Three decades of pride: Greek and Gay Support Network marks 30 years
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Much has changed in three decades regarding LGBTIQ rights and recognition—particularly in the Greek Australian community.
In May 1995, the world’s (reportedly) first Hellenic gay support group launched operations in Melbourne—the Greek and Gay Support Network (GGSN). The year 1995 was a watershed moment in many ways. It marked the publication of the groundbreaking novel Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas—later adapted into the film Head On, starring Alex Dimitriades—which explored the journey of a young Greek Australian gay man searching for his identity and living life to the fullest.
In 2017, Australians overwhelmingly voted for marriage equality, granting same-sex couples the full range of rights enjoyed by heterosexual or cisgender couples.
However, it has been a long and often tumultuous journey to shift society’s perspectives. Since its founding, the GGSN has worked with Greek Australians to advocate for change within the community. It has also served as a historical repository of the movement toward greater equality.
On May 30, the group will hold a tavern night to mark three decades of “support to thousands of Hellenic individuals in Victoria and beyond.”
John Tzimas from the GGSN said, “Basically, we’re just celebrating our 30 years.
“It’s open to everyone that wants to have a good time and celebrate with us […] we enjoy our food, we enjoy our dancing, we enjoy our Greek music,” Tzimas told Neos Kosmos.
The network has evolved in its form and activities, reflecting three decades of social and generational change. Yet, its aim remains to eventually become redundant, says Tzimas, as a support group for gay Hellenes.
“Our ultimate dream is not needing to exist, and we’re getting closer and closer every year, I think.
“Younger people don’t have as many issues as we did. I’m a lot older, so I went through that stage where it was very difficult.
“Parents are more accepting. And you know, we’ve had gay marriage pass, so it’s in everyone’s face, so to speak. You can’t walk in any suburb pretty much without coming across a gay couple somewhere. Even in Oakleigh.”
GGSN has, in the past, run regular meetings and worked with Pronia to build bridges with older generations through community programs. They have also collaborated with other cultural support groups.
“In 2003, we got together with the Italians, the Jews, the diverse Asians, Arabs and produced a fundraiser dance party with multicultural music and performers.
“It was all gays and lesbians and all the other letters of the alphabet as well,” Tzimas says.
“I just tend to say gay because I’m old school, but I mean everyone.”
Currently, the network exists to provide support when asked, offering a safe, culture-specific space.
“We’re not professionals, we don’t take the role of a therapist or anything like that.
“We’re just a group of people that are there to listen to what other people’s issues are and just provide our own experiences.
“We’re a peer support group, for lack of a better word,” Tzimas says.
Everyone engages with the group differently, he adds.
Tzimas reflects on the many and varied stories people told him “through the group and how he used them in his process. He joined the group in the mid 1990s, he was married with children.
“I realised I was gay, that I had an interest in men and that dissolved the marriage as a result, by consensus.”
Coming out, was a staged process for him and not always smooth.
he says the “worst thing that you can do is tell everyone at the same time everything.
“Especially when you’re not equipped to deal with the consequences of the decision that you make.”
Coming out he says is easier than it was 30 years ago. But in cultures like the Greek one, family dynamics still play a big role, says Tzimas.
“I’d say in 90–95 per cent of cases, it would be a lot easier. But we still have people that email us and say, ‘Look, I’m struggling, I’m coming out and need to talk to someone.’
“And I’ve got examples of people who tell their parents, but they don’t want the grandparents to know because they’re not ready for that. Or some may be the reverse, or anything really—every family is different.”
“Τί θα πει ο κόσμος;” (“What will people say?”) Tzimas admits is a common refrain among Greek Australians looking to come out.
But he says he’s learned to deal with it—even with humour.
“Greek guilt works in every facet of life.”
Tzimas underscores the truism that regardless of full acceptance—or lack thereof—by Greek families, love seems to override all else.
“To be honest, we may not get totally accepted by our families, but the one good thing about Greek families is that they won’t throw you out the door when you’re coming out… if you know what I mean.
In the end Tzimas is probably very right when he says, “Being vegetarian is much ‘worse’ than being gay in a Greek family!”
For more info on the Greek and Gay Support Network visit facebook.com/greekkaigay or email them at info@greekandgay.com
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
