Three residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost an attempt to ban the use of the word “lesbian” to describe gay women.

The residents argued that using the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity.

But an Athens court ruled there was no justification for their contention that they felt slighted, saying the word did not define the islanders’ identity.

Greeks often refer to the island as Mytilene, after its capital.

“This is a good decision for lesbians everywhere,” Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, told Reuters news agency.

Court expenses

The island’s name was applied to gay women in acknowledgement of the female poet Sappho, who wrote love poems about both women and men in about 600 BC.

The man spearheading the case, publisher Dimitris Lambrou, had claimed that international dominance of the word in its sexual context violated the human rights of the islanders - who call themselves Lesbians - and disgraces them around the world.

He argued it caused daily problems to the social life of Lesbos’s inhabitants.

But the court disagreed, ordering the plaintiffs to pay court expenses of 230 euros ($366), although they could appeal against the decision.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7520343.stm

I’m sure you’ve heard the news. The California Supreme Court has just issued a ruling allowing same-sex marriage in the state. Join me in congratulating two couples who have announced their intention to tie the knot: Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi, and Star Trek’s George Takei and his long-time partner Brad. Live long and prosper! (^_^) \\//,
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Rama Yade also confirmed on Saturday that the International Day Against Homophobia is now officially recognised in France.

She announced plans to raise the issue of universal decriminalisation later this year when France takes over the rotating Presidency of the European Union.

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From the creators, Margaux, Donna and Grayson:
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If you know your music history, Fanny should ring a bell as the first all-female rock band to be signed on a major record label. That was back in the 60s. Recently, June Millington, the band’s lead guitarist, visited Manila to perform in a concert with other lesbian artists in Rolling the Ls Home (which I attended, btw). Eric Caruncho of the Inquirer met the lively lady and wrote this article:

Most girls wanted to date rock musicians–but June wanted to be one. The problem was, there were no precedents. The so-called “girl groups” of the Sixties were singers, but their music was created by male producers. There were folkies like Joan Baez and singers like Janis Joplin–but female rock musicians? There were no role models. The Millingtons had to create their own.

“Girls didn’t feel they had the right to pick up an electric guitar—that was the problem,” says Millington. “It’s not that they weren’t into Jimi Hendrix. The thought just wouldn’t have struck them to go out and buy a guitar and an amplifier and try to figure out how to get those sounds. I remember in high school standing in front of the Grateful Dead and watching Jerry Garcia and I remember the thought going through my mind, ‘How can I play like that?’ It really scared me because I couldn’t figure it out. But we kept doing more gigs and I’d meet enough nice guys who would show me things, and if I learned one little thing I would go home and I would really practice and so that’s what it took. We had to work so much harder than everybody else because girls weren’t given the right to do that. It’s harsh but it’s true.”

Read the rest of the article…

Or read the June Millington interview…

If you want a roller coaster ride of emotions, try reading Buffy Season Eight #14. The excruciatingly long wait has been worth it. In my book, Part 3 of the Wolves at the Gate arc has a solid place in the Top 3 issues of this season so far.

Last issue:

A mysterious gang of vampires from Tokyo raided Buffy’s headquarters in Scotland, successfully stealing the Scythe. Buffy takes all the slayers to Japan to retrieve the powerful weapon.

*** SPOILER WARNING ***

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No matter who wins the presidential election, it is quite clear that the big loser in campaign 08 is religion.

By far, the most strident political voices have come from renegade reverends that seem a bit hot under the collar. These cantankerous characters (or caricatures) have transformed their houses of worship into a harbor of war ships with loose cannons lobbing invective into an otherwise serene national conversation.

The most cloying of the clergy is Barack Obama’s self-promoting preacher, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright. While he claims to represent the interests of African Americans, he may be remembered for giving a black eye to the black church, while sabotaging America’s first legitimate African American presidential contender.

Wright has clearly turned the sanctuary into a sanitarium. When I see him jumping around the pulpit and flapping his wings like a chicken, I want to call Colonel Sanders, so Wright’s ridiculous routine will finally come home to roost.
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Now this is what fan art is all about! Check out these incredibly detailed, life-like figures, sets, clothing and accessories of various Buffyverse characters (yes, even the minor ones). Satsu with her three badge pins and katana made me smile (now I’m just waiting for her teeny stuffed toy). Principal Wood looks like D.B. Woodside got frozen in wax. Remarkable. But my favorite has got to be the Gentlemen from Season 4. Creeeepy. More here and here.

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Here’s a photo of Zero Chou after receiving the Teddy Award for Best Film for Spider Lilies, and Isabella and Rainie Yang sharing a kiss at the premiere night of their movie, in response to insistent fan requests. Excuse me for gushing, but Isabella Leong is hot! She has a small part in the upcoming Hollywood movie The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Watch out for it.