Lawmakers in the Greece Parliament yesterday voted to approve same-sex civil marriage. They also extended adoption rights to same-sex couples.

The bill was approved by 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament.

The move comes as a landmark victory for queer advocates in the socially conservative, Christian Orthodox majority country. The issue has divided Greek society. Rallies for and against the move took place in Athens in the run-up to the vote.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who leads the center-right governing party, said the new law would “boldly abolish a serious inequality”.

Ahead of the vote, he told Parliament why he supported the bill.

“People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.

“The reform makes the lives of several of our fellow citizens better, without taking away anything from the lives of the many.”

Same-sex marriage is now legal in 36 countries worldwide. Greece becomes the first country in southeastern Europe to legalize same-sex weddings.

Online, some followers of the Christian Orthodox church reacted with disappointment to the news. However, many more people worldwide reacted with joy.

“Brb, holding a lesbian wedding on Lesbos,” was one well-liked comment on X.

Some referenced how Ancient Greece was tolerant of same-sex relationships.

Ancient Greece and Alexander The Great

The news of the Greek parliament’s vote comes just a couple of weeks after Netflix began airing its new historical drama about Alexander the Great, Alexander: The Making of a God. Many conservative viewers were shocked by a scene in which Alexander kissed his general, Hephaestion.

History buffs were quick to point out that many Greek myths featured same-sex lovers. This includes Thamyris and Hyacinth, Adonis and Apollo, Adonis and Dionysus, Artemis and Callisto, and Hermes and Perseus. In addition, some ancient Greek armies encouraged men to take male lovers as authorities believed it would strengthen bonds between soldiers.

Well done, Greece!

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Conservatives are learning a hard lesson about ancient Greece

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