Public kissing protest in Athens, Nov 14, 2003
first Greek public LGBT protest
14 November 2003
message posted to the Omofylofilia open mailing list about
homosexuality in Greece and Greek communities, to other Greek & European interested groups, and to persons who had
already responded to aur call to sent protesting email to the Greek government
From: hermeia
To: "ERMIS Informations-Center" ; "GreeksMAZI" ; "Omofylofilia-open mailist"
; "Euro-Sappho Mailing List" ; "ILGA-Europe"
Cc: "Rosa Santrich"; "Forum ERMIS" ; "Karine Wagner", ...
Sent: Σάββατο, 15 Νοεμβρίου 2003 9:42 πμ
Subject: [omofylofilia] public kissing protest
public kissing protest
Athens, Nov. 14, 2003
it was not easy to get there, there was a lot of fears involved, but there comes a time
when you got to shift into "fear override' mode
there were about thirty-something queer people there, about as much reporters and media
people, and about 20 policemen in response to our call for protection.
(I know some news agencies report 20 LGBT persons, but I could name 29 of them if I had
their permission to name them, 15 of which are women)
it was good, although long-nurtured internal phobias are quite a heavy cloak to shed so
lightly, but it was good and strong and beautiful.
only a few couples actually kissed, the police were rather bored, like they were
baby-sitting a media show, but almost everyone else, including a lot of the media people
present, showed strong signs they felt like a heavy lid was lifted.
when we kissed (a lesbian couple), the applause was most warming, if short.
this was our first public lgbt protest for our rights,
it was sweet, peaceful - if somewhat excited, it was great.
in Greek lesbian cyberspace the subject was first announced as "boys and girls to kiss",
and reports and after talk are still going under the headings "sweet kiss" and "100.000
kisses
Male homosexual kisses have been aired in Greek TV in the past, in foreign films and
series, and gay men negative stereotypes have been present in a few local productions, but
they were always lonely people that at best were good friends of some leading role - but
this was the first time it was a Greek production showing real-life gay men in real-life
situations.
We haven't seen lesbians on local TV, except for the occasional after-night porn - and the
very scarce incidents when our very few out activists are invited to be teared down by
"public feeling" supporters that strongly believe the public feeling is an exact copy of
their personal views, and are prepared to fight to death to impose it on everyone else.
(We're really looking forward to the day some Greek channel will decide to air the
"tipping the velvet" mini series..)
There's never been any fine imposed for any foreign gay scene, nor for porn films,
nor any comparably high fine imposed for any reason on any media company in Greece - as
far as I know.
It seems likely that what's engaged the television regulators mostly this time is that the
series was advertised with a clip containing shots of the gay kiss that showed during
"family hours" and there were some homophobic debates referring to it on other private
channels.
Some of the international press reports about our kissing protest seem to complain that
our kisses were too soft.
I really don't know what they expected from real people that would not even dare touch
their partner, nor even exchange a meaningful glance in public until the day before.
People that felt the need to applaud after their first public kiss.
We were not trying to make love in public, nor to enrage anyone, we were just trying to
make the point that a kiss is just a kiss.
And I think we made it, at least to people that will see the obvious and listen to reason.
And tomorrow -or rather today, I'll have to face family, friends, neighbors, peers and
everyone, alone. And I have no chances of ever getting a decent job here, unless I'm lucky
enough to get a job in one of the scarce LGBT business that will also have to be
non-homophobic themselves, and no, this is not so usual around here.
And even most non-homophobic lesbian and straight female friends will be afraid to be seen
with me in public, for what will people think of them ? And a lot of homophobic lesbians
and gays will personally attack me on the first chance they get.
But if I had let all this stop me from kissing in my own public protest for the right to
just be myself, I would not deserve being alive and I could not keep pretending I were my
own self.
we have to thank..
- the trans-women association, SATTE, for starting all this
- the gay, lesbian and trans protesters
- friends and strangers that sent protest mail to the ministry of press
- the Greek rainbow community, for working unanimously on this happening in such a short notice
- the Greek police force
- everyone that was there
- everyone that supported us in any way they could
thank you all for your interest and your support
keep a virtual eye on the Greek LGBT community, it's just starting to feel it's a
community and it's got a voice, and rights to demand and rights to to defend.
The subject of the fine is not closed, as the fine is not canceled, and the media channel
involved will go to court.
So please keep sending your protest letters,
let's fill their mailbox before Monday morning shift :-)
Here is an excelent example of a letter already sent to the ministry of Press, by Dennis
Carney ...
I am appalled by the recent retrograde action taken by Greek authorities regarding the
broadcating of a gay kiss on Greek TV. Given that Greece is now a member of the 'European
Community' whose members do not criminalise homosexuality, it is with much sadness that
Greece has taken this backward step, which in my view, supports and encourages further
hate crimes against Lesbians & Gay men living in Greece. I believe that all citizens of
Greece should have the same rights to express their love and affection and not be vilified
for 'kissing'. I think that an opportunity to challenge homophobia in a constructive way
has been missed by fining the Mega Channel TV which screened the gay kiss. If anything I
feel the action will lead to more calls to end this assault on human rights, which have
clearly been infringed by the punitive action taken by the state. I fully support members
of the lesbian & gay community, their family, friends and supporters who denounce the
action taken, supporting freedom of expression and trust that the planned protest next
week is a success.
Greek ministry of Press press@yme.gr
cc. Mega-TV publ_rel@megatv.com
cc. Greek Homosexuality mailist omofylofilia-moderator@groups.queernet.org
(the last one is to inform us -all the leters you sent are forwarded to the list - more
about the Omofylofilia mailing list: [old.url]http://geocities.com/omofylofilia )
regards,
Hermeia the InfoSharer
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
=========================================================
This is message #214.
URL: [old]http://geocities.com/omofylofilia
=========================================================
.
. . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . .
