Recommended reading: Personal account on being gay woman and in love in Yerevan, Armenia

Over the last couple of months, there have been few interesting postings here and there which provide with the different perspectives of what it is “being gay in Yerevan”.

This is my favourite. A friend of mine, Adrineh, provided with a very personal account on “a queer woman’s take on living in the Caucasus (or at least Yerevan)”.

I live with my partner. In Yerevan. That might sound exceptional to some, but that’s just the way it is. We sometimes hold hands in public (especially if we’re rushing across the street in oncoming traffic). If we get any odd stares, it’s usually directed at my partner who gets odd stares anyway, even when she’s alone, from the way she looks. When we’re together, people ask her where she’s from, assuming I’m the one who’s from here and she must be from somewhere else. [...]

And of course, we are here. And there are many of us. Unfortunately, the ignorant views (often guided by religious beliefs and/or “family values”) makes it harder for us to come out and even threatens our safety. [...]

The truth is, it’s not easy being queer anywhere. And yes, I agree that it’s especially not easy being queer in Armenia. But please don’t for a moment think that there aren’t any LGBT folks here, or that we can’t live our lives here like everyone else.

Life is full of contradictions. You don’t have to go far or look too hard to see the diversity that exists in the lives of those around you... even on these ancient lands.

Read her blog post here.
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Recently, Adrineh also made a guest post on Bekhsoos, gay Arab magazine: Being Queer and in Love in Yerevan (Armenia)