PINK’s new steps in new office

On June 27 “Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO organized an event on the occasion of new “Information, Education, Communication” (IEC) office opening and “Masculinity: breaking stereotypes” program starting. The event was organized with the help of NGO’s staff, members, volunteers and friends.
Members of partner organizations, volunteers and guests who were just interested in NGO’s activities participated at this important event.
Mission and objectives of organization, implemented activities, provided services and programs planned to realize during following 6 months were presented at the first part of the meeting.
After the presentation during the treat guests had an opportunity to communicate, ask questions to the staff, make motions and just have nice time.
“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO’s IEC is situated at Pushkin 2 address and works from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and organization’s doors are open from 14:00 to 19:00 for anyone who is interested. Within the framework of this NGO’s activities we organize trainings, group discussions, film watching and other events. You can get information about these activities from PINK calendar. And every Wednesday visitors can get psychosocial support and confidential and anonymous counseling concerning sexual health.
Main objectives “Masculinity: breaking stereotypes” of the program are to break stereotypes and spread tolerance. PINK IEC’s basic steps will be toward gender identity. Organization also continues its main and primary program implementation which is prevention of sexually transmitted infections and human rights protection.

Our mission is your protection

Truly yours,
Happy PINK people

May 17: the day of Armenian fears

While in cities like Riga, Kiev and Moscow, LGBT demonstrations are being blocked by authorities, in more than 50 countries in the world there are activities to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
There is every reason to have a day against homophobia and transphobia: 80 countries in the world consider homosexuality illegal, 5 of them punish homosexual acts by death.
We don't speak about Armenia even. It is not illegal here and there is no punishment by law but still society and authorities are homophobic, they have their methods to punish those people.
Such kind of fears and phobias are result of acknowledgement and lack of information.

picture source: www.unconditional-self-acceptance.com

86 percents would not tolerate

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.

source: A1+

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