For rights activist in Greece, same-sex marriage recognition follows decades of struggle
NBCFeb 26
The Facts
Greece on Thursday became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage after its parliament voted 176-76 to approve a bill Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis argued would "boldly abolish a serious inequality."
While the legislation gives same-sex couples equal parental rights — previously only the biological parents were recognized as a child's legal guardian — and right to legally adopt children, it bans them from becoming parents through surrogacy or assisted reproduction.
The Spin
Narrative A
Thursday's vote was long overdue. It's a significant step for human rights, equality, and Greek society. By legally safeguarding an invisible, marginalized community's rights, the legislation provides same-sex couples peace of mind on fundamental issues and protects children living in a state of precariousness.
Narrative B
Greece is a country of traditional family values and structures. Giving same-sex couples the right to wed and adopt children puts the rights of homosexual couples above the interests of children, and will corrupt the country's social cohesion. The legislation is anti-Christian, and, as it hurts national interests, it must be rolled back immediately.
Narrative C
The legislation could be a welcome solution to a same-sex family's problems, but it doesn't overturn crucial obstacles for homosexual couples who remain second-class citizens in their own country. While same-sex couples can now wed and adopt in Greece, they're denied the right to have a child through a surrogate. Moreover, the long and expensive adoption process makes it out of reach for many.
