Fun Fast Facts:
Updated: 12 May 2014 (Advancing rights despite Church opposition)
- A member of the European Union, Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean.
- 73% of the population identified with the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus.
- Homosexuality was decriminalised in the southern areas of Cyprus in 1998.
- There is no official recognition of either same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships.
- In 2013, the penal code was amended to criminalise discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Bills to create same-sex civil unions have been discussed by the government since 2010 but have yet to reach the parliament.
- The northern part of Cyprus was the last territory in Europe where homosexuality was still a crime – up to January 2014.
- Cyprus held its first gay Pride parade in 2014.
Advancing rights despite Church opposition
Broadcast: 12 May 2014
LGBTIQ-friendly organisation: Accept LGBT Cyprus
- Focuses on the protection, assertion and promotion of the rights and interests of LGBT people and the combat of prejudices, stereotypes, stigmas and social exclusion.
- Works raising awareness and informing the community itself as well as the general public, the family, institutions, organised or non-organised institutions and society in general in matters of sexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation and sexual health.
W3JOY interviewed: Costa Gavrielides of Accept LGBT Cyprus
“We had Accept LGBT Cyprus registering as an organisation – the first LGBT organisation – registering about 3 years ago. We had a dream of organising the first Cyprus Pride which is now happening at the end of the month. It seems it is causing quite a lot of interest in the media locally and internationally as well.”
“We’ve been getting some people that are not very happy with the situation. Primarily I’d have to say it seems to be coming from the Church of Cyprus. Not officially, but unofficially, there has been some priests in churches here in Cyprus who have been asking the people to condemn the Pride happening.”
“I would say that overwhelmingly the response has been very positive, especially in the media. The media have been very positive about it. It’s being seen as a very good step forward for LGBT rights and generally human rights.”
“I actually believe that most people that are going to be visiting the first Cyprus gay Pride is going to be primarily straight people rather than gays because here, being an LGBT still (attracts) stigma so people are quite afraid of coming out.”