Representatives of the LGBTI community welcome the government’s legislative initiative on marriage equality, noting, however, that there is further room for improvement to definitively resolve discrimination against same-sex couples, insisting on the possibility of assisted reproduction for these couples as well.
The vast majority of organizations referred in a positive way to the upgrading of the rights of children living with same-sex couples, since as everyone has emphasized so far these children in Greece are second class and the law will give them equal rights. “There should be no invisible children” was the message sent, while both Eleni Maravelia, Member of the European Network of LGBTI Families and Stella Belia, president of Rainbow Families, asked for the possibility of assisted reproduction for same-sex couples, as is done for heterosexual couples .
On the subject of child protection, Vasilios Bozikas, President of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, emphasized that there is no study that shows that raising children with same-sex couples is related to some mental disorder and that if there is love and care these children will develop normally. He characteristically noted that “staying in an institution is abuse, let’s not deprive these children of the right to live in a family”.
The member of the EGalite Board of Directors from Belgium, Stamatis Anthis, brought his own example, as he lives in Brussels with his husband and has two children, who in Greece, however, cannot be recognized and with the law that will be passed, they will be allowed to take Greek citizenship. “We welcome the law, it is a violation of human rights in Greece” he emphasized and noted that access to medically assisted reproduction is needed, because this lack results in non-adoption by the non-biological parent. “What happens if the biological parent dies before the adoption is finalized?” asked Mr. Anthis
“Equality means equality. The bill is not emblematic, since it is presented with half measures and exclusions” said Elena Olga Christidis from the ORLANDO LGBT Mental Health Association, requesting that the surrogacy law be tightened in relation to the exploitation of women, but not to exclude homosexuals couples.
The President of the Women’s Federation of Greece, Christina Skaloumbaka, appeared negative to the bill, arguing that it paves the way for the commercialization of women, as surrogate mothers will be hired on the backs of the law, speaking of brutal exploitation of women.
Later in the afternoon, a meeting will be held on the articles of the bill, while next week the bill will be introduced to the Plenary for a two-day debate in order to be voted on next Thursday. It is expected to gather a broad majority as it will be supported by 5 parties, ND, SYRIZA, PASOK, New Left and Pleussi Eleftherias, while in the event of a roll-call vote, the differences of MPs from the 3 largest parties will be reflected.