By Keith Lokmagozyan

In February, Greece celebrated a historic milestone in legalizing same-sex marriage. Although this legislation shows progress for LGBTQ+ Greek citizens and is an inspiration for neighboring countries, its timing raises questions about Greece’s historical identity as the birthplace for progressive/western ideas, such as the advancement of human rights and equality, as well as art, music, philosophy, and spirituality.

As the son of an immigrant Greek mother, I found myself puzzled over how a country with such a rich heritage could lag behind on such a fundamental human rights issue. How was the tardiness of its legalization so normalized?

Despite being the place that created democracy, and influenced the practice of “Agape” (love) and philanthropy, the legalization of same-sex marriage came as a surprise to many, including myself. The ancient Greek philosophies of love and equality can be traced back to the famous Greeks such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Plato wrote a dialogue called “Symposium,” where he argued people were searching for their other half, regardless of gender. Socrates is known to have had close relationships with both men and women, documented by his student, Plato. Even if they did not advocate for same-sex marriage by today’s standards, their discussions showed an acceptance of same-sex relationships. So why is Greece so late?

In comparison to other nations, Greece’s journey toward legalizing same-sex marriage shows the challenge faced in modernizing traditions. While countries like the Netherlands, Canada, and South Africa were some of the first to legalize same-sex marriage in the early 2000s, Greece’s path has been challenged by religious influence and social norms. Contrasted with Western Europe’s more secular nations, Greece’s ties to the Greek Orthodox Church present different challenges.

This legalization does mark a significant milestone in providing its citizens with the fundamental right to choose whom they love. However, it is also important to note that while many major news reports are headlining with “Greece legalizes same-sex marriage” or even “Greece becomes first Orthodox nation to legalize same-sex marriage” the deeply ingrained Greek Orthodox Church has yet to recognize same-sex marriages.

Although the Greek government has legalized same-sex marriage, and even with having direct relations to the Orthodox religion, the Greek Orthodox church has yet to allow a same-sex marriage ceremony, meaning that two homosexuals cannot ask to be married and have their union recognized in any Orthodox church in Greece due to the separation of church and state.
Therefore the headlines proclaiming Greece as the first Orthodox nation to legalize same-sex marriage obscure the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. These human rights are still incomplete in Greece. What is the point of it if one can’t have their marriage acknowledged by the church they attend, respect, and donate to while living in an Orthodox country?

The legalization of same-sex marriage should not be simply a publicity stunt to get more tourists. Greece’s recent legalization stands as a reminder of the work left to be done for equality.
As some nations regress on issues such as reproductive rights, who is to say that the children of Greek descent will not have their rights reversed when they grow up hoping to love freely and respectfully as women all across America are seeing their control over their bodies taken away. The message being sent to the LGBTQ+ community (Greek or otherwise) is that they can ask for the same as their heterosexual brothers and sisters, but will have to fight harder, shout louder, and stand prouder, for probably, half.

The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is a journey that requires dedication and resilience as well as solidarity between community members and allies. It is only by standing together and continuing to demand respect and equality that we can create a world where there are no boundaries on who we can love.