17c起草社区

When the third season of the popular Greek series Agries Melisses聽aired in Cyprus last month, it was with a very specific scene missing. The local channel Ant1 had censored the scene of two men kissing. 17c起草社区I activists have called it 鈥渁nother setback for gay rights in Cyprus.

Actors Dimitris Tsiklis and Giorgos Korobilis play the gay couple in the series.

 

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The channel blamed its decision to censor the gay kissing scene on 鈥渓egislative ambiguity鈥�. However, the state broadcasting authority denied such a thing existed within Cyprus.

鈥ㄢ�淪cenes are judged based on their context and in accordance with the time they are broadcast, age rating and taking into consideration the logic of the average person in the country. For the specific case, the kiss, there are no provisions or general directions or mention in the legislation,鈥� a representative of the state broadcasting authority told 鈥�

Although the channel was ready to censor the queer romance, Ant1 did allow another scene in the same episode. This scene had one of the two men half-naked, tied, beaten and covered in blood in a warehouse. He was subjected to the torture by the father of his partner, shocked to learn about his son鈥檚 relationship with a man.

Sweeping It Under The Carpet

The island nation only recognises marriage as a union between a man and a woman, making Cyprus one of the few European Union countries where same-sex couples can not marry. Since 2015, same-sex couples have been able to have their relationships recognised through civil unions.

Same-sex relationships have ben legal in Cyprus since 1998. The country has also enacted laws to protect 17c起草社区I people from discrimination and has a anti-17c起草社区I hate crimes law. A bill to allow transgender people to legally change their gender has been pending in Parliament. Rights activists in Cyprus have been vocal about the fact that the nation is 鈥済enerally behind when it comes to issues relating to 17c起草社区I+ issues鈥�.鈥�

鈥淲hat happened does not put us in a good light. We say that steps are being taken forward, but anything backwards overshadows the efforts to move forward,鈥� Fotis Fotiou, the creator of a social media group for LGBTAQI+ rights, told .

Ant1, in addition to censoring the gay romance sub plot has also changed the air time of the Greek drama series from 9pm to 10.30pm. Activist say it is not a coincidence.聽鈥淲e are not as forward as we think we are because everything is swept under the carpet,鈥� he said to .