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Description
The "Panhellenic Campaign for Equality in Marriage" to be coordinated and implemented by Homo Evolution, aims to inform and raise awareness of the demand for equality in marriage in Greece, by combating stereotypes, stigma and homophobia. Greek law does not allow same-sex couples to enter into political marriage. So, very simple procedures, such as adoption, and family recognition, between same-sex couples are impossible. "Panhellenic Campaign for Equality in Marriage" will try to take action and raise awareness about this tremendous inequality. The project is implemented through three parallel actions: a. advocacy campaigns on the consequences of the lack of equality that homosexual couples suffer under the current law, b. awareness-raising initiatives promoting the dialogue on the legalization of the marriage between same-sex couples, by providing information on European and international human rights-driven standards, in order to highlight the social barriers of discrimination and stigma LGB people keep on facing in Greece, and c. strategic cooperations with NGOs and Media to raise awareness on the issue, and the current situation in Greece, the prospects and obstacles. Greek LGBTQI+ community, homosexual couples and LGBTQI+ families are the indirect target-group of the project, while the wider social environment, and public opinion leaders are the direct target-group. Homo Evolution will coordinate and implement the three actions, based on good practices from European and International experience.
Summary of project results
The "Panhellenic Campaign for Equality in Marriage" coordinated and implemented by Homo Evolution, aimεδ to inform and raise awareness of the demand for equality in marriage in Greece, by combating stereotypes, stigma and homophobia. Greek law does not allow same-sex couples to enter into political marriage.
The launch of the campaign took place on 28/4 at the Brown Acropol hotel with invited journalists, LGBTI+ organizations, individuals, company representatives as well as political figures. SoMe posts exceeded our expectations with tons of featured people posting on their accounts carrying and amplifying our message. The video spot is highly accepted by the LGBTQI+ community as well as human rights allies. At the same time, the video spot was aired on the nationwide television channels (ANT1, ΕΤ 1, ΕΤ 2, Mega, Star, Alpha, SKAI, OPEN), after the relevant approval we received from the National Council for Radio and Television for the period 05/20/2022 to 20/06/2022, a total of 165 times, at the same time the TV spot was shown by Kontra Channel (as a communication sponsor) 32 times. During the three-day film festival Queer Movie Nights at the TRIANON cinema, May 16-18, the advertising video spot was shown before each film. Based on the tickets, about 2000 people watched the video spot in the three days of screenings. Our collaboration with ATHINA 9.84 highlighted the campaign to the radio audience through the event "Coloured Athens". A specially designed live studio van was parked in Kotzia Square, with a banner of Say I Do! and hosted a number of prominent people such as the Mayor of Athens Mr. Bakoyannis, Mr. Kapoutzidis, from the Office of the European Parliament in Greece Mr. Haris Kountouros, the Deputy Minister of Contemporary Culture Mr. Giatromanolakis and from the LGBTQI+ community, Mr. Thanopoulos , Editor-in-Chief of ANTIVIRUS magazine, Ms. Apergi, President of the Transgender Support Association, Ms. Stella Belia, President of the Rainbow Families organization etc. The digital version of the video spot was shown at the two biggest pride events in the country. In Athens on 18/06 on the main stage with Mr. Kapoutzidis as presenter during the evening music program with around 4,000 people watching and in Kotzia Square 10-11-12/06/2022 on the stage of ATHENS PRIDE with 15,000 people . In Thessaloniki, on 25/06 on the main stage with around 7,000 people watching. At the ANTIVIRUS stand and at the 2 prides there were campaign banners and t-shirts as well as a bag with the ANTIVIRUS poster and printed materials for the Say I Do! campaign. A total of 3000 bags were distributed to the public, while the information material could be obtained by all the people who passed by the stand. The campaign is also signed by prominent names from the country''s political scene Mr. Androulakis PASOK - KINAL and Mr. Tsipras SYRIZA PS, (publication) as well as the signature of members of the ruling party such as Mr. Giatromanolakis (publication) - Deputy Minister Responsible for Issues of Contemporary Culture and Mr. Patelis, (publication) Head of the Prime Minister''s Economic Office.
The campaign was signed by a total of more than 60,000 people through the specially designed site pestonai.gr. Our assessment is that the campaign was one of the largest and fastest growing in Greece considering the time it ran. A typical example of the effectiveness of the campaign is the filing of a related bill by the official opposition to reform family law, a move that came after the campaign was widely disseminated on social media, and television.
On 15 February 2024, that the Greek Parliament adopted a bill introducing marriage equality.