The Parliament of Greece
approved this Thursday gay marriage and the adoption of minors by same-sex couples
, a measure promoted by the conservative Government despite the frontal opposition of the influential Orthodox Church.
With 176 votes in favor, 76 against and 2 abstentions, the reform was easily approved, thanks to the votes of several opposition parties, since a part of the 158 deputies of the government party, the conservative New Democracy (ND), voted against, abstained or left the Chamber.
Greece thus becomes the 20th country in Europe
and the first Orthodox Christian country to allow same-sex couples to marry.