30 Apr Is “Lesbian” a Geographic Appellation?
Now here is a great legal question regarding geographic appellations: Is the term “lesbian” something that the residents of Lesbos, Greece have a legal entitlement to prevent others from misusing? The Associate Press has the story:
A Greek court has been asked to draw the line between the natives of the Aegean Sea island of Lesbos and the world’s gay women. Three islanders from Lesbos – home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women – have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name. One of the plaintiffs said Wednesday that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, “insults the identity” of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians. “My sister can’t say she is a Lesbian,” said Dimitris Lambrou. “Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos,” he said. The three plaintiffs are seeking to have the group barred from using “lesbian” in its name and filed a lawsuit on April 10…. The Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece could not be reached for comment.
Of course, rules regarding geographic appellation are extremely important in the international trade context. Such rules resolve questions like what glass of bubbly can be called “Champagne” and what mustard merits the label “Dijon”? But I’m not aware of a similar claim that rules on geographic appellation can be used to prevent a social or political group from usurping the label. (HT: How Appealing).
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