The Foreign Travel Agency has issued a new warning. (Getty)
You may have started making summer plans for the girls, but the Foreign Office has issued a new travel warning for LGBTQ+ travelers visiting Greece.
Despite Greece recently legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption and becoming the first country with an Orthodox Christian majority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suggested that members of the LGBTQ+ community should still remain vigilant.
In an updated version of the foreign travel advice website, a section for travelers to Greece reads: “Sexual relationships between same-sex people are legal in Greece, civil unions between same-sex couples have been legal since 2015, and same-sex marriage was legalized in February 2024.” The age of consent in Greece is 15 years old. This applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex partners. Transgender people can change their legal gender. Anti-discrimination and hate speech laws apply to gender identity.
“Public attitudes towards same-sex sexual activity vary from country to country. Public displays of affection by same-sex couples can be frowned upon, especially in rural areas.
“Attitudes are generally much more welcoming in Athens and many of the Greek islands, particularly Lesbos, Mykonos and Skiathos. Please see our information and advice page about the LGBT+ community before you travel.”
After a gay couple made history in March with the first same-sex wedding in Greece, two 21-year-old transgender men were chased by a mob, allegedly assaulted with homophobic slurs and bottles thrown at them.
In response, large crowds of LGBTQ+ people and their supporters stood up against transphobia on the streets of Thessaloniki in northern Greece on March 10.
A crowd of thousands gathered at Aristotle Square, the site of the attack, before marching through the city's streets, shouting and waving Pride flags, carrying banners condemning fascism, homophobia and transphobia.
The demonstration saw LGBTQ+ people, women's groups, anti-fascist coalitions and student organizers come together in solidarity against hate.
Sweden tops the 2020 ranking as the safest country for LGBTQ+ people to visit.
Checking all the boxes on same-sex marriage, discrimination and worker protections, recognition of adoption, criminalization of violence, and high ratings in the Gallup poll, Sweden received an excellent safety score of 322.
Close behind are Canada, Norway, Portugal, Belgium and the United Kingdom, all of which are known to be very welcoming to LGBTQ+ travelers. However, clear skies are never guaranteed in the latter destination.
