The inhabitants of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost their case against the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, stating that the Association was monopolising the term 'lesbian' and insulting locals.  An Athens court rejected the complaint from the islanders, stating that they did not have sole claim to the name.

The poet Sappho

The court rightly ruled that the term 'lesbian' does not define status and personality and therefore the islanders had no reason to complain that they felt personally slighted by its use.

One islander, Demetris Lambrou, who publishes a magazine on ancient Greek religion said: "They insult our historical and geographical identity by using the name.  The word lesbian has been associated with gay women for the past few decades, but we have been Lesbians for thousands of years."

Three inhabitants of Lesbos, popularly known as Mytilene after its capital city, filed the complaint in April of this year.

The island was famously the home of the poet Sappho, who made many references to love for other women in her work.

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