Which ancient people were gay

My first visit to the island of Mykonos 20 years ago was something of a revelation. Thanks to its seemingly endless queer beaches and bars, I felt a level of freedom as a young gay man that I hadn't previously experienced, despite growing up in London. Following a landmark vote in parliament this month, Greece has recently become the first Christian Orthodox-majority nation to legalise same-sex marriageand the first country in south-eastern Europe to have marriage equality.

According to Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the new law, which also allows same-sex couples to adopt children, will "boldly abolish a serious inequality". Greece now joins 35 other nations around the world to allow same-sex marriage. But despite lagging behind other nations that embraced marriage equality years earlier, same-sex relations have been a common and documented part of Greece's cultural fabric from the beginning.

As early as the 8th Century BC, the ancient lawmaker Philolaus of Corinth, who himself had a male lover, created laws in support of same-sex male unions. By the 7th Century BC, there were at least five different varieties of same-sex relations in Which ancient people were gay Greece.

The Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite military unit comprised of male lovers in the 4th Century BC who courageously ended Spartan domination. And millennia after writers and philosophers such as Plato were busy contemplating same-sex love, many vessels and statues on display in museums and sites in illustrate aspects of homosexuality in Ancient Greece.

InGreece became one of the first European nations to decriminalise same-sex relations the UK waited until ; though in both countries, lesbians were neither mentioned nor acknowledged. Greece legalised same-sex civil unions inand in Nicholas Yatromanolakis became the nation's first openly gay person to serve which ancient people were gay government minister.

However, we still suffer from discrimination, violence and stigma. There's room for improvement. We give a platform to marginalised voices, combat erasure and discrimination, and promote the idea of a balanced and equal society. Menelaou recommends Koukles for "the best drag shows and atmosphere", the queer dance club SmutThe Big Bar "for bears and bear enthusiasts" and Ohh Boy for coffee and cakes.

She recommends the lesbian-owned pop club Noiz and " Beaver Co-opfounded by eight women, a peaceful cafe with parties, readings, poetry and activist gatherings". It's not just about getting married and having kids here: to be queer in the capital city you really need to be an activist.

According to Hand, the nation's second city, Thessaloniki, also has a vibrant, if smaller, queer scene that's worth visiting. The big news, however, in is that Thessaloniki is set to attract global attention as it hosts Europride June. But Hand's favourite queer scene in Greece is on the rugged island that birthed the word "lesbian" : Lesbos.

It's the complete epicentre of queer, or sapphic, life: one of the most affirming experiences you can have is to be in the majority for more than a night, for more than an allotted window of time. A big annual event on the island is the Queer Ranch Festival 28 May-1 June run by a local collective who own the bar-restaurant Ohana Saloon.

Back in Mykonos, on that first visit two decades ago, I remember being thrilled to discover its genesis as a queer haven also dated back to the '70s, the result of Jackie Onassis' patronage lending it a certain glamour. By the s, it had transformed into an increasingly gay destination, with one of its most well-known bars named after her.

It, too, hosts a large annual gay festival, Xlsior Augustwith around 30, attendees.

Greece: The Mediterranean's ancient gay-friendly civilisation

And now, inyou could even tie the knot on one of Mykonos' many queer beaches. Hopefully, it will challenge stigma and promote inclusivity. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc. Skip to content. Greece: The Mediterranean's ancient gay-friendly civilisation.

Stephen Emms Features correspondent. Share Save. Getty Images.