Athens Mayor signs first same sex civil partnership in Greece

City of Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis signed on Monday the first ever same-sex civil partnership in Greece, according to a press release from his office.

"Today is an important day for human rights," Kaminis tweeted, after wishing the best to the two men, a doctor and a teacher.

Kaminis, the first Greek official to ink such unions, signed a total of five registry office acts on Monday for same sex couples, according to the announcement.

The Greek parliament passed the relevant law which opened the way for same sex partnerships in December 2015. The assembly had voted on the bill which introduced civil partnerships for heterosexuals seven years ago.

Under the new legislation, same sex couples can sign cohabitation pacts the same way heterosexuals can. The new legislative framework acknowledges homosexuals as having almost equal rights with heterosexuals in civil partnerships.

Same sex couples were granted some pension and tax rights, but are still not allowed to marry or adopt children. Endit