In a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights in Greece, a Greek novelist and his partner became the first same-sex couple to marry at Athens city hall on Thursday.
The couple, Petros Hadjopoulos (known by his pen name Auguste Corteau) and lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis, exchanged vows just three weeks after Greece legalized same-sex marriage.
“This is a dream we didn’t dare entertain when we were in our teens,” Hadjopoulos told The Associated Press. “There is a symbolism to this. Even though marriage doesn’t work for everyone, for those of us who grew up in a time with limited acceptance, symbols hold immense value.”
The ceremony, officiated by the Athens mayor, was a joyous occasion with the couple arriving with their dog and celebrating alongside over two dozen guests.
The new law, passed in February with support from a cross-party majority of lawmakers, has faced opposition from the powerful Orthodox Church. Church officials on the island of Corfu recently imposed a religious ban on two lawmakers who voted for the reform.
Despite the opposition, same-sex marriage enjoys support from a majority of Greek citizens. The new law also grants full parental rights to married same-sex couples with children but restricts surrogacy for gay couples.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas called the ceremony a “historic moment” and encouraged other couples to follow suit.
(Source: AP)
