Lesbians Irate over Gay Use of Term
How this will affect tourism on Lesbos, long a kind of pilgrimage spot for gay women wanting to visit the home of famed poetess Sappho, is unclear.
Each year many women travel to Eressos and other places on the island in honor of the "10th Muse", as Plato called her. Sappho's poetry praises the loveliness of women, among them some of the students sent to her for education by prominent Greek families of the time.
Sappho herself is said to have died after throwing herself from a cliff over the lost love of a (male) sailor, but this may instead be a mangled memory of the ancient story of Britomartis, who was said to have hurled herself from a cliff to escape the attentions of a male pursuer, and who then had to fight off the advances of a fisherman who rescued her from the waters.
More recently, Sappho was the subject of a novel by American writer Erica Jong, who wrote "Sappho's Leap".
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Herald Sun: "We're the true Lesbians", say islanders.
I totally respect the feelings of the true Lesbians of Lesbos, however, I do not believe suing will resolve the issue. I teach Western Civilization in the States and I have my students research “famous Greeks” and Sappho and the Island of Lesbos is introduced. Students always snicker when the island is mentioned. However, by the time the research is completed and the topic is discussed, the snickers stop and a true understanding of the Lesbians is understood. So in one vain I respect the plight of the islanders, but in another way my point is that suing one organization is not going to change the perspective of uneducated people around the world.
Mati
Philadelphia, PA USA
As UK residents with a part time home in Eresos village on the island of Lesvos we quite agree with K. Lambrou’s points & wish him well in his case.
We have no objection whatsoever to Gay women and Gay men (although we’re a heterosexual couple, many local Gay residents are our friends when here), but fail to see why our island name should be used to describe them. I know ‘GAY’ used to have another meaning when I was younger, but it is less offensive to genuine Lesbians from the island of Lesbos/Lesvos and indeed to us.
Please note that there are many straight couples and families (Greek and worldwide) who visit or live in Eresos. Eresos is for everyone and I recommend more people visit our charming inland village and the beach rfesort of Skala Eresou. Anyone who loves Greece could not fail but be captivated by this area and resort. The promoition of Skala Eresou as a Gays’ destination will only harm tourism in this area. ALL are welcome.
Sylvia