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Greek Sapphite News 2005
News in Greek the first Greek e-news page, reporting about our own issues and concerns !!! in the Sapphites pages since 2001 (english page since spring 2003) |
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* OSSATE: a European research program trying to record accessible tourist residences in Greece, along with other European countries. This is about places where ALL people are really wellcome, it shows in the way anyone may enter without obstacles. (ps. most Greek government buildings are still inaccesible.. but toyrism is a good place to start.. ) ** Athens, November 2005. A forgoten greek lesbian book has been found and republished by Greek scholar Christina Dounia, associate professor of modern Greek literature at the University of Ioannena. "Her lover (female)", by Dora Rozeti (probably a writer's pseydonym) is possibly the oldest modern Greek lesbian novel, originally published in 1929 and greatly praised by Grigorios Xenopoylos for its fresh writing style and truthfulness, then lost in the usual Greek social forced non-existence of lesbians. Dora, the narator, a chemistry student, describes her story with Liza, her bright and beautiful lover, and her quest to own her body and her personal happiness in 1920s Athens, which ends in their mutual escape to Italy. The reader is lead through the political changes of the time, the youth and the students lifestyle and ideals, in a personal calendar style with socially penetrative view and rather bold erotic content for its era. No wonder it dissapeared.. Professor Dounia, intrigued by Xenopoylos great praise, has been searching for the book for years.. only to discover it accidentally in a private collection in Lesbos island. " Miss Rozeti's book, like the title shows, is narating the love of same sex people, two girls, in Athens, - a love that was not restricted to platonic soul-level. The most un-natural, unlawfull strange thing to happen? Still, reading the story, one finds it is quite natural and proper. Because it is real (sincere).. Only once again in my life have I read a suchlike book full of erotic passion and that was also incidentally written by a woman. There is no doubt miss Rozeti knows the art of writing. Her thought is sharp and deep, her brush-strokes colour the line/s (the tao, the way..) and the atmosphere. She felt .. " Gregorios Xenopoylos somewhere around 1930 Republished November 2005, Athens, Metaichmio Editions (in Greek), isbn 9603759074, edited and afterworded by Christina Doynia. * Athens, autumn 2005, There's some public talk about same-sex mariage or partnership or what. Alavanos, the leader of the minor left party "Synaspismos" placed the question in the parliament. But the mainstream politicians are prospering in the greek orthodox church backyard.. and they're certainly not likely to upset the big bearded chief with the golden robes. They reasured the public that nothing like that is going to happen in this country.. Yorgos Papandreoy, the head of the .. party prepares a bill about registered parnership for heterosexual couples ONLY !!! Who cares about the european comission directives and treaties.. who cares about the dear fines to be added to the country's debt and to the poor people taxes.. who reads the (...) report on ... who cares about mainstream papers internet polls showing 49% of the voters want a homosexual marriage law.. The politicians declare the greek people are "not ready" to stop discriminating against lgbt people, and they do their best to make sure the next generation is not going to be informed about equal rights. It's as simple as keeping the Ministry of Church controling education and enough church-people in the .. (chairing?) commities of public health orgs like the Center for Controling STD, of the media-controling "anexartites" authorities co... are not endangering their public profile.. * The first Athens Pride March is now a fact ! Saturday, June 25th, 2005, Athens learned her lesson about the lgbt community right to celebrate it's existence, and the community learned a bigger lesson about what a community can be, and the friends and supporters we got. The Greek media were all over the Klafthmonos square a couple of hours before the march, I've never seen so many cameras in one place at a time again.. but they didn't promote it on TV, they're probably still thinking of what to do with the stuff. The local press reported the fact mostly without any pro nor against flavour, most papers had a short article and a small photo on Monday, and a couple had feature pages and references on the front page (Eleytherotypia... ). My estimate coincides with BBC, there must have been somewhat above 500 people on the March - Not counting the police escorts at the end of the parade, and the photographers that were actually expecting the marches holding the heavy banners against the sudden wind gusts to.. also mind and avoid the occasional photograher closing up on our faces like trunks in mid-street. I guess out special guest of honor were the few tourists that happened to be in front of the parliament as our rainbow flag and colourfull croud advanced in front of it.. turning their cameras to us, and cheering us, like we were partly marching for them. We probably were. The feeling of solidarity was great, the extra-effort of the dedicated bunch of people organising was wirth it. We spent the next two days resting and laughing our hearts out at the success! The time was ripe, so many people were ready for it. Now we got the time, a better chance and some experience for better organisation for the next one. There have been Pride Events in the past, but never a pride march on the streets, never an out-proud party on a central square. See our first attempt at a Greek LGBT history. some reference links .. http://news.findlaw.com/ap/p/56/06-25-2005/7a98000eed10b166.html - associated press reported.. (broken link, Jan 2006) Every lgbtiq+ person in greece is somewhat excited about the Athens pride, though not always positive. We've made a lot of new friends.. and some old friends have surprised us in not especialy positive ways. Our supposed "big" activists are quite moderate about the pride festival.. some supporting it with apprehenssion, others just keeping safely away, while some few sadly tried to cancel the parade. The same people organising events on the eve, to "talk to us" about the same Pride they're not sure they're supporting.. (& and any kind of event they can think of..) while still presenting themselves as self-appointed representatives of the Greek lgbt community. The transvestites took back their promise to bring their float, and the new administration of the local trans organisation (SATTE) decided they won't come. But the parade will go on, if with a bunch of young and inexperienced people that are tired of leading double-lives and feeling sorry for themselves. Watch out for those dykes-on-bikes, they're our bravest people. The parade will be small, bravest and historic - we owe it to the youngest who cannot escape their mammas on that day. Three days & today from day-zero! ** Athens Pride 2005 !!! a bunch of people - some representing their groups and orgs, some simply people, are trying hard to organise Athens Pride 2005, for Saturday, June 25th, an all-day event in downtown Athens, including the parade and a big open party. It looks good, a lot of people are quite happy about it, and some people (mostly non-lgbt !) are quite friendly and helpful. There has been such-like events in the past, sometimes they were just parties, sometimes thery included cultural events, but they were never public enough for the average Athenian to see or hear about it. This time we hope an all-day downtown event will be visible enough. We'd surely appriciate all kinds of support, including information and tips.. The general flow of event goes something like.. opening before noon (we hope!), some groups and orgs have information stands, some small events like henna tatoos and painting.. some music.. (remember this is the hot meditareneean summer.. don't miss your broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen, very light food and take loads of water.. we expect +30 d. Celcius. better avoid the hottest hours 13:00-16:00 if you're not accustomed to hot climates). 18:00 line-up for the parade. 18:30- 19:30 parade to Syntagma square and back. 20:00-24:00 party. For more info, program details and anything as it comes up.. there will be a sapphites page in english too (.. coming soon.. see the greek page at www.sapphogr.net/athenspride/2005/ - if only to see the images..), the events will appear in detail in the Calendar & you may try www.lgbt.gr (the site of EOK for the pride), they say it's got an english version, & you may also contact us, especially if you're to promote the event in your site or/and in magazines etc. printed material. ** Public Discussion about the new greek law for equal treatment .. (some details about the law in Greek (N.3304/2005), at the April rainbow forum, April 4th, 2005, at the Argo theater, participating speakers included representatives from the greek ombudsman office, and the competent ministries (of Employment & of Justce ) .. we learned a lot again, and this was probably the first public discussion with considerable active participation from women. - to report discriminative behaviour at work in the private section, we contact the body of work inspectors (which inspectors have not been briefed about the new rights yet.. because the greek state cannot afford their minimum cost contribution.. while the european funds for the same reason have been here ofcource.. For details please call the Greek ministry of Employment, section of equal opportunities.. or better call the body of work inspectors and ask them about the emploees rights..!) The inspectors are supposed to try for settlements and compromisses, and if necessary, send the case to labour courts. "In serious cases" .. the section of equal opportunities will take over the case.. According to the new law, this is the procedure for the employe of prospect employee, against the employer or the person acting as an employer. We find this procedure lacking a lot in comparisson with the letter and the spirti of the 78/2000 EU directive.. in a. the basic right to equality is non-negitiable, b. we are afraid that even if educated about the new rights, the inspectors are will not be objective negotiators c. the restriction of this proceddure only against the employer .. leaves a lot of holes the directive was supposed to cover, and d. where is that part about inhibitive penalties ? - For discrimination from the public sector (except the parliament and religious organisations), we refer to the greek ombudsman. They seem to be the best informed section about rights in general, and ther are sensitive to discrimination. (they cannot judge the parliament, it's their employer!) Discrimination from the public section include the police, justice .. and anything else you're not certain it's private sector.. and does not limit its scope to discrimination protected by this particular law. (.. including an open telephone line.. more in their webpage.. /www.synigoros.gr - mostly in greek) - the ministry of Justice said they have "an open communication line for any question the citisent might need to ask " .. and for advice .. call +30.210.7757107 - the ministry of Employment has the "administration of social protection" .. - About the juge subject that noone even tries to inform the public not the affocted social groups, nor the students, the young, the police, the press-people, .. there was this hint about "the portion of the Ministry of Education" (which does not do anything as usuall.. and that's not just because its "the ministry of education and religin" .. and the conservative greek church will not allow anyone educating about anything new in general.. and don't even mention homosexual rights.. it's supposed to be against godess herself! ) and they're waiting for the "truck from Europe" to come on May 14th (possibly at the Zappeion). It will probably be just a private fiesta for export-to-europe purposes, like they use to do..) - Nasos Theodorides, from Antigone suggested that the ministries sent explanatory notes to the other ministries .. - It wasdeclared prety blantly, that "the basic right is that we don't have to tell", that is our sexual preferences .. OK, now we got the lawfull right to get back in our closets .. But they didn't say what we should do in case some smart gay or gal outs us without permission.. - We asked about the different translation of the EU directive clause about the burden of proof, refering to the exapmple of the Greek presidential decree (?) 105/2003 about the same clause in discrimination on the grounds of sex (male/female), whish is an exact translation of the european directive (minus the gender discrimination "translation" to sex-discrimination here!) and the fact that all pertinent parts of various EU directives use the same exact wording about the burden of proof.. for various different grounds of discrimination.. The new greek law says tha the offended have "to prove to the court". The guy from the ministry of Justice said that we actually have to prove anything we say in court .. that was the great man's answer !!!! - about the ..the institution of legal support.. (to people that cannot afford to pay a lawyer).. oh, it surely exists in theory. But in practice, there's no money to pay the laywers. There are lawyers that are not paid yet for court-standings.. Just this.. and no mentioning of any severe penalties that would keep the employers within the law's limits, according to the EU directive .. also.. The General secretariat for Equality (of the Greek Ministry of the Interior).. that appears to be a national supporter of every discrimination on european level, is actually only responsible for "sex equality" (or woman equality), and does NOT support any other kind of discrimination. - the representative of the ministry of Justice said they are preparing varioys "frui-basket" type bills.. in one of which they just might include the fruit of abolishing article 347 of the penal code. - The Greek Helsinki Monitor & the UN are seeking reports about all kinds of discrimination or/and authority abuse of power by police staff. - It is of utmost importance to have as many memos and papers send in by as many groups and organizations as possible - the OLKE community sent to the ministry of Justice a petition for expantion of the civil marriage law (obviously in order to be specific about being valid for homosexual couples.. not leaving margin to be 'interpreted" against the constitution as supposedly being discriminating.. as is is considered to be "meaning" now .. ) and the ministry said it is not competent on this subject! (we knew that!.. ) So the only avenue left is for homosexual couples to start applying for marriage licences .. "The Greek Helsinki Monitor is asking homosexual couples to apply to the city hall !! " On the secont part of the forum, there was a proposal to see if we can organise an Athens pride, or at least to find out why we cannot. The first discussion meeting was set for next Friday, April 8th, in a private place. The rest is history now. * UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES REVIEW OF REPORT BY GREECE Experts Welcome Creation of New Laws, Institutions to Ensure Fundamental Freedoms but Voice Concerns over Rights of Minorities, Foreigners http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/hrct664.doc.htm - Press Release 23/3/2005 * UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE (...) Takes up Initial Report of Greece, covering the period from 1997 to 2003, On Compliance with International Covenant on Civil, Political Rights http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/hrct663.doc.htm - Press Release 22 March 2005 * State Homophobia in Greece - A new homophobic attack by the National Council for Radio and Television, report by ILGA-Europe, 01.02.2005 On December 21, 2004 the National Council for Radio and Television (ESR) attempted to put an end to an entertainment and news radio show for lesbians and gays - the only one of its... full article : http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategory=9&ZoneID=4&FileID=481 * Greek Law 3304/2005 about non-discrimination at work.. implementing EC directives 78/2000 & 43/2000, valid since early February 2005. In January 2005 the Parliament adopted a law on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, religious or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation. the implementation is quite far from the original directives, but this is the first Greek law explicitly supporting equality in the grounds of sexual orientation. the full law - in Greek - html * Open discussion of interested persons and groups to coordinate responces for our lost lgbt radio-show, at the immigrants place, Tsamadou 13 pedestrian street, Exarchia, Thrursday February 17th, 8pm letter about the repeated expicit homophobia of the Greek broadcasting authority - in Greek * Open discussion about mass media and homoerotic people Thrursday February 3rd, at the immigrants place, Tsamadou 13 pedestrian street, Exarchia, 9pm * 23rd Rainbow Forum, February 2005, Wed., 2 Feb. 05, Autonomus Place (Zoodohu Pigis & Isavron) 6pm, co-ordinated by the Sapphites Public discussion on " Public Media & discrimination due to homoerotic behaviour " with.. Elizabetta Kazaloti (Eleftherotypia), Gregoris Valianatos (freelance reporter) Trursday, 20th January 2005, at the immigrants place (Tsamadou 13 pedestrian street) - help a good audience, and we heard a lot of interesting information * Athens, 10 January 2005 - the long awaited for bill about non-discrimination at work and in providing goods and services, in accordance with the EC directives 78/2000 and 43/2000, is finally at the Greek parliament, about to become law. !!! Article 16 goes a litle further than the EC directives, stating.. 1. Whoever violates the prohibition of discrimination according to this law, on the grounds of race, ethnicity, .. religion or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services, is punished by imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and up to one thousand to five thousand euros penalty. (our temporary translation of the original Greek article) The new law is 3304/2005 and is not realy, practicaly supporting people's rights.. but it's a start - if a very slow and late one. For example the above article is empty of real meaning as "according to this law" there's no anti-discrimination rights provided in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of anyhting but race and ethnicity. Another example.. the directives demand the split of proof: the discriminated person only has to bring forward real circumstances suggesting discrimination involved, as in other like directives (ie. the gender directive), but this greek law demands they PROVE there was discrimination!!! - unlike the similar greek laws providing the exact same phrasing about the burden of proof from similar directives protecting different discrimination grounds. Want some more ? - There's no provision for any real support to discriminated lgbt persons that are refused work.. and how may the unemployed take it up to the highest court to rule according to the real EU directives provisions ? Needless to say there's no information campaigh to any of the affected parties.. ie. this new law is valid since February 15th, and does not support gender-discrimination, supposedly supported years earlier by the "sex" antidiscrimination laws (this is between male and female, not about gender!) and still today (late Feb. 2005) minor municipalities of the Thessaloniki area are discriminating grossly against women to be hired by a. demanding higher qualities by women, and b. arbitrarily excluding women with higher total qualificalions, in order to keep the sex-balance lower than the 30% the greek law specifies as the minimun sex-antidiscrimination safeguard !!! This is the greek legal system in all it's glory.. trying it's best to conform to the visible letter of the EC law.. while practicaly using every possible way to nulify the real rights supposed to be supported, as usual. What's happening in Lesbian Greece - Nov.Dec.04 Report comming up .. (subject: lgbt and the media .. ) Proud Parents Greek program - for families living in Greece & Greek families everywhere Parents, grandparents and siblings of lgbt people having come to terms with the fact their child, grandchild, brother or sister is not heterosexual, are kindly requested to compose letters addressed to parents currently undergoing the difficult phase of original denial/guilt etc. This project is trying to address the particular situation of the greek family, and we would like the letter-writers to be able to write in Greek with the rare exception of people not-so-fluent in Greek that have lived long enough in greek society & family structure, to be able to recognise the difference between what's supposed to be average expectations and practice within a greek family today, in contrast to the current family practices in different local cultures. We've got our first Greek mom account from Crete.. We hope to have translated the basics of the program and typical parts of the letters in english by the end of the year. "Πεpη&phiαvoι γovειs", call for support & participation, in greek snail-mail: Perifanoi Goneis/Proud-Parents, - Proud Promotions, - L. Sygroy 72, - Athens, pc. 11772, - GREECE" * Cretan Antiracism Festival, 25-26 September, Rethymnon, Crete - this time there was two LGBT stalls at the municipality Gardens, the Sapphites and POEK (Homosexuals Initiative Against Oppression), and a lot more friendlines and support... * Attempted rape case a minor offence? Athens, Friday Aug. 27, 2004 A case of attempted rape by a police cadet that happened two weeks ago (Aug 13th), at Kolonos neiborhood of Athens, 9pm, was brought to court as a "minor offence". The case was postponed, as the defendant claimed illness. Women's groups wellcome the extra time, as they are trying to change the category of the case. Attemped rape is not a minor incident. Do we have to advice the district attorney? The fact that the woman cried loudly and some passers-by arrested the offender doesn't make it minor, nor does the fact he's a promising police cadet (who should know better), nor the fact he is a country-boy temporarily dispatched to the city to offer his "extra protection" to people during the Olympics. After a couple of postponements asked for by the defence, the case was sceduled for (mid-september). when "all cases sceduled for this day were given the wrong date" !!! - and postponed again for "some time in October" The case is now due for October 27st (a bank holiday, when schools parade for the 28th of October "No" day !!!), with the maximum chances for another postponement. The case is still supposed to be an "autoforo" case ("caught-at-the-act" .. which is supposed to go to court on the very first working-morning after the offence date.. and the defendant is supposed to stay in jail until he/she goes to court .. ). The defendant is suspended from his police-cadet-school.. but it looks like some people are.. "more equal" at postponing "autoforo" cases .. And if someone would strongly like to tire-out the women who want to be supportively present at this hearing.. they have surely made it.. You may contact feministnet@hotmail.com for updates or to express your support. We'll try and update you when we hear anything on the subject. Athens Pride 2004?
** Athens,GR, the 17th Rainbow Forum, was held on August 4th, starting 7pm (actually started at 20 past), at the on-street tables of the "Rages" cafe-bar, 82 Konstantinopoleos str. near Iera Odos, coordinated by .. no-one in particular, patronised by "Mr. EOK" Vagelis Gianellos. About 10 persons attended, one each by the following groups: antivirus (left at 7:30), Satte, Helsinki monitor, AKOE, Sapphittes, Lesbians-in-action, and a few "friends of.." friendly groups. ** Athens,GR, the 16th Rainbow Forum, was held on July 7th, starting 7pm, at the "Rages" theater, 82 Konstantinopoleos str. & Iera Odos, coordinated by EOK. * the Athens Antiracism festival 2004 was a great celebration of equality .. for three consecutive evenings, July 4-6, at the Plateia Protomayas .. ** Athens,GR, the 15th Rainbow Forum, was held
on June 2nd, 6pm.
at the NTUA, Gkini building, room 18, coordinated by the Sapphites group.
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more.. LGBT Greece News Women for a different Europe - a new party for the european parliament elections, anounces their site will soon be on at www.gynaika.gr (site for sale, October 2006 ) May 2004 Euroletter of ILGA, reporting on spring changes in european rights ** Athens,GR, the May Rainbow forum, met at the
Antiracism Steki on May 12th..
April Rainbow forum: Wednesday, March 31th, 2004, Athens, NTUA, coordinated by POP (Homosexual citisents initiative) March Rainbow forum: Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004, Athens, NTUA, coordinated by POEK (Homosexual initiative against oppression) * Being lesbian, Greek and religious? - the Sapphites answers to the Country Questionaire for the ForumSisters book project (Feb. 2004) February Rainbow forum: Wednesday, Feb 7th, 2004, Athens, NTUA January Rainbow forum: Wednesday, January 7th, 2004, at Poulantza foundation, Sarri 14 str. at Psiri (nearest metro station: Monastiraki), at 6pm as usual. Coordinated by the Athens Lesbian Group - email: lesbiangroup-AT-hotmail.com "The well of loneliness", by Radcliffe Hall is available in Greek at last! - by Koukida publications, Athens, translated by Niki Stayridi (presentation in Greek) |
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