L-word cancelled?

All ye sisters out there, listen up, the L-word is under fire. I'm not talking about the popular Showtime series but rather the use of this LGBT title. One simple word - lesbian - is causing a stir in Greece. Just a few weeks ago, a Greek court was asked to draw the line between the natives of the Aegean Sea Island of Lesbos (Lesvos) and gay women everywhere.

It seems that female islanders are fed up with sharing their long-standing name with gay women of the world. The Eastern Mediterranean area was one of the first cradles of mankind. By the last phase of the Neolithic era (up to about 2000 B.C.) this area was densely populated. Some time between 630 and 612 B.C., one of the few known female poets of the ancient world, Sappho, was born. Being a wealthy aristocrat afforded her the opportunity to study the arts on the isle of Lesbos, which at the time was a cultural center in Greece. In her lyric poems, she often wrote about her affections for other women. Because of her poetry, which at the time was not condemned for its homoerotic content, both the words lesbian and Sapphic have been used to describe female homosexuality.

Today, Greece is possibly one of the least accepting of LGBT citizens in the European Union, believed to be due to the great deal of influence the Greek Orthodox Church exerts over public policy. Gay women have had it the worst. In a society where masculinity is revered, homoerotic feelings between men has been more understood than that of women, where the idea of not needing a man is almost inconceivable. Just last month, after finding a loophole in the Greek marriage law, a pair of Greek lesbians (the gay kind) attempted to be the country's first same-sex couple to marry in a civil ceremony. The loophole was found in a 1982 law that does not specify that a civil union must involve a man and woman, but only refers to "persons." At press time it could not be confirmed that the civil union took place. Greek LGBT folks continue to fight for greater visibility and voice in the country and held their first Gay Pride in 2005.

And now, three islanders - all straight - from Lesbos have taken the Greek Gay and Lesbian Union to court to preserve their ancient name. The group is said to be targeted because it is the only officially registered gay group in Greece to use the word lesbian in its name. The man spearheading the plaintiffs is Dimitris Lambrou, who publishes a small magazine on ancient Greek religion and technology. In his complaint, Lambrou claims that the organization "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians. According to the Associated Press, Lambrou commented that his sister "can't say she is a Lesbian. Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos." He also alleges that the Greek government is so embarrassed by the term Lesbian that it has been forced to rename the island after its capital, Mytilene. The case will be heard in Athens on June 10.

Overall, to many the case is pretty ridiculous. But I guess I can see the point. If the word Carolinian meant "straight" or "heterosexual," I'd have a slight problem. Today, the island of Lesbos, Lesvos or Mytilene is a popular vacation destination for gay women or lesbians (wow, that confused me). It brings back the long fought battle of words. They mean a lot to people in different ways. They can hurt us, they can empower us and unfortunately they can separate us. They give us our identity. Whatever happens in this case, we need to realize why we use the names we do. The island of Lesbos is proud of its heritage and proud to be the longtime home of Sappho. Lesbians around the world are proud of that same heritage and therefore are proud of their name as well.

"I have not had one word from her
Frankly I wish I were dead
When she left, she wept
a great deal; she said to me, ' This parting must be endured, Sappho. I go unwillingly'."

-"I Have Not Had One Word From Her" by Sappho, translated by Mary Barnard

Be a part of the club

The Center Project, the LGBT community center serving the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions, has created the TCP Club 100. Like many non-profits, the all-volunteer based TCP faces difficulty in making financial ends meet in order to keep the doors open to help those LGBT and questioning persons in our community. Through Club 100, one hundred people will have the opportunity to pledge $25 per month in order to assist this effort. In a recent letter to the local LGBT community and supporters, TCP board members expressed their hope that this "will allow the Center to focus more on growing and programming." For more information on how you can become a member, or to simply make a donation, visit www.thecenterproject.com.

OUT & ABOUT

Friday, May 16 - Next Friday marks the one year anniversary of the murder of Sean Kennedy, the Greenville native who was killed in a alleged hate crime. A candle light vigil will be held from 6:30 - 8 p.m. on May 16 at Main Street Plaza in Greenville to remember Sean and raise further awareness about hate crimes. For more information visit www.seanslastwish.com.

Until next week, have fun and be safe.

-Chris Rudisill, Weekly Surge