Same-sex marriage legalised in Greece

Greece is the first country with mostly Christian Orthodox people to make same-sex marriage legal.

This means that from now on, couples of the same sex can adopt children because of the vote that happened in parliament.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the new law would “courageously get rid of a big unfairness”.

However, the country is split, and the strong Orthodox Church is leading strong opposition. People who like it, got together to protest in Athens.

A lot of people showed banners, held crosses, prayed, and sang from the Bible in the main square of the city.

The leader of the Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, said that the action would harm the unity of the country.

The bill needed at least half of the members in the parliament to vote for it in order to pass.

Mr Mitsotakis wanted to pass the bill, but he needed the help of other political parties to do it because many members of his own party were against it.

The prime minister said in parliament that people who have been ignored will be noticed, and many children will finally get the support they deserve.

“The reform helps some people without hurting others. ”

LGBTQ groups in Greece are happy about the vote.

“This is a very important moment in history,” said Stella Belia, who leads a group for same-sex parents called Rainbow Families, in an interview with Reuters news agency. “Today is a happy day. ”

Fifteen out of the 27 countries in the European Union have made same-sex marriage legal. It is allowed in 35 countries around the world.

Greece has been behind some other European countries because the Church has been against some changes.

This country is the first in south-eastern Europe where same-sex couples can get married.