Controversial bill tabled in Greek parliament

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) - A controversial bill introduced to the Greek parliament is threatening to expose rifts between the left-wing major partner in the country’s coalition government and its conservative allies.

The bill, tabled on Monday, would allow individuals to officially declare their gender identity and change the gender definition they were assigned at birth from the age of 15.

Although Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s SYRIZA party backs the bill, some lawmakers in the Independent Greeks (ANEL) remain opposed.

One of its leading figures, Dimitris Kammenos, told parliament the legislation would “open up a loophole for child adoptions by same-sex couples”.

Last year, ANEL also opposed laws which would legislate for cohabiting same-sex couples.

New Democracy, the main opposition party, has not made it clear if it will back the bill or not, while Democratic Alignment and To Potami have suggested they will back the bill.

The Greek Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod also appealed to all political parties to withdraw the draft bill on the legal recognition of gender identity claiming it “provokes society”.

"At a time when the need for identity and cohesion is a matter of national and spiritual survival, the legal recognition of the fluidity of personal identity is the worst possible thing,” the Holy Synod said in a statement.

The bill is expected to be voted upon tomorrow.