Greece, first country of Orthodox religion to allow homosexual marriage: where it is still illegal

Greece is the last country to have approvedon February 15, 2024, gay marriage. The Parlament has voted in favor of this and the option of adoption of minors by same-sex couples. The measure was promoted by the conservative Government, despite being faced with a fierce opposition from the influential Orthodox Church. This was one of his key promises in Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's campaign for the June 2023 elections, in which he achieved a resounding victory.

The Chamber gave the green light to this right with 176 votes in favor, 76 against and two abstentions, thus approving with ease reform. Several opposition parties supported the measure, although a part of the 158 deputies from the government partythe conservative New Democracy (ND) -they had freedom of vote-, the rejectionHE abstained or directly they left the Parliament. Part of his votershas also shown anger for the decision.

This way, Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian territory to allow the marriage of same-sex couples. In general terms, it is the country number 20 in Europe that approves this right. Besides, The previous step was already taken in 2015when recognized civil union for same-sex couples, although without the same rights as those of heterosexual marriage.

Today, gay marriage is legal in 36 countries in the world, 20 of which are European.

Nevertheless, although the measure has been approvedthe truth is The process will be long and expensive.since the law requires that the non-biological parent adopts the minor so that their legal guardianship rights are recognized, in the cases of lesbian couples who already have children. On the contrary, what has not been authorized is the surrogacy for homosexual couples and they let each other in the air the assisted reproduction treatments.

Where is gay marriage legal?

Today, gay marriage is legal in 36 countries of the world (35 states belonging to the United Nations and the autonomous island of Taiwan), of which 20 are European. Specifically, two people of the same sex can marry in Germany, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland.

Another 11 belong to the American continent. Specifically, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, United States, Mexico and Uruguay. And South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and the island of Taiwan complete the list.

Which country was the first to authorize it?

The first to give the green light to gay marriage was the Netherlands and he did it in the year 2001. This was followed Belgium (2003), Canada and Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway and Sweden (2009), Portugal, Iceland and Argentina (2010) and Denmark (2012). A year later, in 2013, it was recognized by judicial means in Brazil and approved by laws in Uruguay, New Zealand and France.

Subsequently, the United Kingdom did so in 2014 – although with the exception then of Northern Irelandwhere they admitted it in early 2020 – and Luxembourg, Ireland, the United States and Puerto Rico, in 2015.

Finally, Colombia (2016), Finland, Malta and Germany (2017), Australia (2018), Austria, Taiwan and Ecuador (2019), Costa Rica (2020), Chile, Switzerland, Cuba and Mexico (2022) and Slovenia did so. , Andorra, Nepal. Before Greece, The last country to approve this right was Estoniawhere It came into effect on January 1, 2024.

There are also States where civil unions are allowed of people of the same sex, with rights equal or similar to those of marriage, but without that name: Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Republic. In the specific case of the European Union, it is not yet completely legal, in addition to those mentioned, in Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Poland.

Where it is not allowed

In this way, in the Last decade, 17 countries have stopped persecuting homosexualitybut this is still object of persecution in 67 territorieswith sentences that range from months in prison to the death penalty. Furthermore, there are still countries that toughen their policies against this group.

According to organizations that defend the rights of this group, 62 UN member states They currently have laws that they condemn homosexualityto which we must add a permanent observer – he has the right to speak but without vote in the meetings -, Loop, and the Cook Islands, which is not a member, but participates in some of its specialized agencies. Besides, Egypt and Iraq punish her.

In the case of Africa, there are 32 countries that currently criminalize homosexual relations.

Finally, in the case of Africathere is 32 countries that currently criminalize homosexual relations. And in Latin Americathe Caribbean is the only region where there are still countries that punish these relationships.

With respect to marriage, not allowed in places like Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; Caribbean territories such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic; as well as Bolivia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, among others.