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