Men in Greece will not be allowed to have children through surrogacy if they are single or in a same-sex relationship, according to the justice minister. This measure aims to eliminate any legal confusion regarding the definition of inability to carry a pregnancy.
Justice minister Giorgos Floridis stated that the proposed changes will soon be presented to parliament as part of a wider reform of the civil code. “We are clarifying that the concept of inability to carry a pregnancy does not pertain to one’s gender,” Floridis explained to reporters. “In simpler terms, a woman may be unable to carry a pregnancy whether she is in a male-female couple, a female same-sex couple, or on her own.”
Greece legalized same-sex marriage last year, becoming the first Orthodox Christian-majority country to do so. This marriage equality law faced opposition from Greece’s influential Orthodox Church and conservative groups. Additionally, parliament approved civil partnerships for gay couples back in 2015.
While support for same-sex marriage grows, the legal framework for surrogacy across Europe remains inconsistent. Many countries either completely ban surrogacy or impose various restrictions on the practice.
