So I have some gripes with how pride is handled specifically in Athens. I won't repeat the tired arguments on if pride should be politicized or if political parties should be welcomed a lot of people have said way better things on this than I ever could.
What upsets me is the organising. Throughout pride month there were many events celebrating queer history in Greece and I think it's a shame those are so fastly overlooked and not as known to the general public. I think with most causes discussion panels and events that are more relaxed and educational are necessary to educate the general public as well as the community itself.
It just upsets me that these wonderful educational tools are seemingly in the backdrop of the march because it just fuels outsiders to think that this is just a big glitter party with no cause or demands and at least in my experience that couldn't be further from the truth.
hi! as you probably know yesterday was the pride parade in Athens and I saw some photos of people holding the Greek flag but altered so that it has the colours of the trans flag I think... i don't really know how to feel about that since it's a national symbol and I'm trying to understand why would anyone do this
You know what, I appreciate it a lot that you want to discuss this! I am just so happy when people want to understand and read between the lines and not just attack the other side. It was a thought exercise for me as well, and a mental training for a more balanced approach on the matter. I wanted to speak about the situation some time, so it's great that I have a calm and logical person urging me to do it!
On one hand, by altering the flag of their nation trans people want to show that they were always here, vital and important members as everyone else. And it's a way to see themselves inside the nation, and to show their presence in it (to show that queerness was always a part of this country, in many and different ways.)
On the other hand, each's flag symbolism is specific and the colors are important elements. You don't change colors to the LGBT+ flag because the colors (and the number of stripes ofc) are there for a reason. So changing the Greek flag can feel somewhat disrespectful even to other queer people like me. (And I am not even die-hard for the flag. I think about our flag 2 times per year and that's it xD) So, I don't disagree with their message at all but I have doubts about the execution.
I wouldn't put the lgbt+ colors on the flag or my sub lgbt+ flag(s) on another flag. I would have them side to side, though, to pass the same message! Or maybe I'd stitch them together in a way that it doesn't take the meaning off of any flag. Or just wave them together on each hand, idk xD
I don't think that it's worth getting heated about such alterations and on the national flag. We can have polite, civil disagreements about it but we shouldn't let this get in our way of what it actually matters - respecting the human rights of the lgbt+. And I am saying this because for these Greeks it's not a desecration of a flag. For them it's still the Greek flag but a bit altered just for one occasion. If it wasn't the Greek flag for them, they wouldn't have put their colors on there to show that they are part of Greece. If they didn't respect it for what it was, they wouldn't use it or its form. And aren't they Greeks? Haven't Greeks have different designs for our flag over the years? Can our flag never, in the centuries to come, change? Of course the trans flag colors aren't permanent, but they are not the first Greeks to use their own flag for empowerment. And again, they know how the Greek flag looks and have nothing against the flag, and that's why the color change only lasts for the few hours of the pride. It's merely a coat/skin for the original blue and white flag that they see as the representation of our nation.
I think both sides of the argument approach the matter a bit differently. Some people who see the flag altered believe that trans people don't respect the nation. Some trans people who hear complaints about the alteration believe the other side doesn't support trans rights and that are nationalists. But that's not how each side sees itself. (Unless they are actual extremists, but extremists are rare so let's leave them aside for now). For example, you may feel uncomfortable with the alteration because your family comes from Pontos and the ethnic identity is a crucial and fixed part of your struggle, and you can't bear to see your identity's symbol used as "a prop" for another identity and not strictly national matters. (I've had this discussion with a Pontiac in my uni and I draw from that). And truly, if your discomfort is within reason, and you have no actual problem with people different than you, I can't tell you not to feel uncomfortable about it.
It'd be great if we didn't disagree on anything but we are humans and diverse not only in sexuality and presentation, but also thought. The best we can do is extend good faith to the other side. From either side, of course. And there has to be a mutual tolerance (there's no human interaction where there isn't some tolerance in the name of harmony and peace) and the agreement to be different in our approach but still work for the common good. We all have the same goals. We all* want our country to be united, strong, and protective of her vulnerable members, after all.
(*οι "Έλληνες ΓΤΠ" και οι φίλοι τους εξαιρούνται προφανώς 🤣🤣🤣 Γιατί θέλουν απλώς να είναι στην κορυφή μιας κοινωνικής τροφικής αλυσίδας, όχι να εξελίξουν τη χώρα τους μέσω της ενδυνάμωσης διαφόρων ομάδων.)
