Mayor inks country’s first gay partnership contract

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis Monday became the first Greek official to sign a same-sex civil partnership agreement following the recent approval of legislation granting homosexual couples almost equal rights to their heterosexual counterparts.

“As the first day that the law is being implemented, today is very important for civil rights in Greece and the country’s compliance with international reality,” Kaminis said during the signing ceremony at Athens City Hall. On Twitter, the mayor referred to “a significant day for rights in our country.”

Late last month, the government passed a bill extending the cohabitation rights of gay couples. The bill, which passed with the support of opposition MPs but without the full backing of SYRIZA’s right-wing coalition partner Independent Greeks, grants same-sex couples the option of having civil partnerships, which would offer them full marriage rights but not necessarily the right to adopt children.