Today is the court-day for Leo Kalovyrnas' trial. Leo is one of the people I met recently (just last year) and who I respect and admire. A person who fights for his and all gay people's rights, a passionate personality about the gay rights and fights against unfairness.
Leo faces a law suite brought to the Greek court by the bishop of the Piraeus, Seraphim. Mr. Kalovyrnas wrote an article on how someone can distinguish a "priest" (papas in greek) from a "asshole" (paparas in slang greek), after Seraphim's article maligned gays as ‘morally corrupt, obsessed with satisfying their psychopathological deviation and who have made a life value out of the faeces elimination tract'. Seraphim's hatred against gays was expressed also by supporting the claims of the popular Greek actor Nikos Seryanopoulos murdered in what seems to be a homophobic crime, by suggesting that the actor brought this on himself because, according to the alleged murderer, Seryanopoulos forced him to have sex. The Bishop of Pireas claimed that the murderer, not being ‘that way' got upset and defended himself by stabbing the actor 21 times.
Several leading politicians, ministers, and religious leaders, as well as several journalists and other public figures, repeatedly insult and demean gays and lesbians without any legal or disciplinary consequences.
The trial is today in Athens.
Let's see what the judge says...
Leo, we are sending you all the positive energy and courage possible to get through this difficult period.
This is a trial about freedom of speach, respecting and controlling public insaults, how people -no matter their position or opinion- should not be allowed to verbally insult anyone.
You can see information on the case and the petition raised by 10% and Leo Kalovyrnas at: http://www.10percent.gr/stiles/koinotita/synthesis/527-2008-10-19-18-34-11.html
There is an interview of Leo at http://www.tvxs.gr/v4594, in greek talking about the case and the gay rights in Greece.
kappa MYSTA
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