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