The Know Daily - Thursday 15 February 2024

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Some tort-ally good news from Cambodia: conservationists have discovered nine sea turtle nests on a remote island, “sparking hopes” for the future of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle and the endangered green turtle. And if that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, the discovery is also the first time sea turtle nests have been spotted in the country in over a decade.

🏳️‍🌈 Landmark bill for same-sex marriage

Greece’s parliament is expected to legalise same-sex marriage in a vote later today.

Tell me more.
In a “rare display of cross-party collaboration”, the country’s parliament is likely to approve the bill, which would also clear “multiple legal hurdles” for gay couples who already have or want to have children, reported Associated Press (AP).

A spokesperson from the governing centre-right New Democracy party called the bill a “small contribution towards the creation of a society without discrimination”. However, the bill has also faced criticism for not going far enough, as it does not extend surrogacy to male couples.

Why is the vote a big deal?
It follows a decades-long struggle by LGBTQ+ campaigners, given that the Greek Orthodox Church and much of Greek society “fiercely reject same-sex marriage”, said NPR.

Nevertheless, public opinion appears to be slowly shifting. A recent poll by the newspaper Proto Thema indicated that 55% of Greeks support the legalisation of same-sex marriage - while the country legally recognised same-sex partnerships in 2017.

What’s the bigger picture?
If the bill passes, Greece would become the first Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex marriage - and also the first in southern Europe, noted The Guardian. It would join 15 other EU states and 35 countries globally, with Estonia the latest to grant marriage equality last month.