Justice minister: LGBTQI rights are human rights

“The LGBTQI rights are human rights, whose respect and protection is an element of our political identity, the democratic society in which we believe in and our culture, while development and progress on a national and international level will only come about through the elimination of all kinds of discrimination and by ensuring peaceful coexistence,” he said in a statement. 
"Respect of human value and dignity without any discrimination on the basis of any identifying element, such as race, color, national or ethnic origin, genealogical background, religious or other beliefs, disability, age, family or social status, sexual orientation and identity or gender characteristics, as well as the institutional safeguarding of human rights, are values inextricably inherent in the principles of the rule of law and our democracy, and are therefore a priority of the Greek State,” he added. 
Kontonis recalled that in the past, one of the main causes of racist and discriminatory behavior against individuals was their sexual orientation and gender identity noting that, in the past few years, Greece has made significant steps in legislating laws that stop injustices against LGBTQI people and restore social justice.