An international lesbian village, a homeland -- it's real!

4 Sept 2024 · 3 min

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3:23

In this vlog, the speaker describes a newly established lesbian and women's community center called Sappho's Palace, located in the seaside village of Skala Eresos on the Greek island of Lesbos—the historic birthplace of the poet Sappho and the origin of the word "lesbian." The narrator recounts recent gatherings at the center: a women's philosophy café led by a German‑born, England‑based friend, where participants from eight countries discussed concepts of home and exile, and a queer poetry circle organized by a friend from Barcelona, featuring poets and attendees from Poland, Italy, Germany, the UK, Lebanon, France, and beyond. The speaker emphasizes the richness of these international, queer‑focused events, the vibrant atmosphere of the village (sunflowers, a large gay pride flag, bicycles, motorcycles, and a clear sea), and expresses awe at the unexpected yet real existence of such a space. The video ends with a promise to share more about the community in future updates.

Chapters

Can you imagine a place where lesbians, queer women, and non-binary people from all over the world came together to talk, to share, to listen, to connect, to love one another? Can you imagine if that place were in a remote, rustic, beautiful village in Greece, right on the sea. Can you imagine if women from France, Italy, Germany, Israel, Poland, Russia, New Zealand, Canada, America, and many other parts of the world were all coming together to share this experience? Well, I couldn't have imagined that 2 years ago until I heard about this place. It does exist. It's called Skala Eresos. It's on the Isle of Lesbos in Greece. Lesbos, of course, is where we get the word lesbian from, because this town, Skala Eresos, is the birthplace of Sappho, who was the first recorded poet several thousand years ago to have written about love between women. It's extraordinary to be here. And just in the last week, I went to a women's philosophy cafe led by a friend of mine who was originally German, lived in England for a long time, and has now moved here. We had really deep conversations with women from about 8 countries about the concept of home and exile. I was actually the only American there. Monday night, another new friend of mine, Rolo, from Barcelona, Led a queer poetry circle, and again there were about twenty women and non-binary and trans people there. It was phenomenal from Poland, Italy, Germany, the UK, Lebanon, France, French Lebanese, and again just sharing unbelievable poetry, both their own and those of other queer poets. Can you imagine that richness? Getting to share in these ways day after day with lesbians and queer women, queer people from all over, and then going and plunging in a clear, clean sea. I couldn't have imagined it either, but that's where I am now. And so I just wanted to let you know about this place. I'll be sharing more in the coming days. I am on the terrace of a brand new lesbian and women's community center called Sappho's Palace. I wish you could see the sea. There's so much light there that it's getting a little bit washed out, but I'm hoping you can see the big gay pride flag there and people bicycling down the street. Maybe you hear a few motorcycles. I'm sitting by a field of Sunflowers. Maybe you can see those blurrily in the background. And here I am on the Isle of Lesbos. I'll tell you more soon.