Most Armenians do not accept to have homosexual neighbors.
According to the Women’s Resource Center when the question ‘what would you do if your neighbor is homosexual?”was asked, 86% of the respondents answered that , they would not tolerate it. Anush Poghosian, the Centers for sexual and reproductive health issues states that a few years ago the intolerance towards homosexuality was 100%.
She continues to say: “It is normal that many of us have stereotypes. But can’t they change by reading, studying, and observing? It is encouraging that a small percentage of the population has become aware of people having the right to be as they are.”
The director of PINK Information Center, Mamikon Hovsapyan says lately, a great number of people asked him about homosexuality. According to him, the interest grew since December, when Armenia joined the United Nations statement for the protection of homosexuals. Hovsepyan states: “The basic confusion when discussing homosexuals is the belief that they are prostitutes wearing women's clothing and spreading sexually transmitted infections.” Hovsepyan wants to convince that on the exterior most homosexuals do not differ from other people. As for sexually transmitted infections, they are also spread by people who have non-homosexual orientation.
The coordinator of organization, Lilit Khorenyan believes that even the high officials of this country have erroneous ideas. When asked to give their views about homosexuality they respond by saying "It's a sickness. Go to Holland, it's the newest fashion there. We have entered the European Union and the newspapers are using homophobic phrases".
Mamikon Hovsepyan declares although there seems to be no apparent problems in Armenia, legal or otherwise, in regards to homosexuals, abuse and violence are current happenings especially during their military service. He also points out that is equally hurtful when the rights of individuals are invaded when their personal information, such as their names and photos, is made public, an event that occurred recently when a local paper printed an article about Armenian lesbians causing much commotion.
According to the Women’s Resource Center when the question ‘what would you do if your neighbor is homosexual?”was asked, 86% of the respondents answered that , they would not tolerate it. Anush Poghosian, the Centers for sexual and reproductive health issues states that a few years ago the intolerance towards homosexuality was 100%.
She continues to say: “It is normal that many of us have stereotypes. But can’t they change by reading, studying, and observing? It is encouraging that a small percentage of the population has become aware of people having the right to be as they are.”
The director of PINK Information Center, Mamikon Hovsapyan says lately, a great number of people asked him about homosexuality. According to him, the interest grew since December, when Armenia joined the United Nations statement for the protection of homosexuals. Hovsepyan states: “The basic confusion when discussing homosexuals is the belief that they are prostitutes wearing women's clothing and spreading sexually transmitted infections.” Hovsepyan wants to convince that on the exterior most homosexuals do not differ from other people. As for sexually transmitted infections, they are also spread by people who have non-homosexual orientation.
The coordinator of organization, Lilit Khorenyan believes that even the high officials of this country have erroneous ideas. When asked to give their views about homosexuality they respond by saying "It's a sickness. Go to Holland, it's the newest fashion there. We have entered the European Union and the newspapers are using homophobic phrases".
Mamikon Hovsepyan declares although there seems to be no apparent problems in Armenia, legal or otherwise, in regards to homosexuals, abuse and violence are current happenings especially during their military service. He also points out that is equally hurtful when the rights of individuals are invaded when their personal information, such as their names and photos, is made public, an event that occurred recently when a local paper printed an article about Armenian lesbians causing much commotion.
source: A1+
