The annual Athens Pride , a festival for LGBT rights is scheduled from May 31 to June 4. Even if you don’t agree with the background of the organizers , supporting the Pride is crucial itself. First because in Greece of 21st century , basic human rights are suppressed. Secondly because gender discrimination and racism is a daily issue in “civilized” Greece. Supporting the pride also means a mobilization against Greek orthodox fundamentalism and Nazis who try to attack the pride every year as it happens anywhere where Nazis exist. Therefore We are expecting you there
Outdoor performance: Pink Singers – London’s oldest LGBT Community Choir
20.00 @ Syntagma Square
ATHENS PRIDE DAY – PARADE & FESTIVAL
SATURDAY – JUNE 4
Main Event Day at Klafthmonos Square (Metro Panepistimio): 11.00 MORNING ACTIVITIES
Create your personal touch of color to our Parade at our Sign Workshop.
Art Exhibition with KISS ME EVERYWHERE as theme. To contribute contact ekthesi.pride@gmail.com Αυτή η διεύθυνση ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου προστατεύεται από κακόβουλη χρήση. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε την Javascript για να τη δείτε. . 13.00 Live DJ sets 16.00 Latin rhythms with the PATRAS DANCE GROUP 17.00 Opening addresses 17.45 Parade Opening Act
18.00 PARADE Feat. BATALA and PINK SINGERS from London
the parade starts and ends in Klafthmonos Square
20.00 – 00.00 Party & Live Show
DJ sets, DRAG shows by LEN, GAZAN’S and ΚOUKLES. LIVE by ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI, EFSTATHIA, ONIRAMA, VEGAS, MELISSES.
Artistic Director KONSTANTINOS RIGOS
Greece in summer , a place with many titles to fame. Every year thousands of tourists are searching a new adventure in most of the occasions are going to the greek Islands instead the mainland which is “not much going on”? for the young people’s party. Tons of low quality alcohol and sex on the beach with drunk people hanging around especially during the night on the beach and the little streets of the Island main towns . A big party of the European wasted youth is definitely taking place in Greece. Are you ready for the annual big party in the greek islands?
I m not writing these lines to encourage people to come in Greece this summer , there are definitely several better places to go , especially now who Greece is witnessing a financial collapse , the situation here is getting increasingly disorganized. In the other hand certainly someone can tell you that Greece remains a beautiful country , with much sun , blue sky and in some particular areas with friendly people as well. Lets get a glimpse of the 5 “must to go” areas in Greece during summer!
The biggest airport of the country is located in Athens (eleftherios Venizelos). You may know Athens because of the acropolis , history and the riots , molotov cocktails in the recent past. Athens is truly a destination for riot tourists ..During the summer time Athens turns into a real Hell with the temperature up to 40 degrees. Therefore run directly to the port (Piraeus) and get your ferry ticket for the next destination . Where do you have to go? It depends who you re and what are you searching for. Although the most of the people are searching generally for the same things and in all of the greek islands you can find almost everything you wish , some places are always better than others. Therefore I will describe the best holiday Islands for 5 different types of people as well as I will tell you where Im going this summer.
type 1 (which I also belong to) PARTY ANIMALS, alcohol freaks and people like us!
Party animals , people who love alcohol , vomiting and being wasted in summer please get this announcement seriously. Ios Island in Cyclades is your paradise. Ios in old greek means flower don’t ask me why and who gave this name to the Island. I was there last year and Im planning to go there this year again for 3 months. Ios is rather a small island with a rare fairy village with tinny white houses and blue windows up to the hill , perfect landscape and countless bars and little clubs.
Down to the hill you will find milopotas beach with two big camping areas , small rooms to rent and so on. Especially in August the island is packed , thousands of young single people are searching for a great adventure and the non stop party is taking place 24 hours.
Ios island is a “non go area” for couples , families and retired people who are searching for a peaceful holiday. The food is nasty and perhaps a bit expensive (i don’t know the price lists for this year)but there are also cheap offers and solutions. The little secret of this Island is definitely how to buy your drinks. The bars and clubs are selling crap. I mean the quality of the drinks is awful therefore is always better to get drunk to the village’s square , buying your bottle of vodka or whatever you want from the mini market. It is certainly cheaper and better , comparing what they offer at the bars. All night the little streets of the Ios main village are overcrowded with teenagers or young wasted people in a good friendly mood and open for socializing.
type of person 2 “Im in love.. wanna go with my partner to the paradise… for the people who are in love , counting the stars and watching the moon (bliahhh).. = Santorini Island.
Close to Ios is Santorini. Actually it is only one hour far with the ferry from Ios. Santorini is a real paradise to be honest. It is probably the most beautiful island of Cyclades(with a volcano near to the Island , don’t worry an old volcano, not like in Iceland) but there is a little disadvantage. Because of this island is good for couples (couple island), you can’t really find many party places. The main town (fyra) is extremely expensive comparing to Ios for instance , but offers high quality services (most of the times) for rich people. In my opinion even if this island is beautiful , don’t go there if you re broke.
As far as I remember (i was there in 2006) only an other little village (Perisa) is cheaper , perhaps you can also find a handful of parties at the beach bars there. An other essential fact if you are planning to go to Santorini in the end is that the beaches are not so beautiful comparing to other Islands (Crete for example or Ios etc..).
type 3 party raver , gay queer , one night stand lovers , people who wanna show of power and money , fashion designers ,stupid people from the TV and so on… welcome to Mykonos
Now you re wondering for sure , how type 3 can include and combine party ravers and gay queer with fashion designers and stupid people from the TV. shit happens ? I dunno what to answer but definitely Mykonos is marvellous. Mykonos many decades now is famous destination for gay and queer people as well as for people who love house music and techno. I rather believe that Mykonos is easily comparable to Spanish party Islands like Ibiza etc. In Mykonos you can find Cavo Paradizo which is a fabulous club , the most popular djs of the world plays at least once every summer. Djs and producers such as Carl Cox , Paul Oakenfold goes there almost every year I think?
Located some 6 km south east of Mykonos Town, Super Paradise beach is the most alternative and anti-conformist beach on the island.Super Paradize is SUPER. A brilliant beach bar – club ,offers an exceptional experience. Cocktails and dancing last from Morning till late at night. Besides now the light side , lets mention the dark side of Mykonos.
First of all , the greek trash media advertise the Island , therefore try to avoid the idiots and the evil paparazzi. Mykonos is defined as the destination for the famous and people who have money , due the fact that it is really expensive.. Definitely you can find many stupid people in Mykonos .. but if you re brave enough (also have enough money) go there for a couple of days.
type 4 . I want an Island who combines everything , mountains , marvellous beaches , parties , tropical weather , good food etc…
Crete is definitely the best Greek Island and your destination.If you ask the locals , they think that the Island can easily be autonomous from the rest of the country. It combines everything and it is a highly recommended by everyone who gets there once. The Island is huge and all the regions of the Island are gorgeous. You can easily find flights from the majority of the airports in the UK , NL and Germany. The locals are a bit weird , so don’t fuck with them , can easily get upset. Crete is rather expensive too but you can easily find cheap stuff too. I advice you to rent a motorbike or a car because you can’t really see the whole Island by using public transport etc.
At Iraklio the biggest city of the Island , especially at Malia (the BEST CLUBBING AREA of Greece)(approximately 40 min out from Iraklio) you can find a similar to Ios situation including some house and techno events the whole summer season. More information check at http://maliatv.blogspot.com/. Chania (the second biggest city) is also highly recommended for having parties and great time.
a video from Malia
type 5 : Im a hippy , love trance music and searching for a place with hippies and trance music welcome to Samothraki Island
Well several good friends of mine love this Island. It is an Island , rather famous from greek mythology , ceremonies and orgies. Samothraki is a real alternative for people who wants to relax , just relax.The Island is in the north of Greece and as you understand its rather a big problem because it is not easy accessible. You have to go to Alexandroupolis (a city near to the Turkish border) and then a ferry. A big forest extends towards the mountain of the Island. In the very beginning of the 00s Samothraki was famous for trance festivals and hippies. The Island today remains popular to the hippy scene therefore I didnt really like it to be honest , but the nature with the forests , rivers etc creates a rare atmosphere.
If you had enough of over concuption , noise of the city and so on then go there ..but pay attention to that , the islands deserves respect and your full consideration (collect your rubbish , dont shit wherever you re, or light fire or other things you consider dangerous)
b) practical advice part
You can easily get your tickets with not much stress to Cyclades from the main port of Piraeus .Always becareful the time tables and be sure about the scheduled departures. You can check on google for the maps of each Island. Pay attention that free camping is forbidden and you can easily get a fine or easily be on trial.I dont say that free camping is impossible but better to ask locals or greek young people who do the same , they will be helpful 100%.
Pay attention always to check and compare the prices. Greece is one of the most expensive countries of the EU especially in summer , many times in markets , restaurants etc, will try to extort as much money as possible from you.
As an Epilogue
Greece is not exceptional , but you can enjoy your holiday. Techno and house scene in some particular areas is the only music you will catch up with. I hope you find my alternative guide usefull. If you have any questions or like to add something , feel free to leave a comment.
GreenMojito few days agowrote an article concerning the first Gay Pride in Slovakia . At 22nd of May , it was supposed to take place the first gay Pride ever organized in Slovakia to support LGTB and queer movement in Slovakia. Unfortunately neo- Nazis didnt let the Pride happen. Neo Nazis gathered in Bradislava’s downtown and they attacked to the crowd and finally the parade was canceled. If you follow the history of the gay prides especially in Balkan area (Croatia , Serbia) , you already know that these attacks by neo-nazis is nothing new.
BRAISLAVA, 22 May: the first Rainbow PRIDE in Slovakia ever!
The Duhovy (Rainbow) pride is Slovak march for human rights of non-heterosexual people, their social and political equalization and first celebration of LGBT pride. This is how the official site defines it. And this is just a piece of celebration of freedom to be different and demonstration of the victory of human rights. But moreover, a Rainbow Pride is a piece of music/visual masterpiece – loud, bright, diverse.
Of course, different kinds of people, not only LGBTI people will meet in the city center at 1p.m. in the center of Bratislava. Especially the people who are not indifferent to the concept of human rights and open society not indifferent.
Rainbow PRIDE Bratislava 2010 is organized by the NGO Queer Leaders Forum, informal group Queers and platform of other young Slovak activists.
What a Pride Parade is, in fact?
PRIDE means celebration of self-esteem not only of LGBT people and their sexual orientation and gender identity – but of every democratic and open society
Idea of PRIDE stems from three main fundamental:
All the people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Diversity is a gift.
Sexual orientation and gender identity are natural and can not be changed on purpose.
PRIDE is the opposite of the word „shame“ which the LGBT people have experienced – and in many countries still experience – just because of their “non-majority“ sexual orientation and gender identity.
PRIDE unhides whole community of non-heterosexual people.
PRIDE bonds people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
PRIDE supports equal rights for LGBT people and their partnerships and families.
This year’s Pride Parade in Budapest was calm and rather boring, as fewer people showed up compared to the previous year. Indeed, Pride Parade 2008 was rather violent with neo-nazis and average observers, apparently homophobes, throwing eggs, tomatoes and bottles into the participants of Pride Parade 2008.
>> By the way, this violence is caused by the government headed by ex-prime minister Gyrcsany as before 2007 and 2008 the Pride Parade was peaceful and boring for the media. <<
The only positive thing about 2008 Pride was high attention of the media and increased security (Not all cops are bastards after all) this year. Not only Andrassy avenue, where the Parade took place this year, but also parallel streets were closed and surrounded by fences. Basically, a big part of central Budapest including metro was closed.
>> The right to free assembly is a basic constitutional right. But in gulyas democracy of Hungary this right has to be protected by hundreds of policemen and rows of fences. <<
Crowds of people were to be observed outside the fences, apparently not as many as previous year. Moreover, this day was a football match between Hungary and Sweden and most probably most hooligans were already at the stadium by the end of the Parade. The Parade participants turned out to be hard nuts for those willing to attack them, as police was escorting them even after the end of the Parade at Deak sq. and Blaha Lujza sq., as all the participants were recommended to go to Blaha Lujza by metro.
This decision was based on previous year’s accident when at the end of Pride Parade it turned out that the participants were trapped because most of neo-nazis gathered at the end point of the Pride 2008, Heroes’ sq.
To the Pride 2009 itself: there were a number of groups and individual people from both Hungary and abroad. The opening speeches were delivered by Juris Lavrikovs, Paata Sabelashvili (ILGA Europe) who welcomed the participants and shared tehir thoughts of the importance of the Pride. There were two cars with sound systems, a froup of people carrying a rainbow flag, and a number of smaller groups including Amnesty-Hungary (the yellow group) and the pink-black bloc.
Overall, it was just another good opportunity for queer people to claim for their right for equality and for their supporters to express their solidarity. Hopefully, the peacefulness of Pride Parade 2009 will become a good tradition and the tolerance in Hungarian society to queer people will grow to the level that no fences will be needed in the future.
The Rainbow Mission Foundation (Szivárvány Misszió Alapítvány) organizing Gay Dignity Procession cooperates with Open Society Archives (Nyílt Társadalom Archívum) to invite everybody for a series of films that examines the lives of Gays and Lesbians in the world today. We welcome to come and discuss these issues that are relevant for Hungary now as it prepares its LGBT Pride the week of August 30 – September 5 in Budapest.
Screenings begin at 6 pm every Wednesday evenings through the summer at OSA
starting on July 8. Films are in original language with English subtitles and they will be followed by discussions of the theme (in Hungarian and English). Food and drink are available for purchase next door at the Cafe.
OSA
H – 1051 Budapest, Arany János street 32.
Wednesday nights
6 pm – 8 pm.
The event is FREE
so, what to do this weekend in case you don’t like the mainstream clubs/parties of berlin?
*friday:
techno party at the RAW (revaler str) “Sabot-Age” – Queer Techno Berlin #14. The Deep, Rough and Big issue. At 00.30 Suspencions Performance – Berliner balerino, Jon (Un Autre Corps).
DJ/anes: Drama Nui (Kit Kat Club), Franzüss (Sabotage Bln), Leinad (KRD/Shadow Sync), Hubble (Moulton Rec). VJs: Boxikus (Sabotage/Infraktion Kore), Bildstörung.
or
technoparty in the Supamolly (jessner str 41): DJ Gianni Vitiello, DJ Peer Gregorius, DJ Mateng, DJane Anja Zaube and Liveact.
*saturday:
techno party in the Koepi (koepenicker str. 137) Liebig-34-Soliparty. “Rave is your grave?” Liebig34 goes Tekno/D&B/Hardtek with DJs Flare5, Fallout Boy, Do it, Kali_Yuga, Nicorus. VJ by Aikia and more.
or (updated! just heard about this nice party)
queer antiracist party in New Yorck 59 (part of Bethanien) with ://about blank and others (pop floor and techno floor)
or (ok not so queer/left, but at least a nice party line:)
reclaim the beats & bass station Electro/House/Breaks and HipHop/Funk/BigBeat party at Cassiopeia (revaler str 99) HANUMAN TRIB *live (Rudegirls Society), B-PHREAK (Fat!/Splank/Mainz), ASTMA (Reclaim the Beats), ARZT (Reclaim the Beats) MILLIONAER (Beatevolution), LEBOB (Beatevolution) iGADGET (MachParat). Visuals: PLASTIC PEOPLE (Hangar), Lights: ROOM DIVISION
every year the birthday of koepi is a special highlight. although this year it was a bit weird, at least for me.
just the background: koepi is a squat in berlin, last year they faced eviction, and after the autonomous scene said that they will burn down berlin if koepi gets shut down, suddenly a solution was found and now they have a contract for 30 years.
there was a whole weekend of parties sheduled, i was there on friday at the end and particularly liked the hiphop bar, the last dj was just incredible, played some more progressive stuff, and only some leftover punks were dancing in the morning. the karaoke hall was already far over the reasonable or something like that, didn’t function any more, but the people seemed to enjoy it
so i went there again on saturday, this time for some trash tekno and the big crowd that koepi always has when they celebrate their birthday. there was a big sign in the style of checkpoint charlie declaring “you are now leaving the heterosexual sector”, the party was crowded with queer/trans/gaylesbian and so on people and it was a very sexy atmosphere. i cannot really write so much about this party, it was too much movement around for me, everybody wanted to be everywhere all the time, i was too filled with vodka and everything was weird 0-). also the sound always broke down, but so you could at least have a nice talk.
..During the summer time Athens turns into a real Hell with the temperature up to 40 degrees. Therefore run directly to the port (Piraeus) and get your ferry ticket for the next destination . Where do you have to go? It depends who you re and what are you searching for. Although the most of the people are searching generally for the same things and in all of the greek islands you can find almost everything you wish , some places are always better than others. Therefore I will describe the best holiday Islands for 5 different types of people as well as I will tell you where Im going this summer.
welcome to Samothraki Island 
