June: PRIDE in Greece!
By Stacey Harris-Papaioannou
June is PRIDE month in GREECE and will be celebrated in both its major metropolises, Athens and Thessaloniki.
Athens has hosted a PRIDE event for almost two decades with this year’s celebration returning to Syntagma Square on Saturday, June 15. Thessaloniki will host EUROPRIDE this year from June 21st, culminating on Saturday, June 29th.
Democrats Abroad Greece will be in Athens once again, as well as in Thessaloniki, supporting the LGBTQI community in solidarity.
Democrats Abroad Greece volunteer team will be present in Athens on June 15 and Thessaloniki on June 28 and 29 beginning at noon, to sign up US citizens living in Greece to vote from abroad, to make others aware of US absentee voting rights and to distribute information as well as answer questions about Democrats Abroad.
Athens PRIDE 2024
The theme for Athens PRIDE 2024 is “A Law Is Not Enough.”
On February 15 this year the Greek parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage. Greece is the first majority Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all, making it a landmark human rights victory.
The decision, supported by 176 out of 300 lawmakers in parliament and with 76 against, followed months of polarized political and public discourse, and has been welcomed as a long-awaited vindication by the country’s LGBTQI couples.
“This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece - a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values,” Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a post on X following the vote.
Andrea Gilbert, a founding member of Athens Pride and a member of Democrats Abroad Greece stated in an interview with CNN: “We started as an invisible, marginalized community. We continued to vote. Paid our taxes. Campaigned. The legislation provides a legal basis to further build on. It is particularly significant for young couples.”
Parental and children’s rights are a cornerstone of the legislation, which will allow same-sex couples to adopt and receive full parental recognition.
Greece introduced civil partnerships for gay couples nearly a decade ago under the left-wing Syriza government, but only the biological parents of children in those relationships were recognized as legal guardians. Now, same-sex parents can both be recognized as legal parents to their children.
Thessaloniki and EUROPRIDE 2024
Farther north and later in the month, Thessaloniki will host EUROPRIDE from June 21st through 29th. EUROPRIDE is a pan-European international LGBTQI event featuring a Pride parade, hosted by a different European city each year.
The theme for Thessaloniki EUROPRIDE is Persevere, Progress, Prosper — the pillars on which the movement is built.
Events throughout the week and the two adjacent weekends will be held in a variety of venues, such as the cultural space of the city port and the international fairgrounds, with festivities culminating in the EuroPride parade on the final day, June 29th. This parade will take place in the historical city center surrounding the Thessalonki White Tower, which will be illuminated in rainbow colors as a symbol of community strength and integration into wider society.
EUROPRIDE PROGRAM
EUROPRIDE conference on human rights, under the auspices of EUROPRIDE 2024 and the municipality of Thessaloniki.
June 26 @ 14:30 - 16:00
Opening of the Conference
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 26 @ 16:30 - 18:00
Achieving Marriage Equality in Greece and Europe: Best Practices of Advocacy, Resilience and Policy Changes
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 10:00 - 11:30
Survival of European Civil Society in a Shrinking and Hostile Environment
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 10:00 - 11:30
The transgender community today: advocating for self-identification while fighting against populism and conspiracies
Pavlos Zannas Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 10:00 - 11:30
Crafting Prosperity at European level: EU Funding Opportunities for LGBTQIA+ Equality
Green Room Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 12:00 - 13:30
Safe space at work and education: the rise of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility as corporate values
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 12:00 - 13:30
Law enforcement and Pride
Pavlos Zannas Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 12:00 - 13:30
Mental health and resilience
Green Room Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 14:30 - 16:00
Intersex healthcare and visibility throughout Europe
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 14:30 - 16:00
Queer solidarity in times of war and conflict
Pavlos Zannas Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 14:30 - 16:00
Creating safe spaces for LGBTI+ refugees and migrants
Green Room Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 27 @ 16:30 - 18:00
Influencing society through social media
Olympion Hall Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 21 @ 21:00
Opening Ceremony & Concert
First Pier, Port of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54625, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 22 @ 21:30 - 23:59
“The most beautiful body ever found in this place”
Garden Theatre Tsimiski 153, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 23 @ 19:00 - 23:00
16 movies
Cineplexx GR Giannitson 61 & Koletti 34, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
Kapaemahu", "Adelina", "Accompanied", "Out of the blue", "Grazziano and the giraffe", "Pentola", "42 days", "Each and every night", "Yde & Olive", "A new family", "Princess", "The boy and the elephant", "Lady of the night", "U (hybrid)", "Fireworks", "Lesvia"
June 23 @ 23:00 - June 24 @ 00:30
5 movies
CINE ALEX Olimpou 106, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
"AIKĀNE", "Cruising tales In India", "Ce fruit", "Prisoner of society", "Florian"
June 24 @ 19:00 - 23:00
3 movies + Q&As
Cineplexx GR Giannitson 61 & Koletti 34, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
"Overcoming", "I'm in love with mother nature", "Tilos weddings"
June 24 @ 20:00 - 21:00
“The crime of being gay” – Giorgos Triantafyllou
Oratos Stratigou Sfetsou 2, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 24 @ 21:30 - 23:59
“The beast”
Garden Theatre Tsimiski 153, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 24 @ 23:00 - June 25 @ 00:30
6 movies
CINE ALEX Olimpou 106, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
"Best grandfather in the world", "Nazaria, Book 5: The third gender", "Yesterday I grew a friend", "Coco beach", "Let there be colour", "Dans la nature"
June 25 @ 18:00 - 20:00
1 movie
Cineplexx GR Giannitson 61 & Koletti 34, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
“Orfeas 2021“
June 25 @ 21:30 - 23:59
“Strakastroukes”
Garden Theatre Tsimiski 153, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 26 @ 14:30 - 18:00
“Triangle” (art exhibition containing the “pink triangle” by Alexandros Kapetanou)
Olympion Theatre Aristotelous Sq. 10, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
June 26 @ 17:00 - 23:00
EuroPride Fair: info stalls by participating organisations
YMCA Park Andronikou 63, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
If you would like to volunteer a few hours of your time, please contact:
Stacey Harris-Papaioannou for Athens
EMAIL - [email protected]
MOB - 6942 940 720.
Randall Warner for Thessaloniki
EMAIL - [email protected]
MOB - 690 921 8618
Thessaloniki EuroPride 2024 (promo spot) (youtube.com)
Athens Pride | Φεστιβάλ Υπερηφάνειας Αθήνας