Two women hug in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens in central Athens, during the annual Gay Pride parade in June | ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Greece legalizes same-sex civil partnerships PM Alexis Tsipras said it was long overdue.

ATHENS – Greece legalized gay civil unions Tuesday despite opposition from the Church and a rebellion by some right-wing members of the ruling coalition.

Lawmakers voted 193 in favor versus 56 against the long-awaited reform, following a heated 10-hour debate in which supporters of the bill -- some wearing rainbow gay pride badges -- traded barbs with opponents. Outside parliament, gay rights campaigners gathered with banners reading “Love is the Law” and “All I want for Christmas is Equality.”

Activists say recognition of same-sex civil partnerships is an important step towards gaining greater acceptance in a country where the Orthodox Church still holds sway and where reports of homophobic violence have increased in recent years.

“The relationship between two people is about love, and this bill recognizes the possibility for two people to live in a loving relationship and express it publicly,” the bill’s leading proponent, ruling Syriza party lawmaker Vasiliki Katrivanou, told parliament.

“With civil union, they can envision a family life together,” she added, advocating a prompt discussion on legalizing adoption by same-sex couples, a step that is not covered by the new legislation.

While many countries already allow same-sex marriage, Greece is one of the last European Union states to legalize gay civil unions. Pressure for change increased after the European Court of Human Rights ruled two years ago that it was discriminatory for the country to exclude gay couples from existing legislation giving tax, pension and inheritance rights to unmarried heterosexuals.

Homophobic remarks by clergymen fueled the debate ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus called homosexuality “unnatural lewdness” while the controversial Bishop Amvrosios of Kalavryta ordered churches in his diocese to sound funeral bells “in mourning” over the bill’s expected passage.

One MP branded Amvrosios “Mullah Omar Amvrosios” for his extreme views, which contrasted with the more moderate opposition of the Church hierarchy.

For leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the civil union bill was a chance to show progress on progressive policy pledges, many of which have been stymied by the tough terms of the country’s third multi-billion euro bailout program. Last week, creditors forced his government to delay a package of welfare measures, dubbed “the parallel program,” aimed at cushioning the impact of austerity measures.

Declaring it a “proud day for human rights,” Tsipras said the new law was long overdue.

“The cycle of backwardness is over. Instead of celebrating, we should ask forgiveness from the thousands of our fellow citizens who have been denied these elementary rights,” the premier added.

Still, the civil union law fell short of Syriza promises to legalize same-sex marriage, and the revolt by most members of Tsipras’ junior coalition partner, the Independent Greeks, has raised further questions about the durability of their governing alliance.

The small, nationalist party has been a loyal ally when pushing through painful economic reforms demanded by creditors but it could balk at a pensions overhaul and tax hike on farmers due in parliament early next year. In contrast to the civil union bill, which was backed by centrist opposition parties, those measures are unlikely to win opposition support.

Independent Greeks MP Vasilis Kokkalis said gay civil unions would undermine traditional family life.

“We say ‘No’ to civil unions because we say ‘Yes’ to the Greek constitution (which) says the family is the bedrock of the nation’s preservation and advancement,” he told the house.

Shouting as he was heckled from the floor of the house, MP Ioannis Lagos from the far-right Golden Dawn party called it “a shameful day” and said civil unions were an attempt “to present abnormal as normal.”

The Communists also voted against the bill while pro-European conservative party New Democracy was divided.

For LGBT activists, civil partnerships are a first step on the road to equality.

“This will allow gay people to be more visible,” said Nancy Papathanasiou, a board member at the OLKE lesbian and gay organization. “As for how long it will take for Greece to align with other countries, we’ll have to see (but) hopefully things will now be much quicker.”