DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY

AND GENDER EXPRESSION IN GREECE

1.

Introduction

Recent research indicates that Greece remains far behind the majority of its European Union (EU)
partners regarding civil rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)
persons, including in the fields of equality and non-discrimination, family laws and hate
speech/violence.1 Moreover, levels of discrimination and harrassment on the grounds of sexual
orientation both in general as well as when searching for employment, as reported by LGBTQ
individuals, is above the EU average.2 The acceptance of homosexuality is at 53%, amongst the
lowest in the EU according to public perception polls,3 and soaring support for the far-right Golden
Dawn party has led to a rise in hate speech and violence against LGBTQ persons including youth.4
In March 2013, Article 66 of the Criminal Code that lists motives relating to victims race or sexual
orientation was amended to include gender identity.5 As reported by Amnesty International, in
practice the police and judicial authorities regularly fail to take aleged hate motives into account
when investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.5 Additionally, current legislation on hate speech is
insufficient as it dates back to 1979 and in practice nobody has ever been found guilty.
An anti-racism bill aimed at strenghtening legislation was discussed by the coalition government
earlier this year but was dropped prior to any parliamentary debate due to lack of support from the
two main coalition partners.6 Lack of an appropriate legal framework combined with lack of
enforcement of current legislation has resulted in a situation whereby homophobic and transphobic
rhetoric have not only been legitimised by Golden Dawn and other right-wing forces including
representatives of the Orthodox Chuch, but are now commonplace in public discourse.7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
Following presidential decree, police directorates addressing hate crimes on the grounds of race are
to be established, however these directorates explicitly do not include crimes perpetrated on the
grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.5 Following his visit to Greece in early 2013, the
Council of Europes Commissioner for Human Rights emphasised the importance of broadening the
mandate of the police directorates to include all forms of hate crime, including those perpetrated on
the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.7

ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2013. http://www.ilgaeurope.org/home/publications/reports_and_other_materials/rainbow_europe

2
2013. EU Fundamental Rights Agency. EU LGBT survey: European Union lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender survey
Results at a glance, pp.15-16. http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/eu-lgbt-survey-european-union-lesbian-gaybisexual-and-transgender-survey-results
3
2013. Pew Research Center. The Global Divide on Homosexuality, p.1. http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-globaldivide-on-homosexuality/
4
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/fragkiska-megaloudi/greece-gay-people-living-in-fear_b_2175056.html
5
2013. Amnesty International. Because of Who I Am: Homophobia, Transphobia and Hate Crimes in Europe.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR01/014/2013/en/c256ac8a-9555-4955-8131c1d2deee6d5d/eur010142013en.pdf
6
http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=512503 [GR]
7
Report by Nils Munieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Following his visit to Greece from 28
January to 1 February 2013.
https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?Index=no&command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=2306182
&SecMode=1&DocId=2024918&Usage=2
8
http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=471930 [GR]
9
Orthodox bishop wants MPs who vote for same-sex unions excommunicated
http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.article&id=1643
10
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/10/18/far-right-greek-mp-filmed-shouting-homophobic-abuse-over-gay-play/
11
http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=28078&subid=2&pubid=113094449 [GR]
12
2009. EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender
Identity in the EU Member States, Part II The Social Situation, p.83.
http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/397-FRA_hdgso_report_part2_en.pdf
13
http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5021977/anthimos-gia-to-gay-pride-amartia-h-gymnoths-den-theloyme-tetoionkosmo-sth-thessalonikh/ [GR]
14
http://www.10percent.gr/epikairotita/eidiseis/2187-l----r.html [GR]



Research conducted during the third cycle (January 2013 to June 2014) of the EU Structured
Dialogue process on youth, focusing on social inclusion, has indicated that LGBTQ young people
across Europe are amongst the top three societal youth groups most vulnerable to social
exclusion.15 They often face severe social exclusion, finding it difficult to conform to societal norms
and expectations.16,17 The sociopolitical context described previously, in combination with the
ongoing economic crisis, highest youth unemployment rates in the EU18, and bleak youth prospects
suggest that LGBTQ young people currently form one of the most socially excluded groups in Greek
society. More than 1 in 3 (37.5%) young Greeks that participated in the structured dialogue
consultation that was carried out as part of the 2013 Irish EU presidency (January June) indicated
that lesbian and gay young people are amongst the top five groups at greatest risk of social
exclusion.19
Colour Youth Athens LGBTQ Youth Community is a non-profit organisation that supports and
advocates for LGBTQ young people. As a youth organisation, Colour Youth focuses on
discrimination and human rights violations that often occur in educational institutions.
2.

Discrimination in education

There is no research specifically investigating levels of bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation
and gender identity, i.e. homophobic and transphobic bullying. However, research on bullying in
general has shown that 1 in 4 (25.05%) students believe that sexual preferences are a cause for
bullying.20
The most recent and detailed research conducted on the experiences of LGBT individuals is the EU
LGBT Survey conducted by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency.2 The results were
published in May 2013, and the survey focused on the following categories: daily life, discrimination,
rights awareness, transgender specific questions and violence and harassment.
The summary report is available here: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/eu-lgbt-survey-resultsat-a-glance_en.pdf, while detailed results that can be broken down by country, age group,
household income, etc are available here: http://fra.europa.eu/DVS/DVT/lgbt.php. The research
was carried out in all EU countries including Croatia; there were a total of 2,760 responses from
Greece.
This briefing presents the results for questions related to the educational environment, focusing on
the 18-24 age group, as the most recent cohort of students to have gone through the primary and
secondary education system, in order to obtain a basic understanding of the experiences of LGBT
young people in Greek schools.
Firstly, the prevalence of homophobia and transphobia can be seen in Figure 1, which shows that
an overwhelming majority (97%) heard or saw negative comments or conduct because a
schoolmate/peer was perceived to be LGBT. For all age groups (i.e. all respondents), this
percentage is 96%, the second highest in the EU, after Cyprus.2

15

2013. Cycle 3 Phase 1 of the Structured Dialogue with Young People Social Inclusion of Young People. Compilation
of National Reports. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/multisite/eac-eyp/sites/eac-eyp/files/SD3-1%20%20Compilation%20of%20reports_FINAL.pdf
16
2013. Cycle 3 Phase 1 of the Structured Dialogue with Young People Social Inclusion of Young People. Reports of
the International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs), pp.20-23. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/multisite/eaceyp/sites/eac-eyp/files/SD3-1%20-%20INGYOs.pdf
17
nd
2013. Report form 2 round of Structured Dialogue Period: Trio Presidency Ireland-Lithuania-Greece. IGLYO
Submission. https://europa.eu/youth/sites/eac-eyp/files/SD3-2%20-%20IGLYO.pdf
18
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_30/08/2013_516279
19
2013. Cycle 3 Phase 1 of the Structured Dialogue on Young People. National Consultations Greece.
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/multisite/eac-eyp/sites/eac-eyp/files/SD3-1%20-%20GREECE.pdf
20
December 2012. Europes Antibullying Campaign Project. European School Bullying Research: Final Report.
http://www.e-abc.eu/files/1/PDF/Research/School_Bullying_eng.pdf



Figure 1

As can be seen in Figure 2, 76% of respondents aged 18-24 reports having experienced negative
comments or conduct at school because of being LGBT. Responses from the 25-39 age group
are similar (78%), indicating that there has been very little progress recently.

Figure 2

Homophobic and transphobic bullying is not solely relevant to students, as teachers are also often
vicitmised, as illustrated in Figure 3. 97% of respondents said they heard or saw negative
comments or conduct because a teacher was perceived to be LGBT.

Figure 3



Figures 4 and 5 indicate that not even 1 in 10 LGBT individuals is able to be open at school.
More specifically, 97% of respondents did not talk openly about being LGBT at school, while 92% of
respondents hid or disguised the fact that they were LGBT at school.

Figure 4

Figure 5

A cause for very serious concern is the homophobia and transphobia exhibited by personell in
educational institutions. Almost 1 in 3 respondents felt discriminated against because of being
LGBT by school/university personnel in the past year.

Figure 6



Lack of visibility constitutes a key issue for the LGBT community, contributing to the social exclusion
of bullied persons. 2 in 5 respondents were not aware of any organisation in Greece that can
offer support or advice to people who have been discriminated against because they are Gay
(Figure 7). This percentage increases to 1 in 2 regarding awareness of oganisations in cases of
discrimination against transgender persons (Figure 8).
Figure 7

Figure 8



Verbal harassment is not the only form of homophobic and transphobic bullying. Figure 9 shows that
the most serious incidents of harassment occur primarily in educational institutions (27%),
secondly in public spaces including streets and squares (23%) and thirdly online (11%). Diagram 10
indicates that the most serious physical/sexual attacks or threats of violence occur primarily in
public spaces including streets and squares (33%), secondly in educational institutions (17%),
and thirdly at home (15%)

Figure 9

Figure 10

Case study: discrimination against a transgender student

A transgender student studying at an evening school near central Athens was discriminated against on a daily
basis. The student was insulted and taunted by peers as well as teachers due to her gender identity.
The school principal refused to call the student by her preferred name, forcing her to wear men's clothes and
use the men's toilet. Labelling her a provocative homosexual male, the principal remained negative towards
the student as he considered her responsible for the discrimination and insults she was receiving. The result of
this was that the students bullying her remained unpunished. Numerous incidents of harassment and bullying
took place, culminating in the attempt of some of the transgender students classmates to set her on fire
outside the school premises. In each of the cases, the principal would place the blame on the transgender
student instead of supporting her. He would often suspend her for undisciplined behaviour, resulting in
frequent absences from school. The principal even went as far as threatening to bring Golden Dawn in to the
school specifically for her if she didnt stop asserting her rights.
One teacher who tried to defend the student by refusing to note her absences or take them into account
clashed with the principal and was put through a staff inquiry process. In 2012, along with the Greek
Transgender Support Association and the group Educators against Homophobia the student made an official
complaint to The Greek Ombudsman. Once confirmed that the student was being discriminated against, the
Ombudsman called on school administration as well as the Teachers Association to recognise the students
right to self-determination regarding her gender identity. Furthermore, they were called on to accept the use of
her preferred name as well as her desired attire and use of the womens toilet. An intervention (or educational
seminar) aimed at the schools students and teachers was then designed in collaboration with a Health
21
Education adviser from the Ministry of Educations Directorate of Secondary Education. The seminar
included information on the concept of transgenderism, associated stereotypes as well as respect for the
21
student and human value in general.
The above is just one example of how a student was deprived of the basic human right to education because
of gender identity. It highlights the serious weaknesses in existing structures and the need for similar
interventions as well as education and awareness raising more generally for students and staff of educational
22
institutions regarding issues of gender identity and expression.

Given the information provided through this briefing, there is a real need to address the issue of
homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools. Table 1 shows responses to the question What
would allow you to be more comfortable living as an LGB person in the country where you live? The
three most popular answers are the same for both the 18-24 age group as well as for all age
groups together, and include measures implemented at school to respect LGB people, as well
as training of public servants (e.g. police, teachers) on the rights of LGB people.

21

October 2013. Greek Transgender Support Association. Press Release Greek Ombudsman issued positive
recommendations for the respect of gender identity & gender expression of trans people in the school environment.
http://transgendersupportassociation.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/press-release-greek-ombudsman-issued-positiverecommendations-for-the-respect-of-gender-identity-gender-expression-of-trans-people-in-the-school-environment/
22
2013. The Greek Ombudsman.
. . http://www.synigoros.gr/resources/docs/synopsidiamesolavisis--2.pdf [GR]



Table 1
Question: What would allow you to be more comfortable living as a lesbian, gay or bisexual person in
the country where you live? (Responses from L, G, B respondents)
Strongly agree (%)
Measure
18-24 years
All age
old
groups
Recognition of same-sex partnerships across the European Union
86
85
Measures implemented at school to respect lesbian, gay and bisexual
81
75
people?
Training of public servants (eg police, teachers) on the rights of lesbian,
77
77
gay and bisexual people?
The possibility to marry and/or register a partnership?
76
74
Better acceptance of differences in sexual orientations by religious leaders?
70
70
Public figures in politics, business, sports, etc openly speaking in support of
68
65
lesbian, gay and bisexual people?
National authorities who promote the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual
67
66
people?
The possibility to foster / adopt children?
67
59
Anti-discrimination policies referring to sexual orientation at the workplace?
65
59

The results presented above provide insight into the educational experiences of LGBT young
people. They reveal the existence of significant problems relating the universal right to
education regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, as agreed by nations and as
described by international law.23,24,25
Further research into the experiences of young people with homophobic and transphobic bullying,
as has been carried out in other countries, is a necessary first step to an improved understanding of
the situation in Greece as well as to effectively address the issue of bullying in general.

23

United Nations, 1966. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx
24
United Nations,1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx
25
Council of Europe, 1952. European Convention on Human Rights.
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf