Discussing with young students about sexuality and diversity in Greece. A presentation for the WorldPride Human Rights 2014 Conference in Toronto.

1. Discussing about sexual minorities and
sexual rights with young people in Greece –
An exploratory study
Margarita Gerouki, PhD
University of Crete
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Political Sciences

2. Adolescents at risk
Between 5% and 11% of the young population is identified as non-heterosexual. Also, a
number of young people struggle with non-conforming gender identity.
The vast majority of non-heterosexual, non-gender conforming young people
acknowledged their sexual orientation from the high school years already.
Psychosocial adjustment is lower among sexual minority adolescents compared to
sexual majority adolescents.
There appears to be a link between higher level of illegal drug use and alcohol
consumption among the non-heterosexual young people.
Non-heterosexual and/or non gender conforming adolescents suffer high level of
violence, abuse and discrimination even at school.
As a result to such experiences many LGBT adolescents report frequent absences from
school but also self-harming behaviors, suicidal feelings and attempt suicides.

3. In Greece…
People regard homosexuality as taboo.
Non-heterosexual people is an invisible group within
society.
The Greek Orthodox Church considers homosexuality as
a sin and the person who shows a homosexual
orientation as sinful.
Greek population holds a negative picture for
homosexuals and believes that homosexuality poses
dangers for the society.
Greek young people regard homosexuality as a threat,
moreover they affirm that school is a hostile
environment for non-heterosexual youngsters thriving
of different homophobic behaviors.

4. Sexual minorities face discrimination in
Greece...
 Same-sex partnerships are not
legitimate.
 Neither same-sex spouses even
if they hold a valid marriage
certificate in another EU
member state.
 48% of LGBT respondents felt
discriminated or harassed because
of their sexual orientation.
 21% felt discriminated at work or
when searching for employment
 34% felt discriminated when
buying goods or accessing services.
However…

5. Vallianatos and others vs Greece
(nos: 29381/09 and 32684/09)
On November 2013 the European Court of Human
Rights condemned Greece for allowing
(strictly) different-sex couples to enter civil
unions. Law on reforms concerning the family,
children and society (no 3719/2008)
These provisions establish the concept of a special prejudicial act in
public law, creating State liability in tort.
“the Church is against of such a law underpins and
legalizes serious moral sins. In case of application of such
law it will become a catastrophic bomb to the
foundation of the Christian family and all Greek society”

6. The case of Anna / 2012

7. The present study: theoretical framework,
research questions and methods
How students talk about
sexual minorities?
How LGBT people are
perceived by their peers in
school?
How young people understand
sexual rights?
Individual interview
Focus group discussion
Questionnaire
The politics of recognition and social justice
Researchquestions
Research methods

8. Results: How students talk about sexual minorities?
Non-heterosexuality or non gender-conforming as out-of-the ordinary behavior of
choice. Homosexuals are not 100% normal. It is not accidental that you need male-
female for reproduction.
…people they have chosen a different sexual orientation
Homosexuality as a societal pathology. There is a problem in society and this problem
is being manifested as homosexuality. I mean we all go to school. There we learn that
reproduction is naturally determined for male – female unions. When society is too
tolerant… too much democracy, too much freedom, too much of this and that, that
lead people to exaggeration. The manifestation of homosexuality is the exaggeration
in society. Mistakes in society and distortions become the mean for a person to become
homosexual.
The great un-known. I would have liked very much to talk with a homosexual person,
to tell me what he felt when attracted… I would have like to hear a story.
Homosexuality as outcome of bad parenting OR alternative
parenting.

9. Results: How LGBT people are perceived by their peers in school?
They go away from the group. That is, when everybody
else is “normal” for their own standards and some gay
guy comes to the group they wont be comfortable to
talk to him, discuss their feelings, communicate.
Non-normative behavior has consequences!
Students joke about them and some times are violent,
not only with words.
If you are not
provocative… if you don’t
give reasons…
… for students and / or teachers!
Why?
… and what about people you
might know for years?
I would not behave in an extreme way to hit him or
ridicule him in front of the others, simply I would say to
him ironically that since this is your choice, I do not
want any contact with you anymore.
Ignorance, existential fear for the unknown, challenges
existing norms, conservatism, deep rooted social
perceptions

10. Results: How young people understand sexual rights?
 The right to be yourself  The right to raise a family

11. Discussion: the role of education and activism
for recognition and social justice
ColourYouth
GoodasYou(th)
LGBTAwarenessClub Ντερή-Αμερικανικού Κολλεγίου
Ελλάδος
Οικογένειες Ουράνιο Τόξο
Ομοφοβία και Τρανσφοβία στην Εκπαίδευση
Σωματείο Υποστήριξης Διεμφυλικών (ΣΥΔ)
Queertrans
ThessalonikiPride
Θετική Φωνή
ΟΛΚΕ
Σύμπραξη Κατά της Ομοφυλοφοβίας
ACTUPHellas

12. Concluding thoughts
Education through activism and alliances. Bring people together. Sharing and
transforming our experiences into learning is a noble goal.
Exposing students in anti-homophobic activities might help them form
attitudes of respect towards others and acceptance to people from diverse
backgrounds and orientations.
Teachers should be aware of different types of minorities. They should
be(come) knowledgeable and unbiased practitioners. Being able to reflect
and theorize on the issues of (homo)sexuality as part of their professional pre
or in-service development will provide teachers with the necessary
opportunities to clarify ideas, opinions as well as question their own attitudes
and perceptions.
Challenging heteronormative attitudes and prejudices. Choices as political!
Thank you for your attention!
mgerouki@gmail.com
www.margaritagerouki.gr