European Court Says Greek Law Limiting Civil Unions To Heterosexual Couples Violates ECHR

In Vallianatos and Others v. Greece, (ECHR, Nov. 7, 2013), the European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) held, by a vote of 16-1, that a Greek civil union law which is limited to heterosexual couples violates The European Convention on Human Rights. The court concluded that the law is inconsistent with Article 8, violating the right to respect for private and family life of same-sex couples, and amounts to unjustified discrimination between different-sex and same-sex couples in violation of Article 14. The Court issued a press release summarizing the decision.  [Thanks to Paul de Mello, Jr. for the lead.]