An Athens court yesterday rejected an appeal by residents of the Aegean island of Lesvos to ban the use of the word lesbian to describe gay women.

Three islanders brought a case against the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) last month, saying its use of the word was an insult to their homeland. But the court ruled that the term lesbian does not define the identity of the island’s residents and so can be used by gay organizations in Greece and abroad.

Several residents testified that the use of the word lesbian had boosted the island’s recognition. But many islanders are unsettled by the fact that the island, and particularly the resort of Eresos, is a popular tourist destination for gay women. Eresos is regarded as the birthplace of the ancient Greek poet Sappho, whose poems are believed by some to be about sexual love between women.