CNN noted that Athens Pride founding member Andrea Gilbert said, "We started as an invisible, marginalized community. We continued to vote. Paid our taxes. Campaigned. The legislation provides a legal basis to further build on. It is particularly significant for young couples."
Andrew Davis