Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender content in Greek-Cypriot newspapers: A descriptive analysis between 2011 and 2015

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have been largely absent from dominant social debates in Cyprus. In a socially conservative country, with prevailing heteronormative and patriarchic norms, discussion around issues of sexuality in general and sexual orientation in particular, has been taboo. This has resulted in a lack of visibility and meaningful social and media debate around LGBT people and issues that concern them (Tryfonidou, 2017). From 2010 onward issues of discrimination and harassment towards LGBT started becoming increasingly discussed in the public arena. Relevant legal developments, accelerated by the 2004 Republic of Cyprus’s (RoC) accession into the European Union (henceforth EU) and by the pioneering of the LGBT NGO called ACCEPT, led to more visibility of LGBT issues in the public sphere (Phellas, Kapsou, Epameinonda, 2014), reflected also in increasing media attention (Kapsou, Christophi & Epaminonda, 2011). Events such as the Pride Festivals from 2014 onwards, contributed significantly in promoting public attention around LGBT issues. Despite these important developments, the social debate remains limited and polarized and is frequently driven by statements of important public figures, and predominantly by Church representatives. These figures often promote a representation of same-sex relationships as highly deviant, abnormal and problematic and thus contribute to an ongoing marginalization and discrimination of LGBT people. The social climate around LGBT issues also reflects that there is room for improving social acceptance and respect of LGBT rights (European Commission, 2015) while there are still pressing legal issues to be addressed (Tryfonidou, 2017). Although academic attention around these issues has increased significantly during the last few years (i.e. Kamenou, 2012; Onoufriou, 2009; Phellas, 2005), there is still need for scientific, empirically grounded research. Our aim in this report is to provide an empirically-grounded examination of the ways that media represent LGBT related issues, by focusing on newspaper content. This report, although descriptive of the media content on LGBT issues, still aims to contribute to a more critical debate around the role of mainstream media on Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender content in Greek-Cypriot newspapers 2011-2015 9 how LGBT communities are perceived. The report begins with an introduction consisted of two sections, the first gives information on the research project Re.Cri.Re. and the second provides basic background information on the study’s context (legal developments, attitudes, the Church on LGBT issues, experiences, media in relation to LGBT people). The methodology chapter that follows describes the steps undertaken for the completion of the research reported. The chapters of the results provide the reader with descriptive information first on general patterns of reporting of LGBT issues and second in particular on the newspapers coverage of the 2015 Civil Union Law (henceforth CU law). The report ends with some basic conclusions and shares ideas for future wok in the field.