The Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in the Greek Media: Political Spectacle over Substance—A Peace Journalism Analysis

Millions of LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide continue to face discrimination that affects their rights, opportunities, and everyday lives. In Greece, one of the most debated public issues in recent years has been the legalization of civil marriage for same-sex couples. Media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions, often reinforcing stereotypes and societal biases. This paper examines Greek media coverage of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Greece in February 2024, through a peace journalism lens. Using quantitative content analysis, the study analyzes a sample of news stories from the online editions of five Greek media outlets representing a range of political orientations. The analysis applied a broad set of criteria, including the presence or absence of LGBTQ+ voices, conflict framing, and lack of context or solutions, to assess how the issue was framed. Findings indicate a heavy reliance on official sources, with limited or no representation of LGBTQ+ individuals and their lived experiences. The framing often emphasized conflict and controversy, while about one-fifth of the stories portrayed same-sex marriage as a threat to traditional Greek family values and Christian norms. Such coverage hinders visibility, understanding, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities in public discourse.