Residents Of Lesbos Ask Gay Rights Group|To Stop Calling Its Members Lesbians

(CN) - Residents of the island of Lesbos have asked a Greek court to prohibit a gay rights group - the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece - from using the word "Lesbian" in its name, claiming it defames the residents of the island, who also are known as Lesbians.

Lesbos was home of the ancient Greek poet Sappho, who sang of love between women.

"My sister can't say she is a Lesbian," one of the plaintiffs, Dimitris Lambrou, told The Associated Press. "Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos."

The island, also known as Mytilene, has become a popular vacation spot for women who love other women.

"This is not an aggressive act against gay women," Lambrou told The Associated Press. "Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title."

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