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Lesbos locals lose lesbian appeal | Lesbos locals lose lesbian appeal |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Three residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost an attempt to ban the use of the word "lesbian" to describe gay women. | Three residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost an attempt to ban the use of the word "lesbian" to describe gay women. |
The residents argued that using the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity. | The residents argued that using the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity. |
But an Athens court ruled there was no justification for their contention that they felt slighted, saying the word did not define the islanders' identity. | But an Athens court ruled there was no justification for their contention that they felt slighted, saying the word did not define the islanders' identity. |
Greeks often refer to the island as Mytilene, after its capital. | Greeks often refer to the island as Mytilene, after its capital. |
"This is a good decision for lesbians everywhere," Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, told Reuters news agency. | "This is a good decision for lesbians everywhere," Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, told Reuters news agency. |
Court expenses | Court expenses |
The island's name was applied to gay women in acknowledgement of the female poet Sappho, who wrote love poems about both women and men in about 600 BC. | The island's name was applied to gay women in acknowledgement of the female poet Sappho, who wrote love poems about both women and men in about 600 BC. |
The man spearheading the case, publisher Dimitris Lambrou, had claimed that international dominance of the word in its sexual context violated the human rights of the islanders - who call themselves Lesbians - and disgraces them around the world. | The man spearheading the case, publisher Dimitris Lambrou, had claimed that international dominance of the word in its sexual context violated the human rights of the islanders - who call themselves Lesbians - and disgraces them around the world. |
He argued it caused daily problems to the social life of Lesbos's inhabitants. | He argued it caused daily problems to the social life of Lesbos's inhabitants. |
But the court disagreed, ordering the plaintiffs to pay court expenses of 230 euros ($366), although they could appeal against the decision. |