Lesbos islanders want to stop homosexual women calling themselves Lesbians
By Tom Peterkin
Last Updated: 5:40PM BST 10/06/2008
The inhabitants of the Aegean island of Lesbos have began a court action that will attempt to prevent homosexual women from calling themselves Lesbians.
The court hearing will start in Athens amid a growing debate about homosexual rights in Greece, traditionally one of the most socially conservative countries.
The case has been brought by plantiffs on Lesbos, who claim that the name of their island should only have geographical connotations.
"Until 1924, according to the Oxford English dictionary, a Lesbian was a native of our isle," said Dimitris Lambrou, a magazine publisher who is one of those bringing the complaint.
The inhabitants of the Aegean island of Lesbos have began a court action that will attempt to prevent homosexual women from calling themselves Lesbians.
"Now because of its new connotations, our womenfolk are unable to call themselves such and that is wrong."
The derivation of the term Lesbian meaning female homosexual comes from the island's most famous inhabitant Sappho, the Greek poetess well-know for her love poetry directed at women.
Mr Lambrou said he had nothing against Lesbians, who travel to the island to visit Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho.
But others claim the action has been motivated by homophobia.
"No other group faces such discrimination in this country," said Grigoris Valianatos, a homosexual rights activist.
The treatment of homosexuals is becoming a heated issue in Greece, where Gay Pride marchers were attacked by the far-right Golden Dawn group at the weekend.
Lesbos islanders want to stop homosexual women calling themselves Lesbians - Telegraph
LOL
By Tom Peterkin
Last Updated: 5:40PM BST 10/06/2008
The inhabitants of the Aegean island of Lesbos have began a court action that will attempt to prevent homosexual women from calling themselves Lesbians.
The court hearing will start in Athens amid a growing debate about homosexual rights in Greece, traditionally one of the most socially conservative countries.
The case has been brought by plantiffs on Lesbos, who claim that the name of their island should only have geographical connotations.
"Until 1924, according to the Oxford English dictionary, a Lesbian was a native of our isle," said Dimitris Lambrou, a magazine publisher who is one of those bringing the complaint.
The inhabitants of the Aegean island of Lesbos have began a court action that will attempt to prevent homosexual women from calling themselves Lesbians.
"Now because of its new connotations, our womenfolk are unable to call themselves such and that is wrong."
The derivation of the term Lesbian meaning female homosexual comes from the island's most famous inhabitant Sappho, the Greek poetess well-know for her love poetry directed at women.
Mr Lambrou said he had nothing against Lesbians, who travel to the island to visit Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho.
But others claim the action has been motivated by homophobia.
"No other group faces such discrimination in this country," said Grigoris Valianatos, a homosexual rights activist.
The treatment of homosexuals is becoming a heated issue in Greece, where Gay Pride marchers were attacked by the far-right Golden Dawn group at the weekend.
Lesbos islanders want to stop homosexual women calling themselves Lesbians - Telegraph
LOL
