OAN’s James Myers
11:27am – Monday, February 12, 2024
More than 4,000 demonstrators gathered in Athens, Greece, on Sunday to oppose a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.
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A vote is expected to take place in Parliament within the next few days.
Greece’s conservative government is sponsoring the bill, but approval would require votes from centrist and left-wing opposition parties.
Religious groups leading the protests said the bill was a threat to the traditional family. Demonstrators were also chanting, “Keep your hands off the children!”
“Unfortunately, the woke agenda extends to Greece. It also includes gay marriage,” said Dimitris Natsios, head of the religious Niki party.
“Greece is a Christian Orthodox country and the traditions of our country do not allow this. … We know and respect the Orthodox Christian wedding ceremony, which is a type of marriage. The Constitution does not provide for this, so this bill is unconstitutional and goes against the faith of Christ,” Natchios continued.
The Niki Party, which was formed in 2019, entered parliament in 2023.
Meanwhile, Greek same-sex couples looking to start families are now marrying in countries where same-sex marriage is legal.
However, Greece legalized “cohabitation contracts” for same-sex couples in December 2015. A ‘cohabitation contract’ means that if you live with your partner in a stable and continuous manner, you have some rights across the EU, even if you live with your partner. According to the European Union, your partnership is not registered with any authority.
If approved, Greece would become the first Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage.
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