Lesbians of Lesbos arise

Image via Wikipedia

The Island of Lesbos located in the Agean Sea, is apart of a Series of Islands which makes up the Greek Islands. Lesbos is also the eight largest in the Mediterranean Sea and it exists as a part of the Lesbos Prefecture. It has a population of some 90,000 people and a total livable area of some 1,630km2. Those who are natives of the Island are known as Lesbians.

Some of you may be wondering why this little Geography lesson is of any great importance. Well it would appear that the Lesbians (thats the people of Lesbos, male and female rather than the female homosexual) are a little tired of being associated with Homosexual Couture. As you may have guessed or known, the Island of Lesbos is the former home of the Greek Poet, Sappho. Sappho's works are few and far between now and many have been lost to antiquity. Despite this, her reprutation has endured to the modern day. According to that wonderful source of Wikipedia

Sappho's poetry centers on passion and love for various personages and genders. The word "lesbian" derives from the name of the island of her birth, Lesbos; her name is also the origin of its less common synonym sapphic. The narrators of many of her poems speak of infatuations and love (sometimes requited, sometimes not) for various women, but descriptions of physical acts between women are few and subject to debate. Whether these poems are meant to be autobiographical is not known, although elements of other parts of Sappho's life do make appearances in her work, and it would be compatible with her style to have these intimate encounters expressed poetically, as well. Her homoerotica should be placed in the seventh century (BC) context. The poems of Alcaeus and later Pindar record similar romantic bonds between the members of a given circle.^[22]

Soucre: Wikipedia.com

So what have the Lesbians of Lesbos taken exception too exactly? Well According to the Telegraph and CNN, the islanders have taken exception to the Greek LGBT Group OLKE using the phrase Lesbian in their title. According to CNN:

"This is not an aggressive act against gay women," Lambrou said. "Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title."

He said the plaintiffs targeted the group because it is the only officially registered gay group in Greece to use the word lesbian in its name. The case will be heard in an Athens court on June 10.

Source: CNN

Its an interesting Case I guess, but its a load of horse shit to be honest. A National LGBT group should Of course recognise all its members, either within its title or within its mandate. I understand where the Lesbians of Lesbos (ie the natives) may have a problem with having their apparent regional identity associated with the name Lesbians (ie women who love women) but to be honest, even the language above from CNN suggests that it targeted the Group deliberately because it uses Lesbian in its title. Should a Precedent be set, then the possibility for using Lesbian (ie women who love women) could possibly be forbidden for being used.

This comes on foot of an ultimatium issued by OLKE back in March after they uncovered a loophole in Greek Civil Marriage law which only specified persons and not specifically gender. This was tested in March by a Lesbian couple who got married civilly in the Athens suburb Kessairiani. You can read more about that on 365gay.com. Now if only it was as easy as that in Ireland. Oh wait thats right, there is no Constitutional definition of "marriage" by the Supreme Court of Ireland despite what the AG thinks. But sure nothing in life is ever that easy I guess.

Anyway to finish off the post, I find Southpark (surprisingly) somewhat appropriate. :-)

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

MARRIAGEQUALITY

Civil Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

For release: 31 March 2008

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

– New National Poll

Over twice as many Irish people favour civil marriage over civil partnership for gay and lesbian people Lansdowne poll shows

A new poll shows an increase in the number of people who believe that gay and lesbian people should be allowed to marry rather than just form civil partnerships, as currently proposed by the Government.

The national poll, which was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality, shows that 58% of people are of the view that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office, and less than half that number, 26%, are of the view that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships but not marry.

This indicates a swing towards civil marriage since a poll carried out in November 2006, again by Lansdowne for the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). Then, 51% of respondents agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry and 33% agreed that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships only.

The new MarriagEquality poll also shows that six out of 10 people (61%) agree that it is unfair that gay and lesbian people are excluded from getting married in a registry office. In addition, an overwhelming 86% of people agree that children of gay and lesbian parents should have the same family rights as other children.

According to Grainne Healy, co-chair of MarriagEquality, the latest poll is evidence of a consistent emerging demand amongst Irish people for full equality for gay and lesbian people. MarriagEquality is working for civil marriage for gay and lesbian people.

“We have been saying that there is a demand for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people. This national poll, carried out by an independent research company, is data based proof of our own anecdotal evidence,” said Healy.

“Significantly, it underlines a consistent and positive trend over two years. When we compare these results with previous research and polls carried out since February 2006 we see that attitudes have stayed consistent, that they are positive and growing in support.”

…./2

The Government is proposing to introduce draft legislation on civil partnership soon after the Dail resumes this Wednesday. Civil partnership is not civil marriage. It will create a separate but unequal institution for gay and lesbian couples. According to Healy, this latest poll indicates that the people may be ahead of Government thinking on this issue.

“While civil partnership will indeed satisfy the needs of some couples, it will not satisfy the needs of couples who want to get married. The Government has been saying that Irish people are not ready for civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples. This poll and previous polls clearly indicate otherwise.”

The Lansdowne poll for MarriagEquality, which took place between March 4 and16, surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 people throughout the country.

Consistent Public Support – The Story So Far

March 2008

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership.

58% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office.

26% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

61% agree that it is unfair that gay men and women are excluded from getting married in a registry office.

November 2006

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for GLEN

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership

51% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

33% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

October 2006

Sunday Tribune Opinion Poll carried out by Millward Brown IMS

64% believe that same-sex couples should have the same legal and financial rights as married couples.

February 2006

Irish Examiner Poll carried out by RedC

51% of the national population in favour of gay unions/marriages.

Dublin: Fingal Co. Council to allow Civil Marriages in Town Hall

Well it would appear the Civil Registrations Act 2004 has begun its remit properly with the Green Party encouraging the use of Civic Buildings in order to allow the institution of Civil marriage to take place. Needless to say, this applies to Heterosexual couples only. Oh and any councils out there which wants to start issuing Marriage licenses for Same-sex couples, it would be great if you thought about it, whilst also using your own clout to influence Central Government policy. Funny isn't it though that this comes from a Green Party Cllr when there own party endorses Same-Sex Civil Marriage but kinda gave up on that when they went into Government..

Couples to say ‘I do’ in Swords County Hall

Green Party Cllr Joe Corr has welcomed Fingal County Council's decision to allow civil marriage ceremonies take place in the council chamber of the County Hall in Swords.

Cllr Corr put a motion to the Council requesting the use of the chambers, following recent legislation changes permitting civil marriage ceremonies at nominated locations.

Cllr Corr said: “Fingal County Council’s Swords building offer fine facilities to local couples who wish to marry. The council chamber in County Hall is very beautifully designed and would make a fantastic back drop for a marriage ceremony. There are a number of additional benefits to having a civil ceremony at the Hall. Firstly there is the size of the room and the public gallery to accommodate guests. Secondly, there is the added value of web-casting so that relatives around the world unable to attend the wedding can log on and view it. I also see it as a valuable service provided by the council for the community and in particular for couples who would like to have an alternative to a church wedding in their local area.”

The motion received widespread cross party support and the Council Executive has said arrangements will be made to make the Chamber available when not in official use.

“I consider Fingal County Council to be the most innovative local authority in the country and as a local authority both the management and the elected members are constantly looking for new ways to provide a full service to the people of Fingal,” said Cllr Corr. “I am delighted that the Corporate Service Department will now actively pursue the possibility of having the Mayor of the day appointed as a Soleminister to perform the civil ceremonies, and make Fingal the first local authority in the Republic of Ireland to do so.”

via: Green Party Website.