You can talk to me now, I am gay

On February 24, a press conference took place at Yerevan’s Media Center (media-center.am) on “Violence against Sexual Minorities: The Approaches of Law Enforcement and Healthcare System”, which was live streamed via YouTube. The speakers of the press conference were Mamikon Hovsepyan, Executive Director of PINK Armenia, Sergey Gabrielyan and Artur Makaryan of New Generation Humanitarian NGO, and Sona Harutyunyan, lecturer at the Medical Psychology Department of Yerevan State Medical University. The recent homophobic attack on LGBT activists, as well as other matters regarding discrimination and hatred towards LGBTQ people was discussed during the press conference. A journalist from hraparak.am asked a question on whether it would be admissible to see homosexual people during the day walking in the streets if anti-discrimination legislation is passed in Armenia. Hovsepyan in turn asked the journalist if she sees homosexuals during the day. The journalist said yes, and that it was “not normal” to her. In response to her statement, Hovsepyan asked if it was “normal” for the journalist to be talking to him, to which she said, “Yes.” “I am homosexual,” said Mamikon in response, coming out publicly in front of journalists and cameras.

The ombudsman's annual report also refers to LGBT issues

Ombudsman’s Annual Report of 2014 on the human rights protection in Armenia has recently been released. The annual report also refers to LGBT rights violations of 2014, submitted by PINK Armenia. Although the submitted information has not been thoroughly included and presented in the annual report, it includes some of the main issues LGBT people face. The report states that the index of society’s intolerance towards LGBT people remains high. The survey on constitutional reform of 2014 showed that 88% of respondents believe that the rights of sexual minority must be limited. Meanwhile, the 2015 UN Universal Periodic Review working group instructed Armenia to take effective legislative and practical measures to ensure the protection of sexual minorities from discrimination. Human rights defenders recorded 1233 cases of discrimination, physical violence, and inadequate response to LGBT people complaints from the side of law enforcement bodies. Acts of discrimination against LGBT people is often expressed in media, spheres of healthcare, education, labor.

“Gay people are in a more vulnerable situation in penitentiary institutions, where they often perform the most humiliating jobs (eg, sewage cleaning), live isolated from other prisoners, no one communicates with them, their utensils and belongings are separated” is said in the Ombudsman's annual report.

The Reality of Gay Armenians and Our Collective Shame

There is a delicate balance the Armenian Diaspora has always had to maintain between that which we label “Armenian,” and that which we do not. The struggle to console an American identity with an Armenian identity is one that I have certainly felt having gone to a private Armenian school my entire life before college, and one that I will perhaps always face as my progressive politics intersect with my “traditional” values. As an entire population of second-generation Americans like myself, the first in their Armenian families to be born in America, become of age and must make the decision of continuing their cultural heritage or forgoing it, we have yet to grapple a very important issue that we cannot continue to ignore. The existence of gay men and women in our community has yet to be fully acknowledged and is a reality that many of us still approach with hostility. Why have we yet to come to terms with this reality? The answer is a difficult one, but one that I believe is closely related to our shared value of shame.

I’ll never forget the words uttered with remarkable incredulity by one of my peers in high school as I sat on the floor in between the shelves of our school’s bookshop one afternoon. I overheard the tail end of the conversation, but it was all I needed to hear. “Gay Armenians? I’ll kill them.”

Violence is something not uncommon for those who identify as LGBTQ, but as the arc of morality bends toward justice for many in America, there are pockets of communities where to be openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer still means to live in constant fear for your life. The Armenian-American community is one such place where the closet door could not be shut tighter or locked up better. In the Republic of Armenia, the situation for LGBTQ people and other minority groups is deplorable to say the least, as noted in an Amnesty International report released last year entitled, “Armenia: No Space For Difference.” But what is striking to me is how a culture of shame still engrosses even the youngest and brightest minds of our communities here in America, and for those who must experience and live with that shame, how it is internalized.

The extent at which homosexuality and socio-cultural deviance is vehemently combated in our communities is exemplified by another personal experience. I had the pleasure of serving as the student body president of my private, Armenian Apostolic high school during my senior year. Every year the student council organizes a spring formal, and as per school policy, students are welcome to brings guests from other schools if they provide a signed note from the other school. When a male student brought back a note for his male cousin who attended another Armenian school and had many mutual friends at our school, homophobia reared its ugly, aggressive head. I was told repeatedly by an administrator that those things were “not natural” and that even though the students were cousins and not romantic partners, the rule was clear: boys do not bring boys to a school dance. This is the same school where “Yes On 8” flyers were distributed in 2008 in support of the California ballot proposition that successfully outlawed marriage equality in the state for five years, and where paper topics on the gay marriage debate were rejected in English language class because, to paraphrase a teacher, “it would anger the church.” There is something to be said about a community that chooses a clear side in a debate it has no interest in participating in. On most things LGBTQ, this community is largely silent.

There is a very false myth surrounding Armenian identity. It is the myth that we, regardless of religious creeds, national identities, political leanings, spoken languages, etc., are all Armenians. The truth, however, is that to deviate from the mainstream in this community means to be shunned and persecuted for not living up to fabricated norms and expectations. Identifying as LGBTQ is one such deviation, arguably the most abhorred by our fiercely patriarchal and heteronormative culture. Armenians are a diverse people, and that diversity does not suddenly end when it comes to sexuality or gender. There is an undeniable taboo surrounding homosexuality, and that taboo is just one part of a larger system of oppression that is fueled, in my opinion, by shame.

Shame is a very powerful psycho-social affect and phenomenon that is not unique to Armenians, but is a major aspect of what it means to be a part of our collectivistic, Eastern-oriented culture. I use both the words “affect” and “phenomenon” because shame is something that is experienced both from within the individual self and also ascribed by the communal group onto the individual. It can be imagined just as much as it can be assigned, and it can play a very conspicuous role in everyday life, as it does in our community. If you are Armenian and were raised by Armenian-speaking parents, the phrase “It’s shameful,” (ամօթ է, amot eh) is probably one deeply ingrained in your vocabulary and psyche. One Hetq writer called it the “Amot eh” complex:

“Amot eh” is single-handedly quelling creativity and freedom of thought in modern Armenian society. With its submissive waive of the hand as if to state “no more,” it discourages entrepreneurship and spurns innovation. [...] “Amot eh” strangles ingenuity and favors complacency. Just like a scouring sponge, shame completely absorbs potential for exacting progressive change then scrubs out the inspiring light. It renders its victims incapable of consciously deciding of their own free will: “I want” or “I do not want.”

To further explore our fixation with shame, I consulted the dictionary and put together a very simple graph whose nodes consist of words from the Armenian lexicon relating to the word for shame (ամօթ, amot), and whose edges are directed from one node to another based on recurring words in definitions or, synonyms. What resulted was a vocabulary network built on honor, status, respect, and fear—values that reflect our shame culture.

Recurring words associated with amot included “embarrassment,” “dishonor,” “disgrace,” “stain,” “outrage” and “offense.” The graph reveals a circular pattern of words and social constructs that all lead back to amot. But one edge leads somewhere completely different, in fact to what can be called the opposite of shame.

Amot is defined in the 1998 Granian's «Բառգիրք Հայերէն Լեզուի» Armenian language dictionary as kheeb (խիպ), which means both shame and respect. The specific word used to define kheeb that stands out from shame is badgarank (պատկառանք), which is itself defined in Armenian as “fierce respect” (երկիւղալի յարգանք, yergyooghalee harkank). When translated into English, badgarank produces words like “reverence,” “veneration,” “regard,” and “modesty.” The root word of yergyooghalee--yergyoogh—in Armenian means “fear,” “horror,” “dread,” “panic,” or “terror.”

“Fierce respect” is something that is not difficult to grasp. To have shame in our culture is not always a bad thing, though shame is often associated negatively in the West (Tsai, Wong 215). Think of another commonly used word in our language: anamot (անամօթ), meaning without shame. It is perhaps just as important as amot, and most often used to police behavior that breaks social values or moral codes. Someone who is anamot or without shame lacks decency or manners, or to recall the definition of badgarank, modesty and respect. In certain situations you want to have shame. It is a sign that you are self-aware and respect not only those around you but yourself. It allows for dignity and self-worth. This is something anyone can understand, Armenian or not. So how can we keep the parts of shame that serve us and our social relationships, and let go of the parts that fuel things like homophobia?

It pains me to say it, but we are an intolerant people. It is ironic too considering that intolerance has taken its most evil form against us: genocide. Our intolerance for things that are different or unfamiliar, I think, is closely related to the perceived shame it brings to the family and community. Emotion researchers have distinguished shame from other similar emotions like guilt by noting its external orientation; shame typically involves being negatively assessed by others and is most often felt in the presence of others, an important point for gay and lesbian Armenians which I will touch on later. Ying Wong and Jeanie Tsai, professors of psychology at Stanford University, have noted in their paper, Cultural Models of Shame and Guilt, that individuals who experience shame are more attentive to contextual cues and “pay more attention to others.” If we take a moment to think about why we say that certain things are shameful in our culture, it becomes very clear that we are doing so not in consideration for ourselves but for those around us, corroborating Lewis’s finding. This reality is confronted in the second season of the YouTube series “Lousine: Lesbian Matchmaker To The Straights,” by New York City Armenian comedian Lousine Shamamian.

In one episode, Lousine comes out to her Armenian mother as a lesbian. Lousine is at first met with resistance from her mother, who denies that god created gay people among Armenians because, “Armenians are clean.” The honest but rosy interaction ends well for Lousine and her mother, who is able to accept her daughter for who she is. When Lousine asks her mother why, “we care so much about what someone else thinks and says,” her mother has the following to say:

Because when our parents raised us… they said don’t say this, don’t do that. It’s shameful, it’s shameful. That’s why. [...] We were raised with fear also because they lived through the Genocide. So because of that they raised use very closed off from the rest of society. So we had never heard of such things [homosexuality], it never occurred to us that such things were even possible.  

Lousine’s mother’s response is interesting to say the least and touches on one possible source of our shame culture. But if we are so preoccupied with what others think of us, how does the shame of being devalued by others affect those who experience it? According to Wong and Tsai, “shame-prone individuals are more likely to engage in avoidance and withdrawal, to experience inward anger, and to blame others.” And unlike guilt, shame does not lead to reparative action or adaptive behavior, and in the United States high levels of shame have been linked to mental illness. You can imagine then what it must feel like to be gay in our community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LGBTQ young adults who experience rejection are 6 times as likely to have high levels of depression, 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide, 3 times as likely to use illegal drugs and 3 times as likely to engage in unprotected sexual behaviors that put them at increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. At best, we are pushing members of our community out from among us. At worst, we are killing them.

I have heard many arguments against homosexuality that have been contextualized specifically for Armenians. My favorite is the one that labels homosexuality a threat to our nation’s very existence—that Armenian men and women who identify as LGBTQ or are straight allies are contributing not only the degradation of our national values but also to the extinction of our people because gay Armenian men and women are not contributing Armenian offspring to our already dwindling population count. To this I say: listen to Lousine Shamamian’s heartfelt cry: “We don’t want to upset our mothers and fathers [...] We value and respect our parents too.”

Lousine goes on to ask: “Everyone deserves the right to live an honest life, no?”

Ask yourself this simple question: how many gay Armenians do you know? The answer for almost all of us should be nearly none, because shame has left no space for them to exist openly. If we recall that shame is an emotion experienced in the presence of others, meaning that those of us who are prone to shame feel it most when we are with the communal group, and that in our culture shame is associated both denotatively and connotatively with words like “dirt,” where else do LGBTQ Armenians have to go but far away from the community? Perhaps I am pessimistic when it comes to this subject; of course there are openly gay Armenians, but none that we hear of. They are not a part of our community or our nation, because our community and nation has singled them out and excluded them as an Other, as gyot-s (faggots). There are no openly gay Armenians in our institutions or in our schools, none that are creating a culture that is welcoming and safe, who are fighting for our youth and shouting the good news from the tops of the iron ladder of hopes: that it is not shameful to be gay and that it will get better and that you can be Armenian and gay at the same time and that those two identities are not antagonistic even though everyone around you is telling you that they are…

It is time we let go of our shame.  

I most certainly recognize the unique position diasporan communities hold as culture bearers around the world, especially having attended a school whose purpose was the preservation of the Armenian language and culture. But at what costs will we cling to certain aspects of our culture that no longer serve us, aspect of our culture that curse and destroy us? As diasporans we have the luxury of being able to move in and out of our community. We should not have to, but the option exists. But let it be a sobering reminder for those who continue to force some of us out that for our brothers and sisters living in Armenia and other countries where the closet doors remain firmly shut, that option does not exist. They must live in constant fear for their lives. That is truly shameful.

I was in Turkey three years ago where I attended Istanbul Pride. To see a gay pride parade in a country that has struggled for almost all of its existence to strike a balance between Western modernity and religious tradition was remarkable in itself, but something else caught my attention, something that was so surprising that I struggled at first to make sense of it. Among the sea of pro-gay signs held by marchers were ones in Armenian! One of the signs was simple and clear: hos enk varjuhvetsek («Հոս ենք վարժուեցէք»), meaning “We are here, get used to it.” It is happening in even the most unlikely places. It is time we let go of our shame. 

by: Kyle Khandikian
kylekhandikian92@gmail.com

Source: Armenian Chronicles

CivilNet video-report: We are pretty intolerant

Based on the report:

In Armenia, many people do not want to live next-door to couples who are not married, speakers of other languages, or people who are disabled or wealthy. Ninety-four percent also do not want to have neighbors who are gay.

• A large majority of Armenians, more than 80% said they would not want their neighbors to be drag-addicts, AIDS patients or alcoholics.
• Lots of people would also not want their neighbors unmarried couples (48%), speakers of other languages (28%), people with disabilities (37%) or rich (29%).
• 94% would not want their neighbors to be gay.
• 70% do not want neighbors of a different religion.

Another survey also conducted in Armenia in 2012 showed that the main reason for intolerance is lack of communication and unfamiliarity with other cultures. This is the primary reason for intolerance in mono-ethnic countries such as Armenia, where more than 90% of the population is Armenian.

We deserve better!

Read also: Attitudes towards Homosexuality in the South Caucasus (CRRC - Caucasus Research Resource Centers)

sources: CivilNet and Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Report: LGBT rights situation in Armenia 2011

LGBT rights violation can be witnessed in various spheres of social life. LGBT people state that there is discrimination toward them in educational institutions and there were cases when a person was bullied by a teacher because of being feminine (in case of a male person) or masculine (in case of a female person), forced to drop out from the university because of his/her sexual orientation. Scientific papers and work on this issue is not welcomed, because the stance of the lecturers is that it is a perversion and the person is perverted if he/she wants to work on this topic. A gay student was not allowed to write a paper about homosexuality as the lecturer stated that he can’t be objective taking into account his sexual orientation.

Employment remains one of the most problematic aspects of life for LGBT people as employers refuse to hire someone who is open about his/her sexual orientation or his either feminine (gay) or masculine (lesbian). Transgender people have no opportunity to be open about their gender identity and there is no relevant legislation which will allow transsexual persons to change sex. Quite often LGBT people refuse to visit healthcare institutions in case of a necessity being not sure about the confidentiality there. If they contact civil society organizations they are being referred to LGBT friendly doctors, otherwise there is a high risk that person will be discriminated and will receive degrading attitude.

Army remains one of the most challenging institutions due to its closed nature and non-written rules which exist there and lead to discriminative and violent approach toward this group of people. In most of the cases media approach toward LGBT people is biased and based on stereotypes, prejudice and has no scientific and contemporary approach. There is no political willingness from the side of government institutions to protect LGBT rights and quite often they appear in the position of violators.

The stance of civil society toward LGBT rights is not united as well. Despite the fact that civil society organizations are able to work in the sphere of LGBT rights protection and take actions for changes, there is no support from the government and public and some part of civil society.

Although there are no radical changes in the above mentioned aspects, in this report we will focus on several aspects of social life and will present most common issues and problems of LGBT community in the Republic of Armenia which were registered in the past 2011.

Read more about the attitude of society, media, church, police and achievments in 2011 in our official website

Official disclaimer statement by VO.X music group (updated)

Last summer respected music group VO.X bradcasted their new video "I love Armenia" where they presented different types of disasters and addictions, among which same-sex relations where mentioned as perversion. Unfortunately they have opposed to their own statement that was shared in the beginning of the video, which says: "PRETENDING BLIND OR UNAWARE OF CERTAIN ISSUES WOULD NOT MAKE THESE ISSUES CEASE TO EXIST..."

PINK Armenia is thankful that Aram Rian agreed to meet and discuss this issue. He mentioned, as a musician and tolerant person, never wanted to hurt anybody, and couldn't imagine how that video could harm any individual or the whole community.

We post Aram's statement below and you are welcome to make comments and write your own opinions. The statement is attached also to the video in their youtube channel, posted in their facebook page and shared in Unzipped: GayArmenia blog


Official disclaimer statement. Re: music video "I love Armenia"

March 2nd, 2011
Yerevan, Armenia

To Whom It May Concern

I hereby state that, based on Biblical principles, I personally hold the belief that Christianity and homosexuality cannot be viewed as reconcilable phenomena (This approach was reflected within the context of my music video "I Love Armenia", which spoke of cherishing Christian values in traditional Christian Armenia).

Nonetheless, by no means does that imply that I have ever intended to promote homophobia or hate towards sexual minorities through my musical career.

According to a commonly known definition (also stated by Wikipedia), "the term 'homophobia' is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behaviour on either moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, however, the term actually denotes a person who has a phobia – or irrational fear – of homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled 'homophobia'." My case is that of objection on moral grounds. Hence, I cannot be viewed as a homophobe, because, in fact, I am not.

Being a human rights defender by nature and generally a peaceful tolerant person with a pacifist world view, I would never deliberately offend or discriminate any person or a group of people. Nor would I ever cross the boundaries, set by the amount of freedom of speech and expression assigned to me as an individual.

Therefore, if it ever appeared that I was willingly offending a specific category of people through my musical activities, I can sincerely assure the persons concerned that I had never been driven by such a motive.

I sincerely regret that it all led to certain forms of misconception, I regret that people were offended by the above-mentioned video and I truly wish to settle the matter once and for all.

Aram Rian

songwriter, musician

(VO.X)

UPDATE May 1, 2011: VO.X frontrunner Aram Rian has re-edited and replaced the controversial portion of the band’s "I Love Armenia" music video, by removing the reference to homosexuality as “perversion”. We have reached a mutual understanding with the group and consider this matter resolved as dialogue has taken place. We no longer have reason to believe either Aram Rian or VO.X is homophobic, and we wish them success in their future endeavors.

Now more than ever: human rights march and rally

The Human Rights and HIV/AIDS: Now More Than Ever campaign will march and rally for human rights at 18th International AIDS Conference on July 20, 2010 in Vienna.

Internationally acclaimed singer songwriter and long-time AIDS activist Annie Lennox will headline an historic rally in downtown Vienna. The march and rally will feature a memorable live musical performance by Lennox and provide an opportunity for people to demonstrate their commitment to protecting human rights and stopping the spread of HIV.

The event will consist of a 30-minute peaceful march in downtown Vienna to a public rally with government leaders, human rights and AIDS advocates, and people affected by HIV. Following the speeches, Annie Lennox will give a special presentation of her SING Campaign, which will include a musical performance and some short films highlighting the issues that surround HIV and AIDS.

The event will highlight the central role of human rights in the response to HIV. It will focus on the human rights of people living with HIV and of those affected by HIV, especially women and young people, gay, lesbian, and transgender people; and people who engage in sex work or who use drugs. It will focus on the global AIDS struggle as well as pressing concerns in Austria.

"Together we will give a voice to the voiceless," Annie Lennox.

Be heard! Global Forum on MSM & HIV

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) starts the 4th pre-conference on July 17, 2010 to the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna Austria. This one-day event explores the challenges and best practices in achieving universal access to HIV-related prevention, care, treatment, and support services for sexual minority communities worldwide.

Be Heard! convenes 450 human rights advocates, artists, researchers, public health officials, multi-lateral organizations, and global donors for a day of workshops, skills building, information exchange, and networking sessions. The MSM pre-conference will be followed by an evening networking reception.

MSMGF recommends a rights-based and person-centered approach to developing guidelines that will help transgender persons receive non-discriminatory, non-judgmental and quality health care. There has been an international wave of advocacy calling on authorities such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and World Health Organization (WHO) to depathologize transgender identities. Pathologizing gender identity variance as a ‘psychiatric disorder’ only perpetuates the stigma, discrimination and violence that these individuals experience around the world.

As a global advocacy organization working for the health and human rights of men who have sex with men (MSM), the MSMGF is familiar with stigma within health system structures and its negative impact on individuals and communities. For instance, the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder by institutions such as the APA until 1973 and the WHO until 1993 helped endorse discrimination against gay men and other MSM at multiple levels. Stigma and discrimination impact health by heightening HIV risk factors, including social isolation, and compromising access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services. Transgender persons are also the targets of stigma and discrimination that can be exacerbated by a mental diagnosis, ultimately resulting in compromised health and wellness.

Source: The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF)

All 47 Counsil of Europe countries unanimously agree on historic human rights recommendations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

On March 31, 2010 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, representing the national governments of its 47 Member States, unanimously adopted historic Recommendations on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. This is the world’s first intergovernmental agreement codifying the application of human rights standards to LGBT people.

The Recommendations establish how international human rights standards should be applied to LGBT people and contain specific measures for Member States on how they should improve their legislation, policies and practices to address discrimination against LGBT people in such areas as

- hate crime and hate speech;
- freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly;
- right to respect for private and family life;
- employment;
- education;
- health;
- housing;
- sports;
- right to seek asylum.

Additionally, the Recommendations prescribe that Member States should ensure that national human rights structures are clearly mandated to address discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. They also encourage Member States to address multiple discrimination experienced by LGBT people.

ILGA-Europe’s only regret is that the Member States did not go as far as we hoped for in some areas, particularly family rights.

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said:
“This is a truly historical development! For the first time in history the European continent came together to codify human rights’ applications to LGBT people. As we celebrate this landmark in European human rights history, we also hope that these Recommendations will help to advance the human rights for LGBT people beyond Europe. ”

Linda Freimane, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, added:
“These Recommendations go well beyond the current situation in many European countries for LGBT people and will surely serve as a blueprint for our members in working with their national governments. We will also follow closely the three year review mechanism agreed by the Committee of Ministers to ensure the full implementation. Finally, we encourage the Council of Europe to organise a campaign among its Member States to promote these Recommendations.”

The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It comprises the Foreign Affairs Ministers of all the Member States, or their permanent diplomatic representatives in Strasbourg.

The full text of the Recommendations is available on the Committee of Minister’s website.

sources: ILGA-Europe
Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Armenia: Gays live with threats of violence, abuse [EurasiaNet report]

Two years after Yerevan signed an international agreement to uphold the civil rights of gays, homosexuals in Armenia still face the constant threat of physical abuse and social isolation because of their sexual orientation.

"When my parents learned that I was homosexual, they first beat me and then kicked me out," Armen, a 22-year-old Yerevan resident who works as a teacher, told EurasiaNet.org. "Even now, after years have gone by, my mother doesn’t let me in, and some of my friends keep asking whether I’m really one of ’those’ people."

Armen (not his real name) says he realized he was gay at the age of 13 when he fell in love with his classmate. He met his first boyfriend in an online chat room when he was 20.

"I introduced him to my parents as just one of my friends. But one day my mother saw me kissing him, and that’s when all this started," Armen said. "My mother yelled that I’d better be dead, and my brother left the army to come home and beat me. So I went to live in the streets." Armen now lives with his grandmother.

Homosexuality has not been a criminal offense in Armenia since 2003; two years ago, the country signed the United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which asserts the right to equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation or gender. It has also ratified a protocol to the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms that bans all forms of discrimination.

But gay Armenians are still often the targets of discrimination. Aside from the risk of losing work, homosexuals face becoming social outcasts - a heavy burden in Armenia’s communal, family-centric culture. Some families have been known to emigrate to escape the stigma of having a gay family member. Similar social prejudices prevail in neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan as well.

The United States Department of State’s 2009 Human Rights Report described the Armenian public’s views on gays as "highly unfavorable;" homosexuality is "largely" seen as "an affliction," the report found. [For additional information click here].

"Armenia has always been intolerant toward homosexuals," commented Mikael Danielian, the chairperson of the Helsinki Association of Armenia, a human rights non-governmental organization.

Danielian says that his organization regularly receives alarming calls about attacks on suspected homosexuals. But criminal cases for the assaults usually are not filed because victims are afraid of publicity and additional public scorn, he said.

"Frankly speaking, we cannot do anything in these cases," Danielian said. Sometimes, gays who have been the alleged victims of discrimination simply want attacks mentioned in the organization’s reports, he added.

One recent assault was reported in mid-February when local media outlets claimed that Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian had ordered police officers to use force against suspected homosexuals and transvestites who allegedly routinely gathered in a park adjacent to the mayor’s office. Yerevan mayor spokesperson Anzhela Martirosian declined to comment on the reports, maintaining that the incident "didn’t concern the mayor’s functions."

One new political group has welcomed what it sees as the mayor’s decision to rid the Armenian capital of homosexuals. The National Conservative Movement, a small right-wing party founded last year, hailed Mayor Beglarian as a "true Armenian man" and urged supporters to continue attacking homosexuals.

Gay rights and violence against homosexuals are not issues that other political parties -- whether members of Armenia’s governing coalition, or in the opposition -- discuss publicly.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is similarly reticent. Father Vahram Melikian, spokesperson for the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, identified homosexuality as "a sin" and "negative phenomenon."

"[B]ut even these people can be granted absolution and come back to the right path," Father Melikian said.
Anti-gay attitudes appear to run particularly strong in the military. Since 2004, gays have been exempted from military service for supposedly being mentally ill.

One man, who gave his name as Narek, told EurasiaNet.org that an army officer had beaten him when he revealed his homosexuality during a psychiatric exam for military service. Narek claims that he spent three days in a mental hospital and was discharged from military service with the diagnosis of a "personality disorder."

One non-governmental organization, Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK Armenia), was formed in 2007. It aims to raise awareness about minority rights, and advocates for a break with traditional prejudices. "We live in an atmosphere where people are full of hateful words against homosexuals, and this drives them to commit hate crimes," commented Marina Margarian, PINK Armenia’s project coordinator. "An atmosphere exists where being gay is a terrible disgrace and beating a gay person is an honorable act."

Given the fear of reprisals, many Armenian homosexuals try to keep their contacts with other gays as discreet as possible. The members-only Armenian gay social network www.GayArmenia.com thoroughly scrutinizes a candidate’s personal data before admitting him as a member. The website has about 1,000 registered users, half of whom live in Armenia.

"The access to the website is limited for security reasons because many people were afraid to place their photos. And we had to create a place where homosexual men could meet safely," said GayArmenia.com founder Micha Meroujean.

Reason exists for such caution, states one gay young man, who claims that some his friends were badly beaten by unknown assailants after trying to establish contact with an allegedly gay man through an online dating service.

Chances for change appear slim. Said Meroujean, who emigrated from Armenia to Europe to escape mistreatment: "Society’s bad attitude again and again shoves Armenia’s homosexuals into the closet."

Marianna Grigoryan
freelance reporter based in Yerevan

source: EurasiaNet

Each illiterate gives him/her right to express an opinion

You know now I’m sitting trying to express my opinion about Armenian journalists’ illiteracy and permissiveness on a sheet of paper but when I remember what kind of people they are I just can’t find words to fully describe, but anyway I’ll try...
It’s a pity but again l have read a homophobic article in an Armenian newspaper lately. Getting acquainted with the authors writing style I remembered fragments from my work experience with mentally ill people as the author were periodically trying to touch different topics not keeping logical connection and of course trying to devote the most part of his article to the slander of homosexuals.
It makes an impression that our journalists don’t have any other topic to write an article, don’t have any other way to get the name of cool people and also earn a few coins more. Each illiterate gives him/her right to express an opinion about the issues concerning which he/she doesn’t have any idea. I think that it is meaningless to explain that kind of narrow minded people what human dignity, respect, philanthropy and these kind of high ideas mean.
I don’t know why but almost all journalists mainly discuss the topic of homosexuality, I don’t know why but they never remember that there were and are many outstanding people among them, they just insist that it is amoral. It is evident misinformation of the society.
I don’t think that people deserve respect when they have an opportunity to provide information to wide masses and do it by spreading their personal opinion besides that when they dare to perform it in statistical indicators without taking into consideration the real opinion of the society.
I won’t forget to mention that in the last article that I have read was a call to abuse and even kill homosexuals. I think that many will agree that appropriate punishment must be applied toward such people. Fortunately there are already brave and courage activists who are standing behind those who need help and support and with the help of their activities are trying to ensure worthy life for everybody.
I consider it my duty to inform all the people who have fallen behind of the world’s events, all the more journalists and people who confidently announce that homosexuality is a disease and say that in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed homosexuality as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which was adopted by World Health Organization too.
Concluding I would like to say stop violating others right to have private life and lets use our energy and time to do constructive steps.

M.M.

Round-table on intolerance and homophobia in Armenia

For the first time, round-table on intolerance, xenophobia and homophobia in Armenia was organised by The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) affiliated with the parliamentary opposition Heritage party. I welcome the initiative. Hopefully, this discussion will continue, eventually evolving a broader spectrum of the society, media and political representatives. As coordinator of the NCI Hovsep Khurshudyan rightly pointed out, Armenia, facing so many challenges, simply cannot afford xenophobia, homophobia and intolerance towards others' political or religious views.

Below is press release by the organisation in English and Armenian.

thanks to Unzipped: Gay Armenia for the information

July 30, 2009

NCI Examines Xenophobia in Armenia

Yerevan—Today, the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) convened a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Xenophobia in Armenia.” The meeting brought together NGO officials, human rights advocates, analysts, members of international organizations, and several others.

Welcoming the audience with opening remarks, NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian pointed to those dangers that xenophobia includes, and specifically to homophobia as well as intolerance toward others’ political views and freedom of religion. “Countries like Armenia, which faces numerous foreign challenges, cannot allow the entrenchment of phenomena like xenophobia, which imperils social unity,” Khurshudian said. “Sadly, however, this awareness is virtually absent particularly among the ruling political circles, and, with their actions and especially through the electronic media, the authorities contribute to this troubling phenomenon’s entrenchment among social awareness.”

The day’s first speaker, director Artur Sakunts of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, spoke about intolerance toward other political views. Presenting the roots of political intolerance in Armenia, he drew attention to the recent centuries, when Armenia was under the domination of foreign empires and states, and, in result, the open development of the political culture was hindered. According to Sakunts, however, “in the case when people are fired from their jobs for their political convictions, and when the entrepreneurs’ private properties are confiscated because of their political positions, the aforesaid history cannot justify the work method of the Armenian authorities.” Sakunts also underscored the imperative of institutional reforms.

In his intervention, Mamikon Hovsepian of the “Public Information and Need For Knowledge” NGO discussed the alarming extent of homophobia in Armenia. According to Hovsepian, this phenomenon is widespread in the army and the media, and high-level officials and leading representatives of the ruling political party are encouraging homophobia. And all this, as maintained by Hovsepian, is taking place against the backdrop of the incumbent Armenian authorities’ periodical assumption, from various international bodies, of commitments to carry out measures against homophobia. In Hovsepian’s view, the assumption of these commitments is “a mere formality and solely steps toward deceiving the European structures, and this does not affect, whatsoever, the authorities’ true steps taken in that direction.” Hovsepian also noted that, parallel to the growing reduction in the level of education and the deepening lack of knowledge, homophobia was becoming more widespread in the country.

The next speaker, chairman Stepan Danielian of the Cooperation for Democracy Center, presented the amendments which the ruling political party had proposed for the law on the freedom of conscience and religious organizations, and also pointed to the dangers these amendments can bring forth. He remarked that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, the OSCE/ODIHR, and the Council of Europe’s General Department on Human Rights jointly had expressed a negative view with respect to these amendments. “This bill, which passed through the Armenian National Assembly floor, in the first reading, will greatly curtail the freedom of religion, and this conflicts with the Armenian Constitution and the international agreements,” Danielian maintained.

In the shared view of the roundtable participants, xenophobia is truly perilous for the Armenian society and comprehensive counter measures are indispensable, but, to that end, no hope can be placed on the authorities in office. According to the panel discussants, it is impossible to resolve this problem exclusively by way of institutional reforms, because the laws simply are not executed and their mechanisms for execution are either lacking or flawed.

In his closing remarks, NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian argued that, unfortunately, the logic of the political developments is paving the way for one-party rule, with the alternative of Soviet totalitarianism, and, parallel to this, by violating the constitutionally-protected separation of the state and the Church, and freedom of conscience of the citizens, the very same attempt also is being made in the sphere of religion. “In order to disallow such developments, the body politic must unite and work more effectively and in a more coordinated fashion,” Khurshudian concluded.

30 հուլիսի 2009թ.

ՔԱՆ-ում քննարկվեց Հայաստանում այլատյացության (քսենոֆոբիայի) խորացման վտանգը

Երեւան: Այսօր Քաղաքացիական ազգային նախաձեռնությունը (ՔԱՆ) անցկացրեց §Այլատյացությունը Հայաստանում թեմայով քննարկում, որին մասնակցեցին հասարակական կազմակերպությունների ներկայացուցիչներ, փորձագետներ, իրավապաշտպաններ, միջազգային կազմակերպությունների ներկայացուցիչներ, շահագրգիռ այլ շրջանակներ:

Բացելով քննարկումը ՔԱՆ համակարգող Հովսեփ Խուրշուդյանը մատնանշեց այն վտանգները, որոնք պարունակում են իրենց մեջ այլատյացության տարատեսակ դրսեւորումները, եւ, մասնավորապես, անհանդուրժողականությունը այլոց քաղաքական հայացքների հանդեպ, հոմոֆոբիան եւ անհանդուրժողականությունը այլոց հավատքի իրավոնքի հանդեպ: Հատկապես Հայաստանի պես երկիրը, որը ունի վտանգներով լեցուն արտաքին մարտահրավերներ, չի կարող իրեն թույլ տալ ներհասարակական համախմբմանը խոչընդոտող այնպիսի երեւույթների խորացում, ինչպիսին է այլատյացությունը: Ցավոք, դրա գիտակցումը հատկապես իշխող քաղաքական շրջանակներում գրեթե բացակայում է եւ իշխանությունները իրենց գործողություններով` հատկապես էլեկտրոնային ԶԼՄ-ների ներգրավմամբ, նպաստում են այս մտահոգիչ երեւույթի արմատավորմանը հասարակական գիտակցության մեջ:

Քննարկման առաջին բանախոսը Հելսինկյան քաղաքացիական ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակի ղեկավար Արթուր Սաքունցն էր, որը ներկայացրեց անհանդուրժողականության դրսեւորումները քաղաքական այլակարծության հանդեպ: Դիտարկելով քաղաքական անհանդուրժողականության արմատները Հայաստանում` նա մատնանշեց վերջին դարերի պատմությունը, երբ Հայաստանը գտնվել է օտար տերությունների լծի տակ, ինչի արդյունքում խոչընդոտվել է քաղաքական մշակույթի ազատ զարգացումը: Սակայն ըստ բանախոսի դա չի կարող լինել Հայաստանի իշխանություննրի գործելաճի արդարացում, երբ քաղաքական հայացքների համար մարդիկ ազատազրկվում են` համալրելով քաղբանտարկյալների շարքերը, երբ քաղաքական դիրքորոշման համար շատերն ազատվում են իրենց աշխատանքից, իսկ գործարարներից խլում են իրենց սեփականությունը: Բանախոսը մեծապես կարեւորեց խնդրի կարգավորման ուղղությամբ հանրակարգային (ինստիտուցիոնալ) բարեփոխումները:

Այնուհետեւ "Հանրային տեղեկատվություն և գիտելիքի կարիք" հասարակական կազմակերպության ներկայացուցիչ Մամիկոն Հովսեփյանը ներկայացրեց հոմոֆոբիայի ահագնացող չափերը Հայաստանում: Հոմոֆոբիայի դրսեւորումները բազմաթիվ են բանակում, ԶԼՄ-ներում, դրանք խրախուսվում են բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաների եւ իշխող կուսակցության առաջատար ներկայացուցիչների կողմից: Եւ այս ամենը տեղի է ունենում հոմոֆոբիայի դեմ քայլեր իրականացնելու` Հայաստանի գործող իշխանությունների կողմից միջազգային տարբեր ատյաններում պարտավորությունների պարբերաբար ստանձնման ֆոնի վրա: Նման պարտավորությունների ստանձնումը բանախոսն անվանեց ձեւական եւ միմիայն եվրոպական կառույցների աչքերին թոզ փչելու նկատառմամբ արվող քայլեր, որոնք որեւէ ազդեցություն չեն ունենում երկրի ներսում այս ուղղությամբ իշխանությունների իրական քայլերի վրա եւ բերեց մի շարք օրինակներ: Նա նաեւ նշեց, որ հոմոֆոբիայի ծավալները ավելանում են հասարակության մեջ կրթական մակարդակի հետզհետե նվազմանը եւ տգիտության խորացմանը զուգընթաց:

Երրորդ զեկուցող, "Համագործակցություն հանուն ժողովրդավարության" կենտրոնի նախագահ Ստեփան Դանիելյանը ներկայացրեց Խղճի ազատության և կրոնական կազմակերպությունների մասին օրենքում իշխող կուսակցության կողմից առաջարկված փոփոխությունների նախագիծը եւ դրանում առկա վտանգները: Նա նշեց, որ այս նախագծի վերաբերյալ Եվրախորհրդի Վենետիկի հանձնաժողովը, OSCE/ODIHR և Եվրախորհրդի Մարդու իրավունքների Գլխավոր դեպարտամենտի համատեղ կարծիքը բացասական է եղել: Ըստ զեկուցողի` ՀՀ ԱԺ-ում առաջին ընթերցմամբ անցած օրենքի նախագիծը ուղղված է կրոնական ազատությունների խիստ սահմանափակմանը, ինչը հակասում է ՀՀ Սահմանադրությանը եւ միջազգային համաձայնագրերին:

Ծավալված քննարկման ընթացքում ելույթ ունեցողները հիմնականում միակարծիք էին այն հարցում, որ քսենոֆոբիան իրապես վտանգավոր է մեր հասարակության համար, եւ որ դրա դեմ համալիր միջոցառումների կարիք կա, ինչի վերաբերյալ, սակայն հույս կապել գործող իշխանությունների հետ որեւէ հիմք չկա: Իսկ բացառապես ինստիտուցիոնալ բարեփոխումների միջոցով խնդրի լուծումը գնահատվեց անհնարին, քանի որ օրենքները պարզապես չեն գործում, դրանց կիրարկման մեխանիզմները կամ բացակայում են կամ անկատար են:

Հմչեց նաեւ կարծիք, որ երբեմն շփոթում են անհանդուրժողականություն եւ հաշտվողականություն եզրույթները: Այսպես, իշխանությունների կողմից կատարվող ապօրինությունների հետ հասարակությունը երբեւէ չպետք է հաշտվի, այլ պետք է դրանց դեմ մշտապես պայքարի, եւ այս հարցում կարեւորվեց քաղաքացիական հասարակության բոլոր դերակատարների, հատկապես ԶԼՄ-ների եւ ՀԿ-ների դերակատարությունը:

Իր ամփոփիչ խոսքում ՔԱՆ համակարգող Հովսեփ Խուրշուդյանը կարծիք հայտնեց, որ քաղաքական զարգացումների տրամաբանությունը ցավալիորեն տանում է քաղաքական համակարգի միակուսակցականացմանը` սովետական ամբողջատիրության նմանությամբ, դրան զուգահեռ նույնը փորձ է արվում իրականացնել կրոնական ոլորտում` խախտելով պետության եւ եկեղեցու ՀՀ սահմանադրությամբ ամրագրված տարանջատումը եւ քաղաքացիների խղճի ազատությունը: Նման զարգացումներ թույլ չտալու համար քաղաքացիական հասարակությունը պետք է համախմբվի եւ առավել համակարգված ու արդյունավետ գործի:

Did you watch “Harvey Milk”?

Yesterday I came to Gyumri for 3 days to conduct a training session in the frames of “Global Health Week of Action”. At night I was watching TV and I was so happy that many channels were showing comedy, the best choice for the 1^st of April. Suddenly I noticed that “Tsayg” local TV is showing “Harvey Milk”, they also repeated the movie in the afternoon of April 2, I want to remind that this is the channel that in December, 2007 invited me to their live talk show about sexual minorities.

It was my dream to watch this movie, to see the person who struggled for freedom, tolerance and equal rights.

Harvey was a person who was living for his community and never giving up, protecting the rights of people who are the victims of discrimination and intolerance.

We all have to learn from him if we want peace and freedom.

We have to be together live Harvey’s friends were with him.

We should not give up if we want to live with normal life.

I learn a lot from Harvey Milk, even all the phrases that he said are in my mind.

Hope one day I can be so strong like him and I can do at least part of his work. I wish one day to stand on the top of the mountain with you and feel the wind of freedom.

Dear friends, I am always ready to help you as much as I can. We have to be a big team.

I can’t have my private life till my friends are not free...

Yours,

Mamikon Hovsepyan

MetastaZ received theatrical awards in Armenia

Nune Khechumyan received "Best young director" award for a gay-themed play MetastaZ at the main Armenian annual theatre award ceremony "Artavazd 2009" on 27 March in Yerevan.
Also, actor Temur Atchinyan (State Dramatic Theatre named after H. Abelyan of Vanadzor) was named "Best young actor" at the award ceremony. He was among a group of talented actors involved in MetastaZ.

Congratulations!!!

For more info about MetastaZ and video clips from the performance, see:
Metastaz: "We are Armenians, not homos..."
MetastaZ - gay related theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia

source: Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Young guy could be raped at the army

We were informed by e-mail that a young guy ran away from the army on March 17th, because officers understood that he is gay and they wanted to rape him. The situation is out of control, he is hidden somewhere now and waiting that in the morning police will make a search.
We are trying to clearify and in case to protect him.
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Unfortunatly we still don't have any news, can't find him and don't know what's going on. Just we know that the guy is really scared, he didn't leave any contact that we can find him.
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March 19

As we were informed, the guy was taken to military police, lawers and human rights office were taking care. There was a problem with his relative who couldn't understand who is helping the guy, who is trying to rape, they offended wrong people.
They will change his place and he will contitue his military service in a different place. Yes he will continue, as he announced that he is not homosexual.
The truth of this story is still in the darkness, who is who and what was going on, the officer(s) will be punished or not?

this is not the first case, we advise you to watch the video material from AGLA NY

Open letter against intolerance

After the government in Armenia signed the UN declaration against discrimination based on sexual orientation in December 2008, we have witnessed a resurgence of hostile rhetoric against homosexuals both in official and oppositional media. Many media outlets publish professionally unqualified articles, which at best resemble neighborhood gossips. This phenomenon could have been overlooked if the danger of mass media becoming a platform to disseminate hatred and intolerance did not exist. These publications do not even demonstrate elementary journalistic professionalism and lack any kind of homework or research. Questions, such as what is homosexuality? Who are the homosexuals in Armenia? How do they live? Are they different from larger society (even though the answers to these questions are never simple and straightforward), are never asked?

Even though the general absence of any desire to ask fundamental questions about homosexuality, male homosexuality in Armenia has been consistently described as a threat to national security, a result of accepting European decadent values or a pathology and disease, while homosexual women have been denied of existence all together or condemned in not fitting into the image of a “proper” Armenian woman.

Some of the most recent publications which disseminate hatred towards homosexuals and can potentially become a source of violence, include the article “Armenian lesbians are becoming more active” in Aravot daily (July 22, http://new.aravot.am/am/articles/culture/54469/view); an interview with the rising star of the Republican Party Edward Shahmazanov in the same newspaper, in which the prominent politician claims that he is anti-gay; and the following statement by the head of the “Sustainable Human Development” agency in Armenia Karine Danielyan: “It’s been always considered that 4-5% of humanity has such pathologies…these should be regarded as a disease.”

We believe that such statements are largely a result of illiteracy in issues of homosexuality which is reflected upon the prevalent obsession to defend the patriarchal structure of society and to present it as a national value. Nevertheless, we also realize that such statements uttered by prominent public figures and politicians could be received by mainstream society as the state official policy. Thus, several civil society groups and individuals, concerned with these developments, strongly condemn the statements which disseminate hatred and intolerance. Before inflicting potentially violent rhetoric, such public figures should realize that they have a responsibility towards larger society and towards its sexual minorities as well, including their safety and well-being.We urge all officials, politicians, journalists, teachers, doctors and all those who are engaged in public work as well as each and every individual, to get acquainted with problems that homosexual men and women face in Armenia, their socially active initiatives and to the contemporary debates around gender and sexuality.

Please, sign this petition on queeringyerevan.blogspot.com. We appreciate further comments and suggestions.

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Signed,

- WOW – Women-Oriented Women

- Women’s Resource Center

- Anna Barseghian, director of Utopiana Association, cultural practitioner, mother of two children

- Stefan Kristensen, PhD in Philosophy, father of two children

- Unzipped: Gay Armenia (gayarmenia.blogspot.com), (unzipped.blogspot.com)

- PINK Armenia (pinkarmenia.blogspot.com)

- Transgenders in Armenia (trans-armenia.blogspot.com)

- Onnik Krikorian, journalist/photojournalist (www.oneworld.am)

- Robyn Pirckens, art curator

- Myrthe Korf, human rights activist & human being (armenianodar.blogspot.com)

- ILGA-Europe (www.ilga-europe.org)

- Edgar H. Manukyan, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, STIs and Cosmetology (users.freenet.am/~skinsti) * Yerevan State Medical University

- The Cali Garmo (www.thecaligarmo.com)

- Tatevik Tuniyants, lunguist, Area Studier, MD

- Sergey Gabrielyan, New Generation NGO Armenia

- Guarantee NGO Armenia

- Jirair Ratevosian, MPH, United States field coordinator for the Health Action AIDS Campaign of Physicians for Human Rights (www.physiciansforhumanrights.org/hiv-aids)

- Queers United (queersunited.blogspot.com)

- David Hayrapetyan, executive director, "New Vision to Democracy" NGO, Ijevan

- Micha Meroujean, founder of Yesoudo.com

- Mikael Danielyan, Helsinki Association (www.hahr.am)

- Paata Sabelashvili, President, Inclusive Foundation, Republic of Georgia (www.inclusive-foundation.org, www.gay.ge)

- ILGA International (www.ilga.org)

- Dikran Safarian