Gay rights in Greece

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Despite its ancient reputation and the fact it is a famous holiday destination for gays and lesbians worldwide, Greece has lagged behind its western counterparts when it comes to matters of homosexuality. Greece lacks many laws, provisions and basic rights that homosexuals enjoy in most developed countries of Europe and North America. A polarized, fragmented and weak Greek LGBT movement, media sensationalism, political inaction, fervent hostility of the Greek Church and consequently the indifference of the general public, have made LGBT issues a particularly rare, if not non-existent, subject of public debate. Nevertheless, particularly since the late 90's, largely due to influences from abroad as well as a growing LGBT entertainment scene in the two major urban centers of Athens and Thessaloniki, homosexuality is becoming less a taboo and homosexuals are enjoying growing visibility through the media, from print to cinematography.

Contents 1 Laws against homosexuals 2 Protection based on sexual orientation in law 3 Recognition of same sex couples 4 Gay life in the country 4.1 Athens Pride 5 Discrimination by the authorities 6 Opinion 7 Notes 8 External links

[edit] Laws against homosexuals

Homosexual sex was decriminalized in 1951 by the new Criminal Code adopted in 1950 with some discriminatory provisions in effect to this day. Among them, Article 347 of the Greek criminal code— which provides for a higher age of consent of 17 for seducing a male person if the partner is over 18 and the right of police to forcibly require that gay men be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Other known issues include the status of homosexuals in the Greek Military and the fact that lesbians are not mentioned in Greek law. Male prostitution was illegal until as recently as 2006.

[edit] Protection based on sexual orientation in law

Sexual orientation as a non-discrimination category is not included in the Greek constitution. However, legislation protecting against discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation was adopted in early 2005 (Greek law 3304/05), in accordance with the European Union Directive 2000/78.

[edit] Recognition of same sex couples

There is no official recognition of same-sex couples. Although the wording of the Greek Civil Code does not explicitly state that future-weds be of different sex, allowing in theory for same sex marriages, 'marriage' has been interpreted thus far as a union between a man and a woman.

On April 2006 the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) under George Andreas Papandreou presented a legislative proposal to be submitted in parliament for the recognition of unmarried couples, homosexual and heterosexual, following the French example of the Pacte civil de solidarité. However, according to some LGBT groups, the proposal's controversial terminology made little headway on LGBT rights. Furthermore, PASOK's proposed 'partnership' explicitly denied same-sex couple's right to adopt.

[edit] Gay life in the country

People in Greece are generally tolerant of gays and verbal or physical abuse against homosexuals is said to be exceptionally rare. The small communities, towns and villages in the rural and less visited parts of the country are however considered to be quite homophobic and in popular culture, mockery and several stereotypes persist.

Athens has a number of LGBT associations and a developing gay village in the Gazi neighborhood as well as an annual gay pride event, the 'Athens Pride' (see below). There is a gay scene in Thessaloniki with some gay/lesbian bars/clubs and several friendly mixed venues, and two well-organised LGBT organisations, Sympraxis (co-operation against homophobia) and POEK (Homosexual's Initiative Against Oppression), organising public discussions.

The gay scene in islands like Myconos and Lesbos is famous.

[edit] Athens Pride

The Athens Pride is an annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride parade and festival held every June in the downtown of Athens, Greece. Though still in its infancy, the Athens Pride has enjoyed growing participation of the local gay community as well as national and international media attention. The first Athens Pride was held on June 25, 2005 and the 2006 Athens Pride was held on June 24, 2006.

[edit] Discrimination by the authorities

New Democracy MP and undersecretary of the 'Ministry of Employment and Social Protection', Gerasimos Giakoumatos (Greek: Γεράσιμος Γιακουμάτος), has reportedly made himself a reputation of mocking homosexuals. In alleged disregard of the LGBT community's protestation, no action has been taken against the MP and ruling New Democracy has refused to comment on Giakoumatos' alleged references. Greece does not have any laws protecting against anti-gay slogans or hate speech.

Several issues have been raised about the Greek media regulation authority, or Greek National Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV) as it is called and its homophobic stance, according to LGBT groups.

• On Novermber 2003, NCRTV fined one of the largest tv networks in Greece, Mega, with 100,000 Euros ^[1], partly for having aired a kiss between two male characters of the popular tv show 'Klise ta Matia' (Greek: Κλείσε τα Μάτια). Τhe actors were Christos Loulis and Kostas Kappa (Greek: Χρήστος Λούλης, Κώστας Κάππα). In December 2006, Greece's Council of State, the country's Supreme administrative court, annulled this decision though, ruling that NCRTV's fine was unconstitutional. According to the court, the tv scene reflected an "existing social reality, related to a social group, among many that make up an open and democratic society, whose sexual preferences are not to be condemned". ^[2]

• On December 21 2004 the NCRTV fined '94 Epikoinonia FM' (Greek: 94 Eπικοινωνία FM), a municipal radio station in Athens, with 5,000 Euros, judging the content of the 'Athens Gay and Lesbian Radio Show' as "degrading" ^[3], which allegedly forced the show to be cancelled.

• On September 2005, NCRTV formally enquired another one of Greece's largest tv networks, ANT1 (Antenna), for airing a publicity spot, by a popular chewing gum brand, depicting two women kissing.

[edit] Opinion

A Eurobarometer survey published on December 2006 showed that 16% of Greeks surveyed support same-sex marriage and 11% recognise same-sex couple's right to adopt. These figures are considerably below the 25-member European Union average of 44% and 33% respectively and place Greece in the lowest ranks of Europe along with Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.

A survey among Greek MPs, conducted in 2003 and presented by the Hellenic Homosexual Community (EOK), raised the issue of recognising taxation, inheritance and other legal rights to same-sex couples. The results of the survey showed that 41% of parliamentarians surveyed favored granting such rights while 55% were against it. Among PASOK MP's, 55% were favorable, compared to just 27% of New Democracy MPs. The party with the highest MP favorable responses was Synaspismos (67%) while the majority of Communist Party MPs abstained. MPs favorable responses were relatively higher among women, younger and athenian MPs.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ NCRTV Ref#:371-2003, 11/11/03
2. ^ Decision 2856/2006, Chamber D (Τμήμα Δ'); To Vima, Article Ref#: B14932A701, 03/12/2006
3. ^ NCRTV Ref#:408-2004, 21/12/04

[edit] External links

• Sympraxis - LGBT Association based in Thessaloniki
• OLKE - LGBT Association based in Athens
• EOK - LGBT Association based in Athens
• LOA Lesbian Group of Athens
• SATTE - Transexuals Association based in Athens
• Synthesis - LGBT HIV&AIDS Support Group
• Greek Helsinki Monitor - Minority rights watch group
• NCHR - National Committee for Human Rights