This week saw Greece legalise same-sex marriage. It is the first Christian Orthodox majority country to do so – so where does that leave the rest of the world? Are we starting to get somewhere in globalising same-sex marriage, and combating the restricting forces of religion?
What Happened in Greece This Week?
The Christian Orthodox country voted to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption in Parliament this week, in a bold and successful effort to erase a serious inequality.
The 176-76 vote may look like the majority of people are keen for this to go ahead. However, Greece has been divided. Although the legalisation of same-sex marriage has passed through the Greek Parliament, there is powerful resistance being led by the Orthodox Church.
The homophobia ingrained in religion is not going anywhere soon.
Around the World
Image Credit: Pew Research Centre
An East/West divide is made extremely clear by this figure from the Pew Research Centre. South Africa legalised same-sex marriage back in 2005, and remains the only country in Africa to do so. In recent years, several countries on the continent have passed laws that ban homosexuality.
There is a very long way to go before we see same-sex marriage becoming global – if ever.
In Asia, Taiwan remains the first and only country to allow same-sex marriage. In 2019, a court ruling prompted the change in the law that permits LGBTQ+ people to wed.
South America is making confident progress as a continent, with Chile, Cuba, and Mexico legalising same-sex marriage in 2022. Argentina was the first country in Latin America to pass the law in 2010. The majority of countries in this region have decriminalised same-sex relations, although not all have made it to legalising marriage. Many Latin Americans, despite the laws, continue to struggle to grasp and understand same-sex relations, and equality between homosexuals and heterosexuals continues to be a work in progress.
Acceptance remains low. World Values Survey Data reveals that LGBTQ+ Latin Americans continue to endure extensive violence at schools, mockery, hostility at work, police abuse, harassment, and violence in public. Unfortunately, this homophobia continues to stretch across the globe.
Activism for equal rights, respect, and treatment is still a vital part of the fight for equality.
Same-Sex Marriage in Europe
The Netherlands was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001, followed closely by Belgium, Spain, and Canada. Nearly 15 years later, the United Kingdom and the United States followed suit as a result of tireless activism. It was a fight for equality – civil partnerships are not the same as marriage. It was only in 2020 that Northern Ireland legalised same-sex marriage, making the United Kingdom fully supportive of same-sex marriage
In Europe alone, there are 22 countries which do not recognise any form of same-sex unions. A handful permits civil partnerships, but not marriage.19 European countries allow same-sex marriage. In the European Union, only 15 of 27 members have legalised same-sex marriage (55.6 per cent).
Alongside legalising same-sex marriage, Greece has also permitted same-sex couples to legally adopt children. This is another significant move by Greece – hopefully setting an example for countries which have not made this move. Italy is an obvious example; the idealistic holiday destination, commonly thought of as a very developed and friendly country, is yet to legalise same-sex marriage or adoption of children for LGBTQ+ couples. The Catholic Church holds too much power over Italy to allow anything further than civil partnerships. With the return of far-right leadership in 2022 in the form of Giorgia Meloni, there is little hope for Italy’s near future. Hopefully, Greece’s recent developments will help to shift this perspective.
The Prime Minister of Greece stated to parliament in a debate before the vote that:
“People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”
He also stated that;
“The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without taking away anything from the lives of the many.”
Note: This information is from 2020 – e.g., Greece has legalised adoption by LGBTQ+ couples in 2024.
Acceptance across Europe is increasing, and the quality of life for the majority of LGBTQ+ people in society is generally much better than in the past and in less developed countries. Oslo, Rekjavik, and Luxembourg have been reported to be particularly welcoming and safe cities for LGBTQ+ people. Bullying, harassment, and violence remain an issue, particularly in schools, and therefore homophobia still needs to be combated in the modern world.
The More Extreme End of Things
There are still 12 countries where the death penalty can be implemented for the “crime” of being LGBTQ+.
Six of these countries (Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen) implement the death penalty for private, consensual same-sex activity. The other six (Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE and Uganda), have the death penalty as a legal possibility.
This is terrifying, inhumane, and heartbreaking.
The world has a long way to go before the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe, welcomed, and valued as people. Greece is only the tip of the iceberg in combating LGBTQ+ prejudice and discrimination worldwide. There are still mountains to climb, governments and churches to convince, and people to love.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
Journalism student at the University of Stirling & BRAW Magazine editor 24/25 and 25/26 🙂
You can see my portfolio here: https://www.clippings.me/alicepollard
