KarunaNews Story

Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The law passed with a 176-76 vote in the 300-member parliament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis needed opposition party support, as dozens of MPs from his centre-right governing party were opposed. The head of the Orthodox Church said it would "corrupt the homeland's social cohesion". LGBTQ organizations in Greece welcomed the bill. "This is a day of joy," said Stella Belia of Rainbow Families. Same sex marriage is legal in 15 of the European Union's 27 member countries and permitted in 35 countries worldwide.