The First Same-Sex Wedding in Athens City Hall

A Greek author and his lawyer partner married at Athens’ city hall in the first same-sex wedding since Greece allowed them three weeks earlier. Athens mayor Haris Doukas officiated the civil wedding of Auguste Corteau author Petros Hadjopoulos and lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis.

The ceremony, attended by two dozen people, signified a major change for the Orthodox Christian nation, despite protests from traditionalists. The occasion was symbolic, said Hadjopoulos, “a dream that we didn’t dare entertain when we were in our teens.” He stressed the relevance of such symbols, especially for 1980s and 1990s Greeks who were isolated.


Mayor Doukas called the event a “historic moment,” highlighting the need for Athenians to “live and love in the way they choose.” Greek Orthodox Church conservatives opposed same-sex marriage, but it was legalized on February 15. Married same-sex couples with children now have full parental rights.

Surrogacy for same-sex couples is illegal in Greece. Corfu Church leaders recently banned two reform-supporting MPs from worship. The law ties Greece with several European countries that still debate same-sex marriage. Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, and Greece recognize same-sex unions, although some EU nations maintain constitutional bans.

This historic event shows Greece’s growing openness, breaking old conventions and advocating marriage and family rights equality.