Greece Possibly Considering Gay Couples

Timothy Kincaid

April 1st, 2008

Greece is not a leader in gay rights. The conservative Orthodox Church is very influential in the nation and is strongly opposed to gay equality.

Nonetheless, Greece is getting a lot of attention recently surrounding the issue of recognition of gay couples.

First some lesbians found a loophole in civil marriage law and are going to marry with the intent of seeing what happens.

Then Greece has drafted language on domestic partners – but for opposite sex couples only.

Now, however, at least one governmental bureau is considering gay couples:

The Greek Justice Ministry pledged to establish a working group on the rights of gay couples living together, which would “analyze all aspects of the issue, international practice and the existing domestic legal and social framework.”

The move follows a request by the country’s National Commission for Human Rights that proposed a civil union registry that would allow both same-sex couples to marry. Parliament could approve the law in a few months, national media said

gay super hero

April 8th, 2008

You can also check the Greek Bloggers Against Discrimination initiative.

On Monday the 17th of March a blogger initiative under the collective title “Greek Bloggers Against Discrimination” has started its own campaign against the proposed legislation with the coordinated publication of an online protest entitled “A domestic partnership that discriminates? No Thanks”. Below you can read the full text of this online protest in English. For a full list of the 250 weblogs that have signed on this initiative, you can visit

http://gayrightsgreece.blogspot.com/2008/03/domestic-partnership-that-discriminates.html

We ask from our friends in Europe and around the world to help us achieve the widest possible publicity for these initiatives. You can also write to the greek ministry of justice at grammatia@justice.gov.gr. Your help and support can be vital to our cause!

The text of our online protest:

” In Greece gays, lesbians and transexuals know about discrimination. They face it daily from their families, in their social lives and in the professional field.

But sometimes, all it takes is a single straw to break the camel’s back.

According to press reports, the greek government is preparing to introduce a domestic partnership ‘contract’ EXCLUSIVELY for unmarried heterosexual couples. We do not believe that a mere ‘contract’ can resolve the issues same-sex couples face or ensure their fair treatment under the law. However this discriminatory proposal is a direct contravention of the greek Constitution, as well as european human rights treaties. Especially since same-sex couples already enjoy legal rights in 18 european nations.

The aim of this intervention is to make sure that european institutions, human rights organisations, websites and weblogs from around the world learn about these proposals. What we ask for is equal rights for all. Nothing more and nothing less.

This time around we will not sit idly by. This time around we will not keep silent.

GREEK BLOGGERS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION”

If you check the blog you can also see our banner. It reads “The countdown has begun. A contract of cohabitation or a contract of discrimination?”

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