People who live on the Greek island of Lesbos have started a legal battle to claim the sole right to be called lesbians.

Three residents from the island are taking the Greek LGBT group the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece to court over the use of the L word in its name.

The islanders say it "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

"My sister can't say she is a Lesbian," says the group's spokesman Dimitris Lambrou.

"Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos."

The three plaintiffs, Lambrou and two women, are now trying to get the group barred from using "lesbian" in its name and filed a lawsuit on 10 April 10.

In a text entitled The Misfortune of Being Lesbian, by Lambrou, published on his website, he claims Lesbos residents now suffer "psychological and moral rape" from the "seizure" of their island's name by gay women.

Lesbos is famed as the birthplace of ancient poet Sappho was known for writing about the love between two women.

"This is not an aggressive act against gay women," Lambrou said.

"Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title."

He said they targeted the group because it is the only officially registered gay group in Greece to use the word lesbian in its name.

The case will be heard by an Athens court in June.