One year after Greece passed the historic reform legalizing same-sex marriage, one might have expected the debate over this fundamental right to have finally settled. However, amid shifting global political dynamics, geopolitical upheavals, and the perceived political cost of progressivism for the Greek government, the issue is once again at the forefront.
In the months following the law’s enactment, more than 400 same-sex couples in Greece have exercised their right to marry—something that heterosexual couples have long taken for granted.
For some, the number of marriages recorded in this first year seems significant; for others, it appears modest. But does the value of a law in a democratic society depend on how many people benefit from it—or on the principle of equal rights, regardless of how many individuals it affects?
Backlash and Ongoing Controversy
One year ago, Greece joined the 38 countries worldwide that have legalized same-sex marriage, covering about 20% of the global population.
The significance of this legislative milestone—which was approved by 176 members of the Greek Parliament—is evident in the continued resistance it faces today. Even now, certain political factions are pressuring Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to repeal the law.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the return of Donald Trump to the White House has reinvigorated conservative agendas. Within one month of his new term, he has already issued executive orders eliminating the “third gender” (X marker) on official documents and banning trans individuals from military service.
These actions have provided political ammunition to far-right politicians in the Balkans, fueling renewed debates in Greece and elsewhere over gender identity.
A Renewed Clash Over Gender Identity
The MAGA doctrine (Make America Great Again) appears to be gaining traction in Europe, infiltrating even the rhetoric of liberal leaders. As a result, the question of “how many genders exist?” has resurfaced—despite the scientific consensus that this debate was long settled.
For scientists, this question concerns a small segment of the population—those who experience gender incongruence, or, in other words, those who endure the distressing conflict between their biological sex and their gender identity.
Scientific Perspective: Understanding Gender and Sex
What do scientists have to say?
“Imagine two parallel lines representing the biological process of embryonic development—how we become male or female,” explains Dimitrios Goulis, Professor of Endocrinology and Reproduction at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- Chromosomes – Either XX (female) or XY (male).
- Gonads – Ovaries develop in females, while testes develop in males.
- Hormones – Testes produce testosterone, ovaries produce estrogen.
- Phenotypic (physical) expression – The visible characteristics associated with biological sex.
- Legal gender – The sex assigned at birth and recorded on official documents.
- Psychological gender – The internal sense of being male or female.
“Approximately 98% of the population follows one of these two pathways,” says Goulis.
Gender Affirmation: A Medical Perspective
“In medicine, these concepts are well understood, and I don’t understand why we aren’t consulted more often,” Goulis states.
He further explains what gender incongruence means:
*”There are individuals who are biologically male but feel like women trapped in a man’s body. And vice versa. In most cases, we find no chromosomal, hormonal, or biological abnormalities.
There’s an ongoing discussion about whether certain genes or environmental factors contribute to this, but we don’t have definitive answers yet. What we do know is that no psychiatric therapy or medication has proven effective in ‘changing’ a person’s gender identity.
Psychiatrists tell us that instead of trying to ‘fix’ these individuals, we should support them in living as their authentic selves.
That’s where endocrinologists step in, helping to facilitate hormonal gender transition. Today, we no longer call this ‘gender transition’ but rather gender affirmation, recognizing that a person’s gender is determined by their identity—not their birth sex.
The final step in this medical process is surgical gender affirmation, which may involve chest reconstruction or genital surgery. However, very few individuals undergo surgery—mainly for financial reasons or simply because they do not wish to.”
Intersex Conditions: The Biological Complexity of Sex
Some gender-related conditions, however, are not purely psychological but biological—such as intersex variations.
According to the Hellenic Union of Bioscientists, approximately 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits—meaning their chromosomes, gonads, or hormones do not fit typical definitions of male or female. In Greece, this translates to roughly 175,000 people.
“Think of gender like a river,” Goulis explains.
- Men and women stand on opposite banks of the river.
- Trans individuals cross a bridge from one side to the other.
- Intersex individuals remain in the middle of the bridge—biologically situated somewhere between male and female.
“If we assign numbers to gender—let’s say 1 for male and 2 for female—then there are also gradients in between: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and so on. The reality is more complex than a binary system,” he concludes.
Are Gender Incongruence Cases Increasing?
Are doctors seeing more gender incongruence cases in recent years?
According to Goulis, the number of cases has not necessarily increased.
“What has changed is that these individuals feel safer to express their identity openly,” he says.
Looking Ahead: Progress or Backlash?
One year after the legalization of same-sex marriage, Greece has made progress in recognizing LGBTQ+ rights. However, as conservative ideologies resurge worldwide, particularly in the U.S., debates over gender identity and equality are reigniting.
Despite this pushback, the scientific consensus remains clear:
- Gender identity is deeply rooted in an individual’s psychology.
- Medical professionals recognize and support gender affirmation as the best course of action.
- Legal recognition of same-sex marriage is a step toward equality, not a matter of numbers.
As Greece moves forward, the question is no longer whether same-sex couples should have the right to marry—but rather, how much further society is willing to go to protect equal rights for all.
