Recognition of same-sex unions in Greece
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Same-sex marriage is not currently recognized by law in Greece.
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[edit] Registered partnerships
The former government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis (which governed until October 2009) was opposed to same-sex marriage. The New Democracy-led government had proposed legislation that offers several rights to unmarried couples, but only applies to opposite-sex couples. If introduced, the law was expected to be declared unconsitutional or against EU principles if brought to Greek or European Courts. [1]
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), under George Andreas Papandreou presented in April 2006, a legislative proposal for the recognition of unmarried couples, homosexual and heterosexual, following the French example of the Pacte civil de solidarité. However, according to some LGBT groups, the proposal's controversial terminology made little headway on LGBT rights and PASOK's proposed 'partnership' banned same-sex couples from adopting. In November 2008, PASOK once again submitted a draft law on civil partnership, even though it made no progress in the legislature.[2]
The radical left party Synaspismos has committed itself to support same-sex marriage according to media reports in Athens.[citation needed] Alekos Alavanos, the leader of Synaspismos said that the coalition backs the fight against all kinds of discrimination and supports the free expression of sexual orientation including the legalization of same-sex marriages.
Gay rights group OLKE announced its intention to sue Greek municipalities that refuse to marry gay couples, pointing out a loophole in the 1982 law that legalized civil marriage between "persons", without reference to gender.[3]
Responding to government proposals in 2008 to introduce legal rights for cohabiting couples, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, suggested that "There is a need to change with the time". It is unclear, however, whether this view applied to same-sex couples, particularly as the Church has previously opposed gay rights in general and civil union laws in particular.[4]
Before the legislative elections of 2009, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) announced its support for same-sex registered partnerships in a reply to a questionnaire sent by gay rights group OLKE. PASOK ended up winning the election. Thus, Greece may introduce registered partnerships in the near future.[5]
[edit] First same-sex marriages
On 3 June 2008, the mayor of Tilos, Anastasios Aliferis, married two homosexual couples, two lesbians and two gay men, citing the legal loophole. He was heavily criticized by clergymen of the Church of Greece, which in the past had also opposed the introduction of heterosexual civil marriage, the original intent of the 1982 law. Justice Minister Sotirios Hatzigakis declared the Tilos marriages "invalid" and Supreme Court prosecutor Georgios Sanidas warned Mayor Aliferis of the legal repercussions of his "breach of duty", but he said he had "no intention of annulling the marriages".[6][7][8] The government has filed a court motion to annul the two same-sex marriages, stirring demonstrations and protests among the GBLT community. [1]
On 5 May 2009, a court ruled the marriages were invalid, but the couples intend to appeal the ruling, up to the ECHR if necessary.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Greek gays demonstrate for marriage, 365gay.com, 28 September 2008
- ^ [1]
- ^ Greek gays find loophole in marriage law, Pink News, 13 March 2008
- ^ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/04/02/greeks-consider-recognising-same-sex-couples/
- ^ New gay friendly government after elections?, ILGA-Europe
- ^ dieStandard.at
- ^ AFP: First Greek gay marriages spark judicial battle
- ^ BBC NEWS | Europe | Greece sees first gay 'marriage'
- ^ "Same-sex marriages annulled as illegal in Greece". Guardian. 2009-09-15. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/05/greece-same-sex-marriage. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
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