Greek Parliament legalizes same-sex civil partnerships
DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's parliament has overwhelmingly approved legislation legalizing civil partnerships for gay couples, two years after the country was condemned by a European human rights court for discrimination.

In a result announced early Wednesday, lawmakers voted 193-56 in favor of the bill to extend civil partnerships to same-sex couples, but provisions regarding family law that could pave the way for adoption applications by gay couples were dropped before the vote.

Conservative bishops in Greece's powerful Orthodox Church vehemently opposed the law, arguing that it undermined the institution of family.

"Homosexuality is a deviation from the laws of nature. It is a social crime, a sin. Those who experience or support it are not normal people," said Bishop Amvrosios of the southern town of Kalavryta, where church bells tolled Tuesday in opposition to the bill.

In a 2013 ruling, the Council of Europe's Court of Human Rights found that Greek legislation was discriminatory and ordered Greece to pay damages to the gay couples who brought the lawsuit.

Civil partnerships, introduced in 2008, are favored by couples seeking legal rights without getting married or who are deterred by lengthy divorce procedures. But same-sex couples were barred from civil partnerships.

Lawmakers from the governing leftist Syriza party backed the bill, standing to clap when it passed, while the main opposition conservatives were split on the vote.

The human rights group Amnesty International called the new law a "significant and historic step in the right direction."

Several hundred pro-gay rights protesters gathered outside parliament before the vote, under a large banner that read "Love is the law."

"This is a good start, even though this law doesn't cover everything," Philippos Paganis, a 21-year-old member of the gay rights group Colour Youth, told the AP.

"We want to keep up the pressure ... for same-sex marriages to be allowed — that gives you more rights — and to make it easier for people to declare their gender," he said.

The new legislation allowing civil partnerships for same-sex couples is expected to take effect early next year once it is published in the government gazette.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-23

About time they did that.

I thought they invented it.

I'm surprised that it had to be passed in law....my ignorance....When the term, "doing it Greek" has been around for so long, I just assumed same sex partnerships were the norm in Greece.

Never mind my ignorance, at least they have come this far in equality. About time too.

Give it time....it will become compulsory!!

Give it time....it will become compulsory!!

That would indeed be a nightmare. So many of you guys don't even trim your nose hair!

Give it time....it will become compulsory!!

That would indeed be a nightmare. So many of you guys don't even trim your nose hair!

Eeww. What has nose hair got to do with anything? The mind boggles.

I guess I'm showing my ignorance again on this topic.

But as you know, I am a great supporter of "each to his own".....so trim away.

Spartans of Greece always had there boys. Good move Greece .... common sense prevails ... unlike some other backward hic countries that never seem to grow up.

Good for Greece!

An inflammatory post and reply removed.