| With Achilles and Patroclus, Alcibiades and | | | | for openly gay lifestyles. |
| Socrates, Alexander and Hephaestion, and the | | | | When Greece joined the European Union, it was |
| world's most famous lesbian poet, Sappho, | | | | forced to accept EU pressure to liberalize laws |
| Ancient Greece has traditionally been viewed as | | | | regulating homosexuality. Homosexuality is now no |
| the birthplace of gay culture. As such, you'd think | | | | longer criminalized in Greece. But discrimination still |
| Greece would have a long and tolerant attitude | | | | exists. Homosexual prostitution is illegal, |
| toward homosexuality. But, you'd be wrong. | | | | heterosexual prostitution is not. Vague references |
| The Sacred Band of Thebes is one example of | | | | to "moral standards" have also been used to |
| how the Ancient Greeks used homoerotic | | | | discriminate against gay men and lesbians when it |
| relationships between soldiers to boost the fighting | | | | comes to military service, and adoption. In 2000, |
| spirit of their militaries. These bonds, inspired by | | | | the Greek government flatly refused to discuss |
| episodes from Greek mythology, such as Achilles | | | | the EU suggestion that civil unions be recognized, |
| and Patroclus in the Iliad by Homer, were thought | | | | but by 2005 The Panhellenic Socialist Movement |
| to enhance morale. | | | | (PASOK) under party leader George Andreas |
| Homer himself, however, does not explicitly | | | | Papandreou began work on a legislative proposal |
| describe a sexual relationship between Achilles and | | | | for recognition of unmarried couples, homosexual |
| Patroclus, although it can be implied by their | | | | and heterosexual, following the French example of |
| interactions separate from the rest of the Greeks | | | | 'Le pacte civile de la solidarité'. It has yet to |
| and then Achilles' intense reaction to Patroclus' | | | | pass. |
| death, which leads to tragic end of the story. | | | | The International Lesbian and Gay Association, has |
| Yet while this type of relationship was sometimes | | | | derided Greece's discriminatory laws and has |
| lauded by military writers of the time, it was | | | | appealed to the EU to penalize Greece for |
| definitely denounced by philosophers and politicians. | | | | violating its charter. However, the Greek |
| In spite of all the stories of open homosexuality in | | | | Orthodox Church maintains a strong influence on |
| Ancient Greece, the reality was that Ancient | | | | public policy and there is little broad public support |
| Athens had the most repressive anti-gay laws of | | | | to change laws. |
| any democracy in history. There is a reason why | | | | The Greek media is monitored by the National |
| the famous gay lovers in the history and literature | | | | Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV), which is |
| of Greece only alluded to their love. To do | | | | considered very homophobic by most people. The |
| otherwise would result in exile or death. | | | | Council has banned any showing or display of gay |
| In the 18th and 19th centuries British travelers, | | | | or lesbian shows and has fined TV shows for |
| such as the poet Byron, would gravitate to | | | | presenting real homosexual characters, and in two |
| Greece fed on these ancient stories that seemed | | | | cases levied huge fines when networks aired |
| to promise a grand gay culture in Greece. What | | | | images of same-sex kisses. |
| they found was a very harsh patriarchal society | | | | Gay bars are open in Athens and on the islands |
| that detested any form of homosexuality. Many | | | | of Mykonos and Santorini but are much harder to |
| of these 'Grand Tourists' were beaten and left | | | | find in other areas of the country. Lesbos has a |
| Hellas black and blue. | | | | lot of lesbian tourism but does little to cater |
| A tour around the islands of Mykonos or Lesbos | | | | specifically to lesbian tourists. |
| during the summer months today would persuade | | | | So while Greece is perhaps looked at as the |
| you things have changed in 2500 years and these | | | | birthplace of gay culture and has a long and |
| places have well-earned reputations as centres for | | | | stories history of homosexuality it still has a long |
| gay tourism. But outside of these islands and the | | | | way to go to met even the minimum standards |
| larger cities of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Iraklion | | | | of tolerance expected in the rest of Europe. |
| there is little tolerance in the Greek mainstream | | | | |