Embrace diversity. End discrimination. Human Rights Day 2009...

Armenian Gay Rights Movement: Key Events

  • December 2008 - Armenia endorses historic UN statement against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
  • September 2008 - PINK Armenia launches Information Centre in Yerevan
  • May 2008 - Armenian gay women group, the Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective, was established
  • December 2007 - PINK Armenia, second LGBT related NGO, was registered in Armenia
  • July 2006 - WFCE (also known as Menq), first LGBT NGO in Armenia, was formally registered by the Ministry of Justice
  • June 2006 - First (reported) symbolic gay wedding in Echmiadzin, Armenia
  • October 2004 – AGLA France organised first ever picket in front of the Armenian embassy in Paris. Around 30 gay activists protested on 30 October against homophobic outbursts by political forces and media in Armenia. AGLA's open letter to then president Kocharyan was published in Haykakan Zhamanak daily.
  • November 2003 - GLAG, first ever gay and lesbian Armenian group, was formed in Yerevan. Later, it was transformed into Menq - WFCE NGO
  • December 2002 - Decriminalisation of gay male sex in Armenia
  • December 2001 - AGLA France was established (ceased to exist in October 2007)
  • 1998 - LA Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS) was established. Subsequently, LGBT associations were established in Armenian Diaspora elsewhere

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Introducing openly gay US Consular Chief in Tbilisi, Georgia

Gay Caucasus, Russian language LGBT blog, introduces newly appointed openly gay US Consular Chief in Tbilisi, Georgia - Patrick Wingate. Below is a brief biography of Patrick Wingate (in English), via US Department of State website.


Gay and Lesbian Pride Month:
Patrick Wingate


OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS



Office of Civil Rights
June 2009
Washington, DC


Date: 06/18/2009 Description: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, 2009: Patrick Wingate © State Dept Image
Patrick R. Wingate joined the Department of State as a consular-coned Foreign Service Officer in January 2004. He and his family served first in San Salvador, El Salvador and then in Zagreb, Croatia. Their next tour is Tbilisi, Georgia.

Before joining the Foreign Service Patrick worked for State and USAID from 1993 through 2003 in Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he served as Washington-based program manager for USAID/OTI projects in Sierra Leone, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Patrick and his Canadian partner, Rami Shakra, were married in Canada in September 2003, and their two children Canaan and Maya were born in 2004 in Guatemala. The Shakra-Wingate Family proudly serves the United States of America abroad, and hopes to be a cultural example of the rich diversity and equality their country has to offer for all families, both foreign and domestic.

Gay women from Armenia and Georgia discuss cooperation

Five writers for the Armenian lesbian blog “Queering Yerevan” visited Tbilisi. They expressed the desire to cooperate with Inclusive’s women’s initiative group. The artists met several representatives of Inclusive’s Women’s Club and elaborated cooperation plans within the framework of both art initiatives and the first ever working meeting of lesbian and bisexual women in the South Caucasus.

*source: Me magazine 2009 No. 3 (12)

Georgia: LGBT posters


The outcome of LGBT postcards competition organised by the Inclusive Foundation LGBT NGO and Gay.ge initiative group are now available online. Below are selected samples which won 1st prizes. For more - see here.


Georgia: Happy belated bday, Me!!


The first and only LGBT magazine in the South Caucasus celebrated its birthday in September. Happy belated bday, Me!! Keep up the great work you are doing.
***

Me magazine celebrated its 3rd birthday with the publication of its 12th quarterly issue. This occasion was marked by the Georgian LGBT NGO -Inclusive Foundation - in Kvariati, Georgia on 12 September. The issue features music singles by Me and My Monkey band with a specially composed track “With Me” that was performed live at the birthday party along with other original songs by the band. The Forest – duo of electronic music artists, Dj-ed at the event to entertain around 150 guests coming from Georgia as well as guests from ten other countries.

Me magazine’s anniversary issue is available at the following link.

And the tracks from the bonus CD (free and legal for download) - here.

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Rare report in Azeri media about local lesbian couple (in Russian)


Общество

Азербайджанская однополая семья растит семимесячную дочь04 ноября 2009 15:12
В Азербайджане появилась одна из первых однополых семей, которая вот уже два года и три месяца существует и растит семимесячную дочь.
Ребенок с радостью воспринимает обеих мам и, как все дети, убегает при виде посторонних. Случай сам по себе уникален для Азербайджана, так как до сих пор никто из геев либо лесбиянок, сожительствуя, не ухаживал за «общим» чадом.
Корреспондент 1news.az побывал в гостях у этой уникальной семьи и увидел весь уклад жизни своими глазами.
Айнур (22 года) и Юля (29 лет) (имена условные) поведали собственную историю знакомства, чему посредничал общий друг.
Когда беременную Юлю бросил муж, женщина осталась без поддержки и близких рядом с отчимом. «Это был какой- то момент, подтолкнувший меня на этот шаг», - рассказывала Юля.
Айнур к тому времени уже имела четырехлетний опыт общения с девушкой, с которой рассталась по собственной инициативе. В отличие от Юли, у нее больше родственников, но они все отказались от дочери.
Вскоре после того, как женщины определились со своими отношениями, накололи имена друг друга на своих руках, Айнур переселилась жить к своей подруге. Она стала работать вместо мужчины на стройке и в ресторанах официанткой, ведь надо было прокормить беременную Юлю. С приближением родов они обе стали искать больницу, где можно было бы безопаснее и дешевле организовать роды.
«На руках у меня было только 300 манатов. С этими деньгами мы не знали куда идти, ведь кроме родов Юле еще надо было питаться. Общими усилиями мы вышли на одну правозащитницу. Она, в свою очередь, через собственные каналы договорилась об организации бесплатных родов в Центре акушерства и гинекологии»,- добавила Айнур.
После родов, им до сих пор помогают чем могут их друзья. Айнур не имеет постоянной работы. Ее никто не воспринимает всерьез, да еще и проблема с документами. Даже попытка называться мужским имением порой не дает своего результата. Диплом бухгалтера остался лежать в ящичке комода, да и по специальности Айнур работала недолго.
Сейчас она вместе с Юлей намерена уехать в Россию, где на однополые пары обращают меньше внимания.
Со слов хозяек, раньше в Сабаильском районе соседи избегали их, но сейчас стали чаще захаживать в гости, чему стал свидетелем и сам сотрудник 1news.az. Они чаще приходят, чтобы убежать от собственных наболевших проблем, забывая о нравах, где воспитывается грудной ребенок.
Между тем, чтобы прокомментировать данную ситуацию и судьбу ребенка, воспитываемого двумя женщинами, редакция обратилась к психологу Даянату Рзаеву.
По его словам, гомосексуальность родителей в 50 % может повлиять на формирование ребенка, в зависимости от того, в какое русло в процессе воспитания она будет направлена. В определенной форме ребенок всегда принимает модель поведения своих родителей и в этом случае в качестве подражания выступают две мамы нетрадиционной ориентации. Однако немаловажен и генетический фактор. Воспитание тоже имеет свое особое место.
«Только чтобы огородить ребенка от возможного влияния на нее роли родителей нельзя отбирать у них девочку. Вполне возможно, что именно эти родители очень хорошие мамы, ведь женский гомосексуализм бывает семейным», - заключил психолог.
В свою очередь, директор Клиники прав ребенка Назир Гулиев считает, что так как в местном законодательстве нет понятия однополая семья, вторая женщина (в этом случае Айнур) не является биологическим родителем – она постороннее лицо ребенку. Однако даже у постороннего лица есть право на воспитание ребенка при согласии на то биологических родителей. Под понятием постороннего лица можно назвать нянек, преподавателей и воспитателей.
Если поведение одного из них вредит воспитательному процессу, родитель имеет право обратиться в соответствующие органы.
Также по поводу однополой семьи высказалась глава Общества прав женщин Новелла Джафароглы. Она считает, что в Азербайджане ментальность не позволяет жить однополой семьей и это считается аморальным.
«В случае, если однополые семьи все-таки будут преследоваться, правозащитники смогут вступиться за них. Однако среди восточных стран очень мало найдется государств, которые смогут привыкнуть к однополым семьям», - отметила правозащитница.

З. Ибрагимхалилова

Monday, 7 December 2009

Video: 'Male striptease in the Russian army barracks' ;)



Via Towleroad, I came across this YouTube video, which was reportedly made in the Russian army barracks. According to the video description, "What real men do when they are in the army? Dance for each other." Lovely ;)

Yerevan diaries: No ‘pure’ girls

When in Yerevan, I had a meeting with a group of my high school male friends whom I have not seen for ages. Not that I particularly wanted this meeting, as I always knew that there is an ocean between us in terms of our mentality and everything. But hey, for old times’ sake, I thought, well, will go for it. We talked about this and that, and then the inevitable topic of girls.

My school mates sounded genuinely upset, as if the world turned upside down for them. They said it’s now impossible to find ‘pure’ girls in Yerevan to date and marry. And no, it’s not just virginity they were referring to. The whole ‘world order’ has changed for them. They complained of not being able to find girls who would prefer sitting at home with their mother instead of working. When I asked what is wrong with women working especially as they seemed to be OK with girls getting university education (they actually preferred that! - of course, they would - it’s a matter of ‘honour’ or ‘reputation’ for them to have a university educated wife). Well, the answer was - “I can’t and do not want to change myself. I grew up following my father’s example. My mother had a university degree education, but she did not work, rather preferring to be a housewife, and I, like my father, want to be sure that whenever I turn up home, my wife is waiting for me”... and similar things.

What was a catastrophe for them (no ‘pure’ girls in Yerevan) was actually a very positive sign for me. Yes, things are changing in Yerevan, and I loved those small signs of progress.

Saturday, 5 December 2009

Tweet of the Day: Yerevan airport taxi driver asks about gay marriages in Europe

Usually airport taxi drivers ask why someone would stay in #Armenia. Today's wanted to know if gay marriage existed in #Europe. #LGBT
*@onewmphoto

My optimistic reaction to this:

You know what they say. Taxi drivers are good sources of proxy indicators to get a 'vox populi' perspective of what's going on in any particular country. The mere asking such a question by a Yerevan airport taxi driver may be a proxy indicator that things are changing in our country, after all, even if to a very little extent, even if it's "some seeds", for whatever reason he asked...

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Turkey: latest LGBT news/links

1. Gay refugees flee persecution but remain at risk (WorldFocus)
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) refugees are among the most vulnerable refugee groups in the world today, according to Neil Grungras, the executive director of Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM).[...]

ORAM is currently providing legal representation to LGBT refugees in Turkey. The vast majority of them are Iranians who have fled execution or other severe punishment in Iran and Turkey happens to be their “country of first asylum.”

Worldfocus producer Gizem Yarbil interviews Neil Grungras about ORAM’s refugee clients in Turkey. A refugee and immigration advocate with more than 20 years of experience, he has worked extensively on behalf of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. [...]

Our clients in Turkey are predominantly sexual minorities - lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender individuals from Iran. The abuses they face almost always emanate from the Iranian authorities. These include harassment, arrest, interrogation, torture, beatings, and execution.

It is estimated that 4000 LGBTs have been executed in Iran since 1978. While no one can be certain of the exact figure, LGBTs live in constant fear of discovery or outing there.[...]

While the Turkish government does not persecute LGBTs, conditions in Turkey for these individuals are extremely harsh. Like other refugees there, our clients are typically not permitted to work, and have no access to normal health care, social assistance or housing. LGBTs in Turkey are also targeted with violence by local populations, and the authorities are often unable to extend them protection. Several of our clients in Turkey have been beaten and many have been threatened with violence. In some towns, the situation is so severe that some refugees fear venturing outside in daylight. During the past year, many of our clients have reported threats and actual violence against them. A few clients were beaten so seriously that they required hospitalization.

We recently detailed these and other abuses in our co-publication with Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Turkey titled Unsafe Haven: The Security Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Asylum Seekers in Turkey.[...]
2. Soul-Searching in Turkey After a Gay Man Is Killed (NY Times)
More about this case - see one of my earlier posts

3. Acvists target Turkish law (Pink Paper)
The Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association in Ankara, Turkey, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have teamed up to demand that Turkey's "Law of Misdemeanors" be rewritten to protect transgender people's rights to free expression, association and movement.

"In recent months," the groups said, "the harassment of transgender and transsexual persons in Turkey has intensified as police abuse the country's Law of Misdemeanors to legitimise daily fines, extortion, eviction, detention and police brutality. The law gives security forces tremendous leeway to punish any noise, disobedience and disturbance, with virtually no oversight in how the law is applied or recourse to those who are penalised."[...]

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

HIV and human rights: HIV/AIDS educational campaign in Gyumri and Vanadzor 4-6 December 2009 supported by OSI Armenia

*press release in Armenian

Բաց Հասարակության ինստիտուտի Հայաստանի մասնաճյուղի նախաձեռնությամբ 2009թ-ի դեկտեմբերի 4-ից մինչև 6-ը Հայաստանի մի շարք մարզերում իրականացվում է ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ-ի դեմ պայքարի համաշխարհային օրվան նվիրված քարոզարշավ:

Քարոզարշավի շրջանակներում նախատեսվում է Գյումրի, Վանաձոր քաղաքներում կազմակերպել կլոր-սեղան քննարկումներ և հեռուստաեթերներ, որոնց ժամանակ հանրությանը կներկայացվեն ներարկային թմրամիջոցներ օգտագործողների, նույնասեռականների, սեռական ծառայություններ մատուցող անձանց, ինչպես նաև կանանց ու երիտասարդների խնդիրները ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ համատեքստում: Կքննարկվի նրանց իրավունքների և հիմնարար ազատությունների լիարժեք իրականացման անհրաժեշտությունը` որպես ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ համաճարակի դեմ գլոբալ պայքարի կարևորագույն բաղադրիչ, քանի որ հանրային առողջության պաշտպանությունը հնարավոր է միայն մարդու բոլոր իրավունքները պաշտպանելու միջոցով:

Քարոզարշավին մասնակցում են խոցելի խմբերի շահերի պաշտպանություն իրականացնող մի շարք կազմակերպություններ, այդ թվում` Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ, Հակաթմրամոլային քաղաքացիական դաշինք, Իրական Աշխարհ, Իրական Մարդիկ, ինչպես նաև Հանրային տեղեկատվություն և գիտելիքի կարիք հասարակական կազմակերպությունները:

Առաջին կլոր-սեղան քննարկումը կիրականացվի դեկտեմբերի 4-ին ժամը 16.00-ին Գյումրի լրագրողների Ասպարեզ ակումբում: Նույն օրը` ժամը 20.00-ին Գյումրիի Ցայգ հեռուստաընկերության ուղիղ եթերով կկայանա հեռուստաքննարկում, որին կմասնակցեն վերը նշված կազմակերպությունների ներկայացուցիչները:

Երկրորդ կլոր-սեղան քննարկումը կիրականացվի Վանաձորում` դեկտեմբերի 5-ին ժամը 15.00-ին, իսկ հեռուստաքննարկումը կկայանա ժամը 19.00-ին Վանաձորի Լոռի հեռուստաընկերության ուղիղ եթերով:

Լրացուցիչ տեղեկավության ստացման համար կարող եք դիմել Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ` Իրավական աջակցություն Լոռու, Շիրակի, Տավուշի մարզերի և Երևանի թմրամիջոց գործածողներին ծրագրի համակարգող Ելենա Սարգսյանին (հեռախոս 374322 4 22 68, hcav@hcav.am)

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office

Video: World AIDS Day march in Yerevan, Armenia



More about the events - here.

*video - A1+
**see Picture of the Day - here

Monday, 30 November 2009

YES to SEX... NO to AIDS - party at Aftershock Republic for a worthwhile cause to mark World AIDS Day in Yerevan on 1 December


Participate in World AIDS Day events in Yerevan and finish the day in style and for a very worthwhile cause. Party at Aftershock Republic. Say "Yes" to Sex, and "No" to AIDS. Many surprises will be awaiting you there. Even more - the entrance is only 500 AMD, which will be donated to PINK Armenia.

For details of the event - see its Facebook page.

“Stop the Counter” events to mark World AIDS Day 2009 in Yerevan, Armenia

This year, group of Armenian NGOs united to mark World AIDS Day with a broad range of actions. Other individuals and organisations stage World AIDS Day related events too.

Organisers held a press conference today which has been widely reported by Armenian online media. As Tert.am rightly pointed out, the “Armenian public continues to cling to HIV/AIDS stereotypes”.
The other participant in today’s press conference, Mamikon Hovsepyan of PINK Armenia (Public Information and Need of Knowledge), turned his attention to those issues which affect gay and lesbian individuals, as well as substance abusers. “Because of discrimination and intolerance, they cannot go see a doctor or seek treatment.”

According to Hovsepyan, there is a widely held belief in Armenia that the danger of contracting the HIV virus stems mostly from gay and lesbian people; though, in reality, the virus is most often spread among heterosexual people. In Armenia, people’s rights continue to be violated, while the accessibility of treatment continues to remain a dream, concluded Hovsepyan.
Here is the schedule of main events planned for 1 December 2009 in Yerevan. I hope this collaboration will continue throughout the year, and we will see more actions planned in regions.

[Earlier, within the framework of “Stop the Counter” action, PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum organised trainings on 26-28 November to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.]

Public Information and Need of Knowledge, Armenian Student Forum, Real World - Real People, Positive People Armenian Network non-governmental organization are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day aiming to raise society's awareness and consciousness about the spread of HIV and stigma & discrimination against people living with HIV. (via PINK Armenia)
***
1 December 2009

16:00 Stop the Couner March starting from the park near to Yerevan State Conservatory and ending at Cinema Moscow. (for more details, in Armenian - see Aysor)

16.00 march > from Komitas statue (in front of Yerevan State Conservatory)
17.30 human ribbon > Republic Square
18.00 stop the counter > Aznavour Square (in front of the Cinema Moscow)

19:00 Cinema Moscow: “Who never leaved” film screening,

19:30 Cinema Moscow: “The Famous Armenian Cultural Figures against AIDS” exhibition opening, 22:00 KAMI club, afterparty with DJ Vakcinology. (for more about the exhibition and club party - see Hetq Online)

Important!!

If there is one party you should go on 1 December in Yerevan, it's party at AFTERSHOCK REPUBLIC. Surprises, information, worthwhile cause. Enter the club (only 500 AMD) and this all goes as a donation for PINK Armenia!!
! Read here for more.


This events are supported by UNAIDS.

Sunday, 29 November 2009

Almost like in Armenia (ancient or contemporary), some would say ;)

Hilarious episode of Saturday Night Live, with Gerard Butler.



*thanks to George for the link.

Saturday, 28 November 2009

Dita Von Teese on her Armenian roots at a book signing event in London



I met Dita at Waterstone's bookstore in central London. She is a famous American burlesque artist, model and actress. She was in London for a book signing event for her newly published book Dita Stripteese. She looked stunning and elegant.

I managed to have a very brief chat with her. As you may remember from one of my earlier posts, tweetting during Eurovision 2009, Dita Von Teese revealed that she is part Armenian:
"At eurovision, The Armenians are killing me with their hair and especially the fierce cateye liner! LOVE! I am part Armenian, in fact." *twitter.com/DitaVonTeese
I then looked over various sources but could not find any info to clarify this further. So I used this opportunity to ask Dita directly about her Armenian roots.

She said to me that unfortunately she does not know much about her Armenian roots. She said that it's from her grandmother's side saying that her grandmother was "adopted Armenian".


Long queues outside the Waterstone's bookstore on Piccadilly, London.





Book signing, Waterstone's bookstore, Piccadilly, London.

...And here is more info about her truly a "playful and beautifully packaged book" - Dita Stripteese. Happy to have it signed by Dita :)

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Police in Georgia targets Batumi-based newspaper journalist using KGB-style gay blackmail

Civil.ge reports: The Batumi-based weekly newspaper, Batumelebi, said law enforcement officers attempted to “blackmail” and “intimidate” its journalist, including through use of “stigma persisting in Georgia” towards homosexuality.

It said in a statement on Thursday, that on November 25 head of the newspaper’s journalistic investigations unit, Tedo Jorbenadze, was summoned by Interior Ministry’s Special Operations Department’s (SOD) local division in Adjara Autonomous Republic to talk about “some personal matters” and “about his sexual partner.”

Before going to the SOD’s Adjara headquarters in Batumi, Jorbenadze informed about the summoning newspaper’s director and editor-in-chief, Mzia Amaglobeli and Eter Turadze, respectively, who decided to accompany colleague at a meeting with the law enforcement officers. However, according to the statement, the editor and director were not allowed to attend a conversation between Jorbenadze and the officers.

The Batumelebi said that during the meeting Tedo Jorbenadze was shown what seemed to be cropped black-and-white photos of near-naked men also featuring the journalist himself.

“Tedo Japaridze was told [by law enforcement officers] that there was an interest towards the Batumelebi newspaper by special services of foreign countries, in particular Turkey and Russia and they needed his assistance and cooperation,” the Batumelebi said. “After receiving a refusal [from the journalist], Jorbenadze was warned that these photos would have been sent to his ailing father, as well as to his colleagues and disseminated through internet. But Jorbenadze told [the law enforcement officers] that they would not intimidate him with cropped photos and left.”

The newspaper said it intended to request the prosecutor’s office to open investigation into the case, which it described as “Soviet KGB-style method of recruitment.”
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For Russian version of this report - see Gay Caucasus.
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It's not the first time that the journalists of this Batumi-based publication face intimidation.
31 July 2008 - Civil.ge - Public Defender Sozar Subari has requested the prosecutor’s office in Batumi to probe into the alleged “intimidation” of journalists at the local weekly newspaper Batumelebi.

The newspaper, published in Batumi, Adjaran Autonomous Republic, said in a statement last week that it had received an e-mail, which said: “you will find him [one of the newspaper’s journalists] dead with the newspaper stuck in his mouth.”

Prior to the anonymous e-mail, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Eter Turadze, and another journalist were, they say, followed by unknown people. They say the surveillance was deliberately noticable, presumably so as to intimidate them.

The Public Defender’s Office said in a statement on July 31 that the incidents should be investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office as it believed they constituted intimidation.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Yeghishe Charents cover of Marriott Armenia magazine (fall 2009 issue, Yerevan)


Love this Yeghishe Charents cover of Marriott Armenia magazine, via Ara Aslanyan.

PINK Armenia: Tolerance (video)

PINK Armenia uploaded this video to mark the International Day for Tolerance (16 November).



Posters in this video say (as per PINK Armenia video description on YouTube):

- I am a sex worker...
- My mother is the best mother in the world
- By denying me, you don't help me to leave drugs
- Being infected with HIV, doesn't stop me being your friend
- Being homosexual is not a choice
- We all are equal, this world is for everybody

First ever gay Arabic book Bareed Mista3jil goes international


Change.org reports that the first ever gay Arabic book Bareed Mista3jil, published in Lebanon, will be touring California in December. "Members of MEEM [activist and support group for Lebanese LBTQ women] have already toured Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Denmark, Belgium, France, and Armenia, making the book's release a truly international event."
Bareed Mista3jil, meaning express mail, isn't just the first queer Lebanese book ever published -- it's also the first queer Arabic book, period, to be published
A compilation of anonymous personal narratives from Lebanese LBTQ women of all social classes and religions, Bareed Mista3jil addresses coming out, religion, family, emigration, abuse, and activism. MEEM, an activist and support group for Lebanese LBTQ women, publicly released the book at the Al Madina Theater in Beirut last May, attracting an audience of 400 people.
MEEM organizer Shant (who declined to give her full name) described the book as a big step for Lebanese LGBTs.
"We can actually talk about our experiences and show that they touch more than just the lesbian community," she said.
Shant reports a lot of positive feedback for the book, which is sold at Virgin Megastores in Lebanon, and MEEM is already planning a fourth reprint to keep up with demand.
It's not surprising that the first queer Arabic book debuted in Beirut, given that Lebanon is known for having a relatively free press (compared with other Arab nations) and a liberal capital city. However, queer activists in Lebanon still have their work cut out for them. Homosexuality is sometimes punished under a law banning "sexual acts against nature," so coming out is not always safe or even possible (hence the anonymity of Bareed Mista3jil's writers).
"Some [queer women] are very out with friends and family and closeted at work; some [are] out at work [but] closeted to families. There isn't the notion of 100 percent out," said Shant.
MEEM is now campaigning to overturn 534, the Lebanese law used to punish homosexuality, and maintains a monthly e-magazine, Bekhsoos.

Monday, 23 November 2009

PINK Armenia and Armenian Students Forum unite forces to raise students awareness on sexual health



I welcome this initiative. They say, “united we stand...” They are right.
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PINK Armenia (“Public Information and Need of Knowledge”) and Armenian Student Forum are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.

Within the framework of this action, the organisers with the help of non-formal education will conduct trainings on issues related to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum are looking forward to your active participation.

The trainings will take place at PINK Armenia’s office on 26-28 November and are free of charge: 2 Pushkin, apt. 11 (near Sakharov Square).

For more information, contact:  tel: (010) 58 09 44,
email: armstudforum@gmail.com, info@pinkarmenia.org