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LGBT Rights in Greece

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✔ Banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Recent studies in Greece show a discernible level of opposition to LGBTQ+ rights among the population.

Greece Surveys

(diaNEOsis, 2022)
of Greeks support gay marriage
of Greeks support the legal recognition of gender identity
of Greeks support the adoption of children by same-sex couples

Orthodox Christian Support for Church's Position of Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Marriage

69%
Support
26%
Oppose

History

Homosexual activity in Greece

?

Homosexual activity in Greece is legal.

Current status
Since Dec 23, 2015
Legal
In Greece, homosexuality was a criminal offence up until 1951. "Incest against nature" (between men) was punished under Article 347 of the Penal Code. This article was abolished with an amendment that was voted on December 23, 2015
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1951–Dec 23, 2015
Legal
Homosexuality in Greece became legal in 1951 by the new Penal Code, but some discrimination in laws against homosexuals was valid until recently (article 347 of the Penal Code).
Added by brennen  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Greece

?

Same-sex marriage in Greece is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 15, 2024
Legal
On February 16th, 2024, the Hellenic Parliament voted with 173 votes (76 against and 46 abstentions), on legalizing same-sex marriage, becoming the first orthodox country to do so.
Sources:
nytimes.com/2024/02/15/worl…~:text=Greece%20legalized%20same%2Dsex%20marriage,the%20country's%20powerful%20Orthodox%20Church.
opengov.gr/ypep/?p=845
Added by hreestos  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 24, 2015–Feb 15, 2024
Civil unions
On December 23rd, 2015, the Hellenic Parliament voted with 193 votes (56 against and 51 abstentions), on the law on extending the cohabitation agreement (civil unions) to same-sex couples.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Nov 26, 2008–Dec 23, 2015
Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
Cohabitation agreement, corresponding to civil union, was instituted in Greece, in November 26, 2008, only available to opposite-sex couples. In April 2006, former President of the PA.SO.K. party, George Papandreou proposed to Parliament the recognition of unmarried same-sex or heterosexual couples. However, the project was not accepted by the LGBT organizations as it was considered that it would not have any benefit in their rights, since it prohibited the adoption of children.
Added by axgal  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Greece

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Greece is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Greece, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Greece

?

Right to change legal gender in Greece is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since Oct 10, 2017
Legal, no restrictions
To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirement is only a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. Forced divorce was also required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage was legal in Greece.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Greece

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Greece is not legally recognized.

Current status
Since Feb 13, 2018
Not legally recognized
Gender-neutral names can be used on IDs and birth certificates, following the case of Jason-Antigone Dane, but one can only legally identify as male or female
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Greece

?

LGBT discrimination in Greece is illegal.

Current status
Since Feb 15, 2024
Illegal
The marriage equality bill changed the 4443/2016
law, extending the prohibition of discrimination to social protection, social benefits, education and access to the availability and provision of goods and services protections (including housing), enshrining full legal coverage against discrimination.
Added by hreestos  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Dec 9, 2016–Feb 15, 2024
Illegal in some contexts
Law 4443/2016 offered protection against discrimination only in the work and employment sectors.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Sep 10, 2014–Dec 9, 2016
Illegal in some contexts
Many instances of discriminations against LGBT individuals are illegal. The only case where discrimination is not illegal is if it is done by public domain (of which the church is one.)
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Greece

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Greece is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Dec 9, 2016
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In December 9, 2016 the Hellenic Parliament passed the law 4443/2016, which added as 'suspicious' criteria of discrimination "color", "ethnic origin", "pedigree", "chronic disease", "marital status", "social status", "gender identity" and "gender characteristics", while the term “genetic orientation”, which was used in law 3304/2005, was corrected to sexual orientation. The concept of multiple discrimination was also standardized
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jul 14, 2005–Dec 9, 2016
Sexual orientation only
The Community/Union legislation (directive 2000/78) prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workspace. Later on it was transferred to the Greek legal order, with law 3304/2005, almost verbatim. The greek translation of the directive and the greek law referred to sexual orientation as “genetic orientation”.
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Greece

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Greece is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Dec 9, 2016
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Law 4443/2016 includes housing on the list of services that discrimination is prohibited. Although not mentioned directly, the law, later on, explains what direct discrimination can be.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Greece

?

Same-sex adoption in Greece is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 15, 2024
Legal
Greece becomes the first orthodox country to legalize same-sex marriage. The country’s Parliament also extended equal parental rights to same-sex couples, including clearing the way for them to adopt children.
Sources:
nytimes.com/2024/02/15/worl…~:text=Greece%20legalized%20same%2Dsex%20marriage,the%20country's%20powerful%20Orthodox%20Church.
Added by hreestos  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Apr 17, 2018–Feb 14, 2024
Single only
Law 4538/2018 grants the right for couples to foster children. Individuals can adopt normally.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Greece

?

Serving openly in military in Greece is legal.

Current status
Legal
Since 2002.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Greece

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Greece is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 10, 2022
Legal
In January 10, 2022 the Greek Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, and the Deputy Minister of Health, Mina Gaga signed the determination of the content of the "Blood Donor History". In the new form, sexual orientation is disconnected from the criteria that must be met by prospective blood donors.
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jan 10, 2022
Banned (indefinite deferral)
In order to donate blood, blood donors had to fill out a form called "Blood Donor History”, issued by the National Blood Donation Center, which stated that donating blood is prohibited for “anyone who had been in a homosexual relationship since 1977
Added by thomkefathess  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Greece

?

Conversion therapy in Greece is banned.

Current status
Since May 11, 2022
Banned
The amendment, introduced in the context of the bill on the "Personal Doctor", introduces a ban on so-called "treatments or conversion practices", ie methods aimed at changing or suppressing the sexual orientation, the gender identity or expression of an LGBT+ individual.
The amendment, however, does not include adults who, as stated in Parliament, can undergo conversion therapy with their consent. There is also no mention of people practicing these therapies other than specialists, leaving a legal loophole for spiritual leaders and priests. The LGBT+ organizations protested and demanded the inclusion of all the above
Added by hreestos  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

May 10, 2022–May 11, 2022
Ambiguous
In May 10, 2022 the Greek Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris submitted an amendment to the bill for the “personal doctor”, based on article 1 of which institutes the prohibition of practical conversions to vulnerable individuals by professionals. With the term "professionals" the amendment defines those who receive remuneration to proceed with such "treatments", leaving a legal gap in practices e.g. of the Church, such as exorcism or other covert practices, which do not involve remuneration. Also, the term "vulnerable" means minors or those who are under legal assistance.
At the same time, the provision prohibits professionals from inviting, promoting or advertising conversion practices performed by themselves or other third parties, professionals or not.
Violation of the law in addition to the prescribed disciplinary and administrative sanctions, will be punished with imprisonment and a fine, while the repeated commission of the above act constitutes an aggravating circumstance.
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until May 10, 2022
Not banned
Conversion Therapies for LGBT people are held openly in Greece with the tolerance of the state as well as the responsible associations of mental health specialists. Research on this issue indicates that such therapies involve spiritual or religious leaders, alternative healers (homeopaths, energy therapists, etc.) as well as health and mental health professionals.
Today, while some psychologists continue to use therapies such as disgust, the most commonly used techniques include a variety of behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and other practices that seek to change or reduce a person's same-sex attraction or gender identity. Lesser known but still active practices are beatings, sexual violence - even rape -, isolation, deprivation of food, electroshock, administration of drugs and other drugs, psychological violence, as well as exorcisms or other sessions.
The church is also promoting these therapies through the church-funded omofylofilia.gr site.
Added by hreestos  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Greece

?

Equal age of consent in Greece is equal.

Current status
Since Dec 23, 2015
Equal
The Civil Union act also equalized the age of consent at 15
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

1951–Dec 23, 2015
Unequal
Article 347 of the Greek Criminal Code; which provides for a higher age of consent of 17, for seducing a male person if the male partner is over 18 and for lesbians and both male/female heterosexuals (regardless of close-in-age or not) and for only close-
Added by brennen  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by department

View the LGBT laws in each individual department of Greece.