Lesbians Not Just From Lesbos
Some people just don’t like being called gay – or lesbian for that matter – and as you may recall, the folk from the Greek island of Lesbos took their case to court. The problem, say some residents, is the question of who has the right to call themselves ‘Lesbians’? The world’s homosexual women, or the island’s thousands of residents and ex-pats?
This week the court ruled that Lesbians are not just from Lesbos.
In a statement that probably articulates what we were all thinking, Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, said, “A court in Athens could not stop people around the world from using [the word lesbian]. It was ridiculous.”
Some Lesbos residents testified against those who brought the case to court, saying that the name association had actually increased tourism revenue, rather than detracted from the appeal of the island.
Another big drawcard for the island is that it’s the birthplace of ancient Greek poet Sappho, a writer of emotive poetry directed largely at other women. Despite the homosexual overtones in her writing, part of Mr Lambrou’s case was new research alleging that Sappho actually had a family and committed suicide for the love of a man. While that may be true, it’s not likely to stop the gay community from heading to the Greek islands. Especially now that Mamma Mia was filmed there too.
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