Public Opinion Poll for the LGBT rights in Greece. The first of its kind in Greece, conducted by the initiative of Focus Bari.

1. Public Opinion Poll
for the LGBT rights In Greece
2015
*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual / Transgender
www.FocusBari.gr
*

2. Population:
National, men and women, 18+ years old,
Internet users, members of FocusOnline Panel
Sample’s Size: n=1431
Note 1: The results for the 55+ years old subgroup are indicative (n=56)
Note 2: The results for those who identify themselves as gay/bisexual group are indicative (n=47)
Weighting of results: Internet Users**, representative in terms of gender, age and area
Dates of fieldwork: 23/04-27/04/2015
Survey ID
* Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual / Transgender people
FOCUS BARI is a member of ESOMAR and SEDEA and strictly complies to all
international codes & ethics of survey conduction as set by ESOMAR and SEDEA
** For more information see at the end of the report the comparative analysis of Internet users' profile and the profile of general population
The following study was designed by Focus Bari and aims to capture the public opinion for LGBT*
rights in Greece
The survey was conducted via Focus Bari’s Online Panel

3. PUBLIC OPINION
ON HOMOSEXUALITY IN GREECE

4. Do you think that society
should accept homosexuality or not?
76
15
9
76
71
82
81
77
71
77
79
80
73
72
15
21
9
11
12
20
14
20
13
20
17
9
8
9
8
11
10
9
7
7
11
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
YES NO DK
Base: Total, n=1431
% Demographic analysis
Gender
Age
Area

5. Do you agree with the extension of civil union
partnerships to same-sex couples or not?
70
20
8 2
70
63
77
67
72
64
73
73
73
66
66
20
26
13
16
17
25
22
17
18
23
22
8
8
8
9
8
8
4
10
6
9
9
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
YES NO DK DK ABOUT CIVIL UNION PARTNERSHIPS
%
Base: Total, n=1431
Demographic analysis
Gender
Age
Area

6. Should same-sex couples be given the right
of civil marriage or not?
5635
9
56
51
62
66
61
52
53
49
59
54
54
35
42
28
26
30
38
41
44
33
41
36
9
7
10
8
10
10
6
7
8
5
10
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
YES NO DK
%
Base: Total, n=1431
Demographic analysis
Gender
Age
Area

7. Should same-sex couples be given the right
of adoption or not?
30
56
14
30
27
33
40
33
24
29
22
30
27
31
56
63
48
44
50
60
60
70
54
61
57
14
10
20
16
17
16
12
8
17
12
13
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
YES NO DK
%
Base: Total, n=1431
Demographic analysis
Gender
Age
Area

8. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I believe that someone is born homosexual, it is not a choice”
33
38
20
8
33
29
39
31
38
32
34
29
33
34
34
38
38
37
34
35
38
35
52
40
37
35
20
24
17
25
20
22
21
12
20
22
21
8
9
7
9
7
8
10
7
8
7
9
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

9. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I believe that homosexuality is a mental disorder”
14
22
57
7
14
17
10
11
12
15
15
16
14
12
14
22
24
19
20
22
21
18
29
20
23
23
57
50
65
64
58
55
62
44
59
57
54
7
9
6
4
8
9
5
10
7
8
8
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

10. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I believe that being homosexual in Greece is a disadvantage”
37
40
18
5
37
35
40
37
43
36
35
32
35
32
42
40
40
39
32
38
40
38
53
39
43
39
18
19
17
20
15
20
22
13
22
17
13
5
7
4
11
4
5
5
2
4
8
6
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

11. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I believe that the excessive promotion of homosexuality
on TV and media can have a bad influence on children”
5926
13 2
59
66
52
49
50
63
60
82
57
64
59
26
22
31
29
30
23
30
14
25
21
30
13
11
16
20
17
13
9
4
16
14
9
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

12. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I think that there should be more strict penalties
for hate speech against homosexual people”
54
29
12
4
54
50
60
57
54
56
51
54
57
50
52
29
33
25
27
28
27
33
35
27
33
31
12
14
10
9
12
13
14
11
12
13
12
4
3
5
7
6
4
1
4
4
4
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

13. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“I think that the church should show more understanding
regarding homosexuality”
55
23
17
4
55
53
58
55
49
52
61
68
61
47
50
23
21
25
22
27
25
20
17
23
31
20
17
22
12
20
19
19
17
9
13
18
23
4
4
5
4
5
4
2
6
3
4
6
Total
Men
Women
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Athens
Thes/niki
Rest of Greece
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
% Demographic analysis
Base: Total, n=1431
Gender
Age
Area

14. LGBT VIEW
ON HOMOSEXUALITY IN GREECE

15. 24
60
16
%
Base: People who identify as homosexual/bisexual, n=47
*The results are indicative
Are you “out” regarding your sexual orientation?
YES TO EVERYONE
(friends, family, work)
YES, ONLY TO SPECIFIC PERSONS
(e.g. only friends, not family)
NO
THE QUESTION WAS ADDRESSED ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS HOMOSEXUAL/BISEXUAL*
84

16. 21
76
3
%
Have you ever fallen victim of physical violence because
of your sexual orientation?
YES
NO
NO ANSWER
Base: People who identify as homosexual/bisexual, n=47
*The results are indicative
THE QUESTION WAS ADDRESSED ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS HOMOSEXUAL/BISEXUAL*

17. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“My sexual orientation is the cause of important difficulties
to my life”
24
47
29
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
%
Base: People who identify as homosexual/bisexual, n=47
*The results are indicative
THE QUESTION WAS ADDRESSED ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS HOMOSEXUAL/BISEXUAL*

18. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statement:
“The situation will be better in the near future
for homosexual people in Greece ”
35
49
13
4
%
AGREE NEITHER-NOR DISAGREE DK/NA
Base: People who identify as homosexual/bisexual, n=47
*The results are indicative
THE QUESTION WAS ADDRESSED ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS HOMOSEXUAL/BISEXUAL*

19. “Key points”
 3 out of 4 Greeks declare that society should accept homosexuality. This percentage is significantly
higher among women (82%) and young age groups (81%). On the contrary, much lower is the
acceptance among men (71%) and the 35-44 age group (71%). Analyzing the results by region,
acceptance rates are significantly higher in Attica (80%) than in Thessaloniki (73%) and rest of
Greece(72%).
 Regarding the extension of civil union partnerships to same-sex couples also, 7 out of 10 Greeks
seems to support its expansion. Similarly, this proposal enjoys greater acceptance by the female
population and younger ages, while less strong supporters appear to be men and the 35-44 age
group, although the difference is not significantly greater compared to the total (63% and 64%
respectively).
 Noticeably lower is the acceptance of civil marriage for same-sex couples, although it remains
positive within the majority. Specifically, 56% of the population believes that same-sex couples
should be given the right of civil marriage. Looking into the subgroups, the lowest acceptance rate
is recorded by older age groups (55+ years old) with a percentage of 49%.
 Finally, the last question concerning acceptance was about the possibility of adoption by same-sex
couples. The acceptance is significantly lower with only 30% giving a positive response, while the
percentage of those who say they don’t know is increased, which highlights the complexity of the
issue for the Greek society. In this question, the only subgroup which significantly differs from the
average is the youngest age group (18-24), which is more supporting (40%).

20. “Key points”
Subsequently, respondents were asked to express their agreement or disagreement on several
phrases. The responses show that:
 33% agree with the phrase that someone “is born gay and it is not a choice“, while 38% and a
further 8% say they neither agree nor disagree and don’t know, highlighting the uncertainty and
little knowledge on this issue.
 6 out of 10 consider that homosexuality on TV and Media can negatively affect children with men
and older age groups ( 55+ years) having a stronger opinion on this.
 14% believes that homosexuality is a mental disorder.
 There is uncertainty as to whether it is a disadvantage or not for someone to behomosexual in
Greece, with 40 % saying that neither agrees nor disagrees.
 More than 1 out of 2 Greeks consider that there should be more strict penalties against hate
speech towards homosexuals and that the church must show more understanding on the issue of
homosexuality.

21. “Key points”
Specific questions were made to people who identify as homosexual / bisexual:
 Just 1 out of 4 homosexuals (24 %) are open abut their sexual orientation to their wider social
environment. Instead, much greater is the number of those who have made their coming out only
to specific persons such as a close friend (60 %).
 A significant 21% admits that have experienced physical violence because of their sexual
orientation.
 A 24% (almost 1 out of 4 ) considers that their sexual orientation has create difficulties in their
lives, while 47% does not take a clear position.
 Slightly optimistic concerning the future appears the 35% believing that things in Greece will
improve for homosexuals in the near future, while a 49% neither agree nor disagree and only the
13% states that things will get worse.
COMMENTS ARE BASED ON ABSOLUTELY INDICATIVE RESULTS DUE TO SMALL SAMPLE (n=47)

22. “Key points”
Conclusively:
 The Greek society is in borderline phase in relation to the issue of homosexuality.
 High level of acceptance is recorded on specific issues, particularly on issues of institutional
nature (e.g. acceptance of homosexuality, civil union partnerships, civil marriage).
 However, they keep their distance from full acceptance, as shown by the phrases associated with
the acceptance of adoption by same-sex couples or whether the promotion of homosexual
patterns on television can have a negative influence on children.

23. APPENDIX

24. Population Analysis
%
49
52
51
48
General Population
Internet Users
Men Women
11
16
20
27
21
26
19
18
29
13
General Population
Internet Users
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
44
49
13
13
43
38
General Population
Internet Users
Athens Thes/niki Rest of Greece
Gender
Age
Area
The following is a comparative analysis of the Internet users profile with the profile of general population of Greece, in
order to understand the results of the study in a more thorough way. Please note that according to the nationwide research
of Focus Bari, Web id, the Internet penetration in Greece is over 70%. Thus, 7 out of 10 Greeks are users of the Internet.