Lesbians vs. Lesbians

May 1, 2008 4:21 AM

Some residents of Lesbos are filing suit, claiming only they have the right to be called lesbians.
posted by justkevin (102 comments total)

I'm with the Lesbians on this.
posted by zemblamatic at 4:29 AM on May 1, 2008 [6 favorites]

What's a Nubian?
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 4:29 AM on May 1, 2008 [5 favorites]

The term lesbian is now widely used to describe homosexual women.

Crack team they've got there.
posted by DU at 4:32 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

They've had a good hundred years to bring this lawsuit, and it just occurs to them now? The good people of Lesbos might find themselves sued by the residents of Procrastinatos.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:40 AM on May 1, 2008 [33 favorites]

What do Lesbian's lesbians think?
posted by therubettes at 4:40 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

In the law, this is what's known as lesbian-on-lesbian action.
posted by chinston at 4:43 AM on May 1, 2008 [36 favorites]

Wait till the residents of Fucking, Austria hear about this.
posted by jbickers at 4:43 AM on May 1, 2008 [3 favorites]

What's a Nubian?

A lesbian who hasn't been doing it very long?
posted by Grangousier at 4:53 AM on May 1, 2008 [28 favorites]

I think this is great. A few years ago some other lesbians convinced me to go there on a trip (it is a popular destination, for the bar-none silliest of reasons), and it was about as uninteresting as a Greek island can be, while the locals were fairly homophobic. Now, the Lesbians can finally enjoy the reduction in tourist trade which they so clearly desire, while the lesbians can go to a friendlier, more interesting island with better beaches. A win-win.

What's a Nubian?

User number over 60,000?
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 4:54 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

Is this going to start a fad? In a few years, will the inhabitants of Central Europe demand that down-at-heels artsy folk cease referring to themselves as Bohemians?
I hope not. Perhaps they'll just ask us to Czech with them first.
posted by AdamCSnider at 4:55 AM on May 1, 2008 [8 favorites]

Just wait till the ancestors of Amerigo Vespucci hear about this.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:55 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

Does this strike anyone else as homophobic, if not offensive? I can empathize with the inconvenience of having to introduce yourself to people who, in that juggling act of subconsciously discerning a political entity from a sexuality, can only produce awkward laughter or a tired joke. But to publicly decry superficial association with homosexual women as 'disgraceful?' What will this accomplish? Are Lesbosians worried about the international English-speaking 8-to-14-year-old-male demographic?

Somewhere a homosexual woman on a Greek train was just asked, "Oh, so you're from Lesbos?" and responded, "What!?! Oh, God no!"
posted by farishta at 4:56 AM on May 1, 2008 [3 favorites]

Does this strike anyone else as homophobic, if not offensive? I can empathize with the inconvenience of having to introduce yourself to people who, in that juggling act of subconsciously discerning a political entity from a sexuality, can only produce awkward laughter or a tired joke. But to publicly decry superficial association with homosexual women as 'disgraceful?' What will this accomplish? Are Lesbosians worried about the international English-speaking 8-to-14-year-old-male demographic?

What's funny is I remember there was an article in... not even 100% sure, either The Onion or Weekly World News, a few years back claiming Parisians wanted to find a new nickname for "Gay Parie" because it made French people sound effeminate. It was basically a mockery of what this argument is legitimately trying to present.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 5:00 AM on May 1, 2008

The man spearheading the case, publisher Dimitris Lambrou, claims that international dominance of the word in its sexual context violates the human rights of the islanders, and disgraces them around the world.

man. spearheading. lesbians.

someone call howard stern.
posted by three blind mice at 5:02 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

In a related note, remember the noise that folks from Parma, Italy were making awhile back about the use of the term "parmesan" cheese? Wonder if they got anywhere with that...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:03 AM on May 1, 2008

Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Parmesan cheese, Champagne... I guess Lesbos produces Lesbians. It's like all those slimy bar guys have returned en force, all "Hey baby, I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body."
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 5:08 AM on May 1, 2008

en masse/in force. What's more manly than cheesy bar lines?
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 5:10 AM on May 1, 2008

I wonder if Mr. Lambrou wants to go back to the good ol' days of antiquity when the verb "to lesbian" meant performing oral sex on a male.

In Europe, only cheese from the Parmigiano area may be called Parmesan or Parmigiano cheese. Cheesy bar lines not from Barlinia (a region within Austrian Galicia) are, in Europe, the only crime punishable by death.
posted by Kattullus at 5:13 AM on May 1, 2008 [3 favorites]

In a related note, remember the noise that folks from Parma, Italy were making awhile back about the use of the term "parmesan" cheese? Wonder if they got anywhere with that...

"Parmesan" is a protected designation of origin in the EU and it's illegal to use it for cheese that doesn't come from the region. There are quite a lot of these geographic trademarks -- Cheddar cheese, Cognac, etc. -- which are, I suppose, necessary to protect the natives from encroachment by foreign imitations (the Japanese are producing some pretty good Scotch these days).
posted by ubernostrum at 5:26 AM on May 1, 2008

In related news, a coalition of cycle riding water obstructions in Holland are suing, saying only they have the right to be called DYKES ON BIKES HAHAHAHA, AHAHAHA, haha, hehe. Heh.

Eh.
posted by The Straightener at 5:29 AM on May 1, 2008 [5 favorites]

Well, whatever. I'll happily call them Provincetownians from now on, then.
posted by Greg Nog at 5:39 AM on May 1, 2008

Damnit, XQUZYPHYR stole my line!
posted by Banky_Edwards at 5:41 AM on May 1, 2008

It won't stand up in court.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:04 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Proposed new signage for Greek isles:

Welcome to Lesbos:
You are here [X]
We are not queer
Get used to it
-
posted by Herodios at 6:05 AM on May 1, 2008 [11 favorites]

Not sure how exactly, but I'm pretty sure a ruling here will affect myanus.
posted by kristinahoge at 6:07 AM on May 1, 2008

Considering that the term "lesbian" has taken a life of its own, almost completely unrelated to Sappho's ancient home of Lesbos, this is obviously just the work of cunning linguists.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:21 AM on May 1, 2008 [8 favorites]

About six months ago, I saw in tourist brochures and such that the island's name was transliterated as Lesvos and the inhabitants Lesvians. But I don't think that idea vorks very vell.
posted by randomination at 6:22 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

As a former resident of Crete, I'm offended by the association caused by calling bodily filth 'excretion'. WHERE'S MY MOUTHPIECE?
posted by davelog at 6:26 AM on May 1, 2008

I'm offended by the association caused by calling bodily filth 'excretion'. WHERE'S MY MOUTHPIECE?

Ew.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:44 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

The biographical information about Sappho is so thin that's it's slightly loony for folks to claim her as either a lesbian icon or as someone who killed herself for the love of a man. Nosing around turned up this academic look at how her life has been misinterpreted over the years. There was all kinds of spurious stuff about her love life showing up in comic poetry in the centuries after she died.
posted by mediareport at 6:44 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Lesbos is one of the best bird-watching spots in Europe, no really.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:47 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

oh for fucks sake. this is even more ridiculous than the "i spilled hot coffee on my lap. give me a jillion dollars because your coffee is too hot and it burned me" case.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:53 AM on May 1, 2008

I am reminded of Greece's collective indignation that they neighbor, Macedonia, was calling itself (and being called by others) "Macedonia."

Get over it, guys.
posted by adamrice at 6:54 AM on May 1, 2008

even more ridiculous than the "i spilled hot coffee on my lap. give me a jillion dollars

This is apples and polkadot unicorns.

It is not a good idea to get your (old) news from the likes of Bill O'Reilly.

Start here
posted by Herodios at 6:59 AM on May 1, 2008 [12 favorites]

Is there a German word for being surprised that an internet discussion about lesbians hasn't devloved into a series of predictable puns and innuendo?
posted by Kronoss at 7:04 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

The Greeks seem to have a lot of problems with names.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:09 AM on May 1, 2008

There's probably a word for not being surprised at all that an internet discussion about lesbians has devloved into a series of predictable puns and innuendo.
posted by cgc373 at 7:11 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oops, that link ended up behind a paywall. Here's more info.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:13 AM on May 1, 2008

Is there a German word for being surprised that an internet discussion about lesbians hasn't devloved into a series of predictable puns and innuendo?

I nominate "Nichtausgelassenüberraschung".
-
posted by Herodios at 7:14 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Is there a German word for being surprised that an internet discussion about lesbians hasn't devloved into a series of predictable puns and innuendo?

Ichhabeinmeinehosengescheist.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:15 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Wait til the Vandals and Goths hear about this.
posted by ikahime at 7:18 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

But according to Mr Lambrou, new historical research has discovered that Sappho had a family, and committed suicide for the love of a man.

Did this "new historical research" involve takiing a look at the Suda?

Nosing around turned up this academic look at how her life has been misinterpreted over the years.

Hey, that's by my pal Holt Parker!
*waves to Holt*

Oh, and this lawsuit is very silly.
posted by languagehat at 7:20 AM on May 1, 2008

This thread is useless without pics.
posted by Mikey-San at 7:21 AM on May 1, 2008

Looks like Athenians are called Athenakos in Greek.
Are we even sure that the inhabitants of Lesbos call themselves Lesbian?
Or is this a fight for a name in English, not in Greek?
Anyone knows Greek?
posted by bru at 7:28 AM on May 1, 2008

In other news, tourism in Lesbos expected to jump this summer due to publicity surrounding absolutely ridiculous lawsuit.
posted by hojoki at 7:30 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've always felt I was a lesbian trapped in a man's body. Now I need to research my roots. Maybe I come from Lesbos.
posted by AstroGuy at 7:37 AM on May 1, 2008

In related news, a coalition of cycle riding water obstructions in Holland are suing, saying only they have the right to be called DYKES ON BIKES HAHAHAHA, AHAHAHA, haha, hehe. Heh.

Actually there was a real lawsuit about the use of that name. Seems the San Francisco group that originally coined the term and first started appearing in parades thought the name shouldn't be used by similar groups in other cities. And I believe at one point a judge threw out the case because the term "dyke" was considered to be disparaging, even though the group who brought the suit clearly considered it to be anything but. Last time I checked, the trademark had finally been approved. That was a few years ago, I think.

I considered it to be an odd thing to want to trademark at the time, but I give it a metric ton more merit than the Lesbos lawsuit.
posted by Tehanu at 7:38 AM on May 1, 2008

"Dick Allcock"! I've never seen it translated like that before. Riot.
posted by Herodios at 7:38 AM on May 1, 2008

I just had a flashbulb memory from the early years of SNL. They did a skit starring Buck Henry on the Sodom Chamber of Congress discussing their town's PR and tourism problems based on their name -- "For some reason, when people think of Sodom they think of sodomy".

Too bad Lorne Michaels is such a kerkylas, otherwise I'd be able to include a youtube link.
posted by Herodios at 7:43 AM on May 1, 2008

December 2005: S.F. Lesbians Trademark "Dykes on Bikes".

January 2008: Dykes on Bikes Trademark Lawsuit Upheld

"Today, the California State Supreme Court refused to hear a case involving the trademark, 'Dykes on Bikes.'

The US Patent Office awarded the 'Dykes on Bikes' trademark to a group of lesbian motorcycle riders named, "San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent" back in 2005. The group had sought the trademark in 2003 after a clothing company was preparing to sell t-shirts with the famous phrase.

The Patent Office had originally denied the application, stating that the term 'dyke' was derogatory. The lesbian biker group countered the term 'dyke' was actually a good term, and had to prove it.

The result was that the Patent Office finally awarded the trademark. You can read my original article on this here.

Recently, a 'men's rights' attorney, Michael McDermott, challenged the trademark by filing a lawsuit. He argued that the term, 'Dykes on Bikes' was offensive to men, and immoral.

The State Supreme Court, today, denied the case."

posted by ericb at 7:44 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

In the German province of Baden, the Council of the Twin Cities of Carpet-Munch prepare a lawsuit of their own.....
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:52 AM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Actually, I heard that Maybelline, Revlon and Max Factor were joining the residents of Lesbos in this lawsuit. They're going after the lipstick lesbians.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:56 AM on May 1, 2008

Ah, the shirts. I'd forgotten about those. Thanks, ericb. It does make more sense if people were selling stuff with the name. Still kinda sucks though, since the name has really become a tradition in so many parades.

I just exasperates me that people to whom the name has not been applied actually think they have a right to declare the name is offensive to them and immoral. Homophobia really does manifest in really ridiculous ways. Where are these men's rights people when men yell the name at lesbians and threaten them? Nowhere. Oh, but you want to use the name in an empowering way? You don't want to hide in shame? Well, we have a lawyer for that.
posted by Tehanu at 7:57 AM on May 1, 2008

Well, of course I was alluding to the San Francisco trademark case in an attempt to spur a more substantive discussion.

Thread saved, you're welcome Metafilter, lesbians everywhere.
posted by The Straightener at 8:02 AM on May 1, 2008

Recently, a 'men's rights' attorney, Michael McDermott, challenged the trademark by filing a lawsuit. He argued that the term, 'Dykes on Bikes' was offensive to men, and immoral.

A great illustration of how silly it gets if you try recognizing a right not to be offended.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:06 AM on May 1, 2008

Still kinda sucks though, since the name has really become a tradition in so many parades.

It still is. At most Pride parades the "Dykes on Bikes" kick off the parades. There are other chapters around the world. The lawsuit by the S.F. founders was intended to insure that the name is for non-profit use only.
posted by ericb at 8:08 AM on May 1, 2008

Milford, CT is watching carefully to see how this turns out.
posted by felix betachat at 8:11 AM on May 1, 2008

As a former resident of Crete, I'm offended by the association caused by calling bodily filth 'excretion'. WHERE'S MY MOUTHPIECE?
posted by davelog at 9:26 AM on May 1 [+] [!]

You may have moved from the island Dave, but you always be considered a Cretan by us.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:12 AM on May 1, 2008

Collection of Flickr favorites of Dykes on Bikes photos from all over the world.

Dykes On Bikes Mapping in the U.S.
posted by ericb at 8:12 AM on May 1, 2008

you'll, you'll always.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:13 AM on May 1, 2008

The lawsuit by the S.F. founders was intended to insure that the name is for non-profit use only.

Yay!
posted by Tehanu at 8:16 AM on May 1, 2008

If the would all just move to Crete we'd be perfectly happy to call them Cretins.
posted by The Bellman at 8:16 AM on May 1, 2008

Damn you Pollomacho!
posted by The Bellman at 8:17 AM on May 1, 2008

This thread is useless without pics.
posted by Mikey-San at 10:21 AM on May 1 [+] [!]

I've got your hot Lesbian pics right here!
posted by Pollomacho at 8:31 AM on May 1, 2008

Bunch of philistines.
posted by Artw at 8:35 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

The cretans are cool as long as no one stops them from hopping.
posted by trondant at 8:40 AM on May 1, 2008

It's Lesbosians anyway, isn't it?
posted by Mister_A at 9:00 AM on May 1, 2008

::grumble grumble::

They said it was an island full of Greek lesbians...

::grumble::

So not what was advertised...

::grumble::

*unpacks camera*
posted by quin at 9:17 AM on May 1, 2008

I'm just waiting for a coalition of happy people to file suit against the gays.
posted by dersins at 10:17 AM on May 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

So how long until the Persians come to Lesbos and turn it into a nightclub?
posted by rooftop secrets at 10:32 AM on May 1, 2008

I vote they change their name to Heterosaxony.
posted by katillathehun at 11:39 AM on May 1, 2008

Good to see that despite the recession, the US is still exporting its love of litigation to the rest of the world.
posted by tommasz at 11:47 AM on May 1, 2008

Can't we just call them "Greeks"?
posted by Hildegarde at 11:57 AM on May 1, 2008

It's Lesvians in the proper transliteration of modern Greek, because beta has softened from B to V since Sappho.

And yes, they really should get over it. Really.
posted by athenian at 11:58 AM on May 1, 2008

So Sappho was bi? Sure has been a banner year for bisexuals (women at least).
posted by keep_evolving at 11:58 AM on May 1, 2008

My fellow Sodomites and I are watching this case very, very closely. We're hoping to get a big settlement and fix up the town in order to attract more of those sexy, sexy angels.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 12:07 PM on May 1, 2008

flapjax at midnite writes "Just wait till the ancestors of Amerigo Vespucci hear about this."

Descendants, you mean? Incidentally, the Soderini Letter, which contributed to the naming of America, claimed that the continent was populated by giants, cannibals, and sexually insatiable women. Making flapjax's comment halfway relevant, I guess.
posted by Araucaria at 12:08 PM on May 1, 2008

I think the Lesbosians argument carries alot of weight.

Further, this would give Lesbians everywhere the opportunity to start their own Mediterranean island of sapphic pleasure (you know, tennis, bike riding, that kind of thing) which they could call Lesbianna.

OOoh. Wait. The Lesbosians could change the name of their island to Alcibiadesia, thereby solving all their problems.
posted by ewkpates at 12:22 PM on May 1, 2008

Or is this a fight for a name in English, not in Greek?

Nope. It's in Greek too: L'esvia (=the female inhabitant of Lesvos), lesv'ia (=the female homosexual), the only difference is in the intonation of the word. In English the only difference is in the capitalization (no?) Lesbians vs lesbians.

They've had a good hundred years to bring this lawsuit, and it just occurs to them now?

It's not that a bunch of idiots decided to file a suit now, it's that for some reason it made your news now. Slow times for news, i dunno. But it's been happening. It's what you occasionally hear when you visit the island.

Which btw is a really beautiful island, Molyvos in particular. Aaaand it's where Michael Doukakis comes from. Cough.
posted by carmina at 12:49 PM on May 1, 2008

Snerk, snerk.

Oh, pooor homophobic islanders.
posted by lacedback at 12:49 PM on May 1, 2008

the Sodom Chamber of Congress...

Pet Shop Boys - The Sodom And Gomorrah Show: Live.
posted by ericb at 1:07 PM on May 1, 2008

It's not that a bunch of idiots decided to file a suit now, it's that for some reason it made your news now.

Really? 'Cause in the news story it says: "An early court date has now been set for judges to decide whether to grant an injunction against the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece and to order it to change its name." Are you saying the suit was settled years ago? Do tell us how it came out!
posted by languagehat at 1:11 PM on May 1, 2008

Milford, CT is watching carefully to see how this turns out.
posted by felix betachat

Hey, my ex-wife lives in Milford -- what're you trying to say, here, felix??

I was listening to the radio one day and the announcer botched a news report about the Lebanese Army, referring to "...the Lesbian Army." And I was all like, "My god, they got guns!"
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 1:13 PM on May 1, 2008

I'm confused; are we talking about people from Lebanon or actors here?
posted by TedW at 1:13 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

And, of course...

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom!

Which I saw many years ago and was really funny.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 1:16 PM on May 1, 2008

Both, TedW... both.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 1:17 PM on May 1, 2008

I'm confused; are we talking about people from Lebanon or actors here?

Brings to mind Ellen DeGeneres' interview on David Letterman (1997) days before she officially outed her character ("Ellen Morgan") on her television sitcom and "came out" in "real life."

"The character does find out she's Lebanese"

posted by ericb at 1:43 PM on May 1, 2008

Really. There have been several cases over the last decade where this was brought to Lesvos perfecture courts and other local authorities (secular and non). I have followed these remotely and I know it has been consistently shot down, consistently brought back up again. For your information, the background is that the greek government intends to pass a law soon to create a "civil union" registry, aiming to cohabiting couples regardless of sexual orientation, while there have been recently two lesbian marriages that took place in Greece. This is what prompted another round of litigation.
posted by carmina at 2:10 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

I knew this would [removed via interim injunction (sub judice) Wendell v Metafilter LLC]
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:13 PM on May 1, 2008

Man, get a life. And shave your armpits.

(That last part was sarcastic. Please don't kill me.)
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:53 PM on May 1, 2008

There's similar outrage in Ecuador and Peru where the rainbow flag has traditionally been used to represent the native peoples of the Andes. They, too, are quite upset at the widespread association of the rainbow flag with the GLBT movement. I was eavesdropping on a local tour guide as he was giving his spiel in a museum down in Cusco when he became nearly apoplectic with rage explaning the significance of the rainbow flag and how it had been co-opted by "filthy types of questionable morality" (I'm paraphrasing).
posted by ooga_booga at 3:20 PM on May 1, 2008

I propose the loser of this court battle take the name "Lesbionics."
posted by jabberjaw at 3:36 PM on May 1, 2008

jabberjaw: that name is already trademarked by a company specialising in double-ended vibrators.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:02 PM on May 1, 2008

This old sketch by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie contains a million new words for either party to take as a name (and it's very funny). Excretions he he he
posted by merocet at 4:24 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

In related news the Comfortable Shoe Company, Inc has filed suit as well.
posted by jonmc at 4:50 PM on May 1, 2008

In related news the Comfortable Shoe Company, Inc has filed suit as well.

Yeah, but the other shoe dropped the suit.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:08 PM on May 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

oh for fucks sake. this is even more ridiculous than the "i spilled hot coffee on my lap. give me a jillion dollars because your coffee is too hot and it burned me" case.
posted by misanthropicsarah

Wow. Congratulations. I was seriously just wondering the other day whether there was anyone left who pushed this tired old canard.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 6:59 PM on May 1, 2008

A: So I saw this lesbian at a bar--
B: Was she hot?
A: No, she was a real Lesbian.
posted by Citizen Premier at 11:35 PM on May 1, 2008

What have you got against Greek girls?
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:52 PM on May 1, 2008

Let's see, a baseball bat, a katana, some sharp knives in the kitchen...

No, I don't really have anything against Greek girls, just homophobes being stupid for publicity.
posted by Citizen Premier at 12:01 AM on May 2, 2008

Shhh, nobody tell the Caucasians.
posted by Poagao at 12:15 AM on May 2, 2008

Meh. Meh, I say. It seems they didn't contact anyone who used to work for the Greek agency of BBC.

The man in question, Dimitris Lambrou, publishes a "journal" called Davlos (Torch). According to its articles, the antediluvian Greeks had spaceships and flying machines, which Homer described as the chariots of the gods. Not only that, but the earliest human, ancestor of Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens, was Greek -a theory coincidentally supported by the dictatorship of '67-74. You should also learn about the half a million-year-old statue discovered by one of the writers. The "journal" devotes a lot of space to such articles, as the Greek presence in the area has been irrelevant for the last 17 or 19 centuries, with the exception of the regime of Metaxas, another dictator. [1]

Now that we've got a quaint parochialist mix, add sexism, anti-semitism (communism and Christianism, the two great "Jewish conspiracies", were the cause of the holocaust) and attacks against the "unfair, wholly artificial, enslaving and dogmatic invention" of equality, that defies "natural selection" (natural=good), and the plate is almost ready. Carefully remove a multi-party system, because plurality causes the dissolution of the nations, and serve cold. So, it turns out such a man considers homosexuality some sort of defamation for the Lesbians. Colour me surprised.

I apologise for copying such bile here, but it puts things into perspective. Taking time from his "maverick ideas", this self-proclaimed totalitarian takes advantage of the rights that the, irrelevant, according to him, Greek State grants to its citizens. The restrictions against the Gay and Lesbian Community of Greece won't probably stand in court.

If BBC wanted to do an article addressing actual issues, they could mention the problems in Greece regarding free speech and art (removing two works of art from an exhibition, arresting an artist for defamation of the national symbols, removing an award-winning book from school libraries because a Nazi sympathiser found a judge who considered the book bad for children [it has sex!]). Or, taking a page from the recent papers, they could write a bit about how the current Greek marriage law doesn't mention genders and since '93/4 EU directives deny prejudice caused by sexual orientation, yet homosexuals aren't allowed to get married (two mayors recently inquired why they weren't allowed to do gay marriages; they haven't received an answer yet).

But hey, why spoil a perfectly fine LOLLESBIANS*?

*citizens of Lesbos, weren't you paying attention? :P

posted by ersatz at 4:47 PM on May 2, 2008 [3 favorites]