"I am proud that I am a gay icon. I have many gay friends, they taught me freedom, an inner freedom. This is something that in our country and other countries, including America, had never been encouraged. [...]", says Lolita answering the question of Moscow-based famous journalist of Armenian origin Arthur Gasparyan in a TV programme aired on Russian NTV.
Respects, Lolita. Love you. You certainly are a gay icon in post-Soviet states. Related posts
*via Gay.ru
"Я горжусь тем, что я гей-икона. К своему счастью, я имею большое количество друзей-геев, они меня научили свободе, внутренней свободе. Это то, что в нашей стране и других странах никогда не поощрялось, включая Америку. Я благодарная геям - и женщинам и мужчинам - за поддержку меня много лет. Потому что если бы не они, я бы, наверное, стояла в маленьком черном платье, худая до безумия, не позволившая себе располнеть, сделавшая сто одну пластическую операцию...", - такой спич произнесла популярная исполнительница Лолита Милявская, отвечая на вопрос журналиста Артура Гаспаряна в эфире телеканала "НТВ".
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Cher about her age, boyfriends and child’s gender reassignment surgery
Extracts from her interview with the latest issue of OK magazine.
Quote 1: “Age is a major pain in the ass”.
Quote 2: “I love having boyfriends”.
Quote 3: “Everyone who went before me is an influence for me and everyone who comes after me is influenced by me”.
About her daughter Chastity’s gender reassignment surgery:
Quote 1: “Age is a major pain in the ass”.
Quote 2: “I love having boyfriends”.
Quote 3: “Everyone who went before me is an influence for me and everyone who comes after me is influenced by me”.
About her daughter Chastity’s gender reassignment surgery:
OK: As a mother it must be difficult that your daughter is now your son...
Cher: It’s hard - I screw up on the pronouns so often but she’s very soft about it and cuts me some slack. It took much more courage for her to do it because I am her mom, she didn’t have one moment of peace.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
This post is not about Armenian president asking US not to recognise the Genocide
What's going on with all these touchings?! :)))
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
How to prevent your child from catching Gay? Here is century old Armenian recipe :)
"Have Gay?"
Abo & Karo's mom tries to keep them warm so they don't catch gay.
Created by artist/animator Hayk Manukyan.
Too funny :)))
*thanks to Lena for the link
Monday, 25 October 2010
'Stop violence’ with... violence. P.S. re recent abuse and violence scandals in Armenia
Starting with the case of that Nubarashen school pedophile teacher, then army and school abuse videos, and then the highly publicised recent domestic violence case, what I noticed - not infrequently - that some people, even among ‘stop violence’ campaigners, in the heat of emotional debate call for lynching of those suspected in abuse or violence. [...]
Let’s take a very recent example of domestic violence in Armenia, that rightly resulted in an outrage, and petition was launched (I supported and signed it) calling for law against domestic violence.
In total, there were 3196 signatures with/without comments, now passed to the prime minister.
A friend of mine disturbed by certain comments posted on the petition 'Armenia Must Pass Domestic Violence Legislation', compiled a list of all of those signatories (28 in total) who "wished bodily violence and death upon the husband and/or mother-in-law of Zaruhi Petrosyan". He rightly pointed out that “we need to prevent domestic violence, not practice lynch mob rule”.
It is also disturbing that a person (e.g. petition signatory 3179, screenshot below) would use a slanderous and bigoted term about a sexual minority group to express his anger over a domestic violence issue. This ‘injustice by injustice’ approach totally devalues his own signature.
Read full post on Unzipped
Let’s take a very recent example of domestic violence in Armenia, that rightly resulted in an outrage, and petition was launched (I supported and signed it) calling for law against domestic violence.
In total, there were 3196 signatures with/without comments, now passed to the prime minister.
A friend of mine disturbed by certain comments posted on the petition 'Armenia Must Pass Domestic Violence Legislation', compiled a list of all of those signatories (28 in total) who "wished bodily violence and death upon the husband and/or mother-in-law of Zaruhi Petrosyan". He rightly pointed out that “we need to prevent domestic violence, not practice lynch mob rule”.
It is also disturbing that a person (e.g. petition signatory 3179, screenshot below) would use a slanderous and bigoted term about a sexual minority group to express his anger over a domestic violence issue. This ‘injustice by injustice’ approach totally devalues his own signature.
Read full post on Unzipped
Friday, 22 October 2010
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Monday, 18 October 2010
Armenian gay rights group in LA - GALAS, raised thousands for AIDS Walk Los Angeles
Well done to GALAS members for their successful efforts in raising funds and awareness as part of the AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Many thanks to Haig Boyadjian for pictures. Such a lovely and cute team GALAS!
AIDS Walk Los Angeles is a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) fundraising walkathon benefiting HIV/AIDS service organisations throughout Los Angeles County. This is an inspirational day filled with energy, excitement, hope, and even celebrities!Earlier, LA-based independent Armenian publication - IANYAN magazine, posted an extensive reflection - Gay Armenians Raise Thousands for AIDS.
Below are selected extracts from IANYAN:
The Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles (GALAS) has raised over $5,000 for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and will be walking with thousands of Angelenos in support of the 32 million people worldwide who are living with the disease this Sunday, Oct. 17.
With AIDS still considered taboo in Armenian circles, GALAS seeks to raise awareness and give back to the community. Their support and donation efforts benefit AIDS project Los Angeles, an AIDS service organization dedicated to improving lives of people affected by HIV, reducing HIV infection and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy.
GALAS member Haig Boyadjian has raised $1,000 alone and says he knows a few people whom he loves dearly that are HIV positive. “I feel helpless since there is no cure, this is my way of helping find a cure and raising awareness,” he said. “The dollar amount raised is impressive for a fairly small organization like GALAS.
Chris Garsevanian, another GALAS member has raised $500, donations that came from a variety of sources including two gay Armenians, one straight Jewish man, a a straight Israeli woman from Manhattan and a straight Iranian woman from the Los Angeles area.
Garsevanian is hopeful for a cure. “I can imagine a world where kids only deal with AIDS in history books,” he said. “I have faith that we will find a cure to AIDS within my lifetime.”
For some, participating in the walk and raising money is all about exposure.
“Our participation in the walk exposes GALAS to not only the general public, but also to LGBT Armenians who thought they were the only ones out there,” GALAS board member H.S., who wanted to be identified by initials only and has raised $575 so far. [...]
GALAS’ participation, as well as the Armenian Gay and Lesbian of New York’s participation over the years in New York’s Gay Pride Parade are relatively recent spotlights on the Armenian LGBT community, which has faced discrimination and ostracization in the Diaspora as well as in Armenia.
GALAS, who offers psychotherapy services to members and non-members alike, has received threatening and homophobic emails and voicemails in the past.
“I think the notion of gay Armenians existing is taboo, let alone the idea that there might be Armenians who have AIDS,” Boyadjian said. “It’s not really talked about all too much.”
Garsevanian agrees, citing the notion that AIDS in the community as well as LGBT Armenians were considered “folklore” until recently. [...]
“I am hoping that our general membership will be impressed with the amount raised and the time and energy that has been devoted to this cause by all the walkers and sponsors and will in turn be more active next year,” Boyadjian said. “As long as my walking inspires at least one other member to walk next year, then I would be content.”
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Can gay couples adopt children in Armenia?
To put it briefly, legally - yes, in practice - no.
Very interesting discussion during the roundtable on trafficking and adoption in Armenia. In response to the question on possibilities for gay couples to adopt children in Armenia, adoption official Yelena Hayrapetyan clarified that legally there are no obstacles for gay couples to adopt children, as Armenia does not want to contradict European norms on human rights. However, there is an “internal agreement” that gay couples will not be allowed to adopt so that “to preserve national values”
However, I am glad that this question was raised and discussed, perhaps for the first time in Armenia on such a level.
There is one number presented during the roundtable that surprised me a lot. As per official’s data, there are only 70 orphans in Armenia who are eligible for the adoption. So few?
Very interesting discussion during the roundtable on trafficking and adoption in Armenia. In response to the question on possibilities for gay couples to adopt children in Armenia, adoption official Yelena Hayrapetyan clarified that legally there are no obstacles for gay couples to adopt children, as Armenia does not want to contradict European norms on human rights. However, there is an “internal agreement” that gay couples will not be allowed to adopt so that “to preserve national values”
Իմ հարցին, թե ի՞նչ չափանիշներով են առաջնորդվում որդեգրողին նախապատվություն տալու հարցում, տիկին Հայրապետյանն ասաց, որ հաշվի է առնվում ամեն ինչ՝ սկսած նյութական-սոցիալական վիճակից, մինչև փսիխո-հոգեբանականը: Իսկ սեռական փոքրամասնություն կազմող մեր հայրենակիցներն ընդհանրապես կարող են չդիմել որդեգրելու համար. «Չնայած մեր օրենսդրությամբ դա չի մերժվում, քանի որ եվրաինտեգրման գործընթացը պահանջում է մարդու իրավունքները ՀՀ-ում համապատասխանեցնել միջազգային նորմերին, սակայն կա ներքին պայմանավորվածություն, ըստ որի՝ նույնասեռական քաղաքացու որդեգրման խնդրանքը մերժում են, ելնելով ազգային արժեքների պահպանումից»:
Փաստորեն, եվրոպաների առջև քաղաքակիրթ ենք խաղում, իսկ մարդիկ, ովքեր կցանկանային ծնողներ լինել, մերժվում են միայն սեռական կողմնորոշման պատճառով:This is not surprising and a clear reflection of the widespread tactics employed by officials in Armenia: in papers, Armenia follows all human rights and anti-discrimination directives. But the reality is far from what papers may suggest.
Ազգային անվտանգության մակարդակի հասցված, պետական մակարդակով «ներքին պայմանվորվածությամբ» անհադուրժողականությունը պատիվ չի բերում երկրին։
However, I am glad that this question was raised and discussed, perhaps for the first time in Armenia on such a level.
There is one number presented during the roundtable that surprised me a lot. As per official’s data, there are only 70 orphans in Armenia who are eligible for the adoption. So few?
Այսօր մենք ունենք շուրջ 200 ՀՀ քաղաքացի, ովքեր ուզում են երեխա որդեգրել: Իսկ որդեգրման՝ առանց ծնողական խնամքի մնացած երեխաները 70-ն են, որոնցից միայն 15-ն են առողջ, նրանց մեծ մասը 10 տարեկանից մեծ են, որը ևս դժվարացնում է նրանց տեղավորման ամենանախապատվելի ձևը՝ որդեգրումը հայրենիքում: Հիվանդ երեխաներին հաճույքով որդեգրում են արտերկրացիները (որոնց մեծ մասը նույնպես ազգությամբ հայ են), եթե նրանց երկրներում կա այդ երեխաներին բուժելու հնարավորություն:
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Austrian ballerina of Russian-Armenian origin sacked for nude photo shoot
Photos appeared in the September issue of the Austrian men's fashion and lifestyle magazine WIENER. Reports say that Karina Sarkissova was previously warned over similar photos in Penthouse magazine.
VIENNA — The management of the Vienna State Opera and its ballet company says it has fired a ballerina for posing in the nude after she was warned not to do it again. The management of the prestigious institutions says solo dancer Karina Sarkissova was axed Aug. 23 after a series of provocative photos of her appeared in the September issue of the Austrian men's fashion and lifestyle magazine "Wiener." A statement Friday said she had already been reprimanded in May for nude shots that were taken in the opera house without permission and published in the June edition of "Penthouse."News were reported by Tert.am, Utro.ru, Telegraph, AFP and other agencies too.
Karina Sarkissova considers this case discriminatory. WIENER magazine that published her photo shoot, posted a nude picture of Vienna ballet director Manuel Legris, that appeared on a photo book cover, and was not resulted in disciplinary actions.
You may access her website at http://sarkissova.com
I have to say, she looks stunning.
*pictures - by Moritz Schell für den WIENER / September 2010 (1, 2)
****
UPDATE 17 October 2010:
“Late last week the state opera caved in to public pressure and agreed to reinstate Sarkissova in an apparent effort to avoid further embarrassment.”
For more details (based on The Sunday Times), as well as statements by Sarkissova and opera director, see comments section below.
The Sunday Times: Karina Sarkissova said her nude modelling was inspired by photos of Manuel Legris, above.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
BBC - Archive - The Gay Rights Movement
Fascinating archive material released by BBC that documents some of the milestones in the gay rights movement in Britain (via PinkNews).
In this collection, we chart the story so far for gay and lesbian equality in the UK. Many of the programmes reflect the language common at the time when they were first broadcast and illustrate the changing attitudes towards homosexuality in the last 50 years.http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/gay_rights
No-show Government, ‘phantom’ Ombudsman (Re: IWPR roundtable on LGBT rights in Armenia)
Lack of participation from governmental agencies/ministries was the most disappointing part of the IWPR roundtable set to discuss the current state of LGBT rights in Armenia.
The scandalous behaviour of the representative from the Ombudsman’s office (see below) is beyond any further commentary. It’s a clear illustration of how serious the human rights Ombudsman is in defending those very human rights in Armenia. I wonder if they will keep repeating that they are unaware of problems faced by LGBT people.
Live tweeting from the event, Lara Aharonian of the Women’s Resource Centre confirmed that no government officials were present: “apparently they sent invitation to government officials, they said they will come but didn't; the representative from the ombudsman office came, registered and left very early, at the beginning.”
Another participant of the event Adrineh commented on this blog:
“As mentioned elsewhere in Facebook, Sara from IWPR said the Ombudsman rep came, registered and left, saying that another rep from their office would come along shortly, but of course that "other rep" never came.
Sara also mentioned that both the Ministry of Health and Ombudsman office, when they first received the invites for the event, said "What does this have to do with us?" Can you believe it?!”
Unfortunately, I can believe it....
And here is what PINK Armenia reported on their website:
“Representatives of Armenia’s Ombudsman office, police, ministries of justice and labor and social affairs, government officials, as well as representatives of local and international human rights organizations, media and LGBT community were invited to take part in the round table discussion.
Three ministries promised to send representatives but their promises never came true. It is not the first time in our experience that Ministry of Health refused to take part in the discussion with regard to this issue; both MOH and Ombudsman office reaction was: “What does this have to do with us?” Anyway we were informed that Eduard Pilatov from the Human Rights Defender office arrived, registered, then left for smoking and disappeared as a phantom.”
Representatives of Armenia’s Ombudsman office, police, ministries of justice and labor and social affairs, government officials, as well as representatives of local and international human rights organizations, media and LGBT community are invited to take part in the round table discussion.Several ministries (as per above) were invited to the roundtable, and were given their initial OK to participate. However, they were all a no-show during the day. Our government made a good progress in endorsing international human rights documents on LGBT rights. And I always commended it. However, while signatures are important, MUCH MORE important is to make practical steps to implement the human rights obligations. With missing such an opportunity, relevant ministries failed to show that they take those obligations seriously, leaving an impression that the signatures are for external consumption only.
The scandalous behaviour of the representative from the Ombudsman’s office (see below) is beyond any further commentary. It’s a clear illustration of how serious the human rights Ombudsman is in defending those very human rights in Armenia. I wonder if they will keep repeating that they are unaware of problems faced by LGBT people.
Live tweeting from the event, Lara Aharonian of the Women’s Resource Centre confirmed that no government officials were present: “apparently they sent invitation to government officials, they said they will come but didn't; the representative from the ombudsman office came, registered and left very early, at the beginning.”
Another participant of the event Adrineh commented on this blog:
“As mentioned elsewhere in Facebook, Sara from IWPR said the Ombudsman rep came, registered and left, saying that another rep from their office would come along shortly, but of course that "other rep" never came.
Sara also mentioned that both the Ministry of Health and Ombudsman office, when they first received the invites for the event, said "What does this have to do with us?" Can you believe it?!”
Unfortunately, I can believe it....
And here is what PINK Armenia reported on their website:
“Representatives of Armenia’s Ombudsman office, police, ministries of justice and labor and social affairs, government officials, as well as representatives of local and international human rights organizations, media and LGBT community were invited to take part in the round table discussion.
Three ministries promised to send representatives but their promises never came true. It is not the first time in our experience that Ministry of Health refused to take part in the discussion with regard to this issue; both MOH and Ombudsman office reaction was: “What does this have to do with us?” Anyway we were informed that Eduard Pilatov from the Human Rights Defender office arrived, registered, then left for smoking and disappeared as a phantom.”
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Profile of president Obama’s Armenian classmate Mark Momjian - highly respected lawyer, champion of LGBT civil rights
To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that he was prominently involved in a legal defence of LGBT civil rights in the US too.
I do not know the full details of those LGBT related cases, but the outline of activities and distinctions looks impressive, indeed.
He is also involved in Armenian community affairs and visited Armenia with his wife and two sons.
Among his distinctions:
Recipient of the 2005 Pro Bono Service Award by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, presented for significant efforts to achieve equality by the LGBT community of Pennsylvania.
Recipient of the 2004 Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award, presented by the Philadelphia Bar Association Committee on the Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men, in recognition of extraordinary contributions in promoting civil rights.
Honored as the 2002 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, given in recognition of dedicated efforts in defending the civil rights of the LGBT community.
Among his community activities:
First Chair, Rainbow Endowment, a nonprofit corporation distributing funds generated by the Rainbow Card, an affinity credit card promoted by tennis legend, Martina Navratilova and supporting projects of national scope in the areas of HIV-AIDS prevention and women’s health care.
Co-Chair, Armenian Church Earthquake Fund, which raised more than one-half million dollars to aid homeless survivors of the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
***
Below is a brief extract from the article published on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator:
[...] After graduating from Columbia College (where he was a classmate of President Barack Obama) and the Columbia University School of Law, Mark Momjian worked for more than 25 years with his father, primarily in the large Philadelphia law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis, before starting a specialized family law firm named Momjian Anderer this year. Momjian has written more than 50 articles on family law topics for many legal journals, and he also co-authored with his father the reference work Pennsylvania Family Law Annotated (Thomson/West), now in its ninth edition. [...]
He handled an important case involving civil rights for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT) community in 2002 before the Pennsylvania Superior Court (an intermediate appellate). Momjian explained, “This was the first case in the US that imputed a child support obligation on a former domestic partner. The biological parent successfully sued her former partner for child support, even though the former partner had never adopted the child.”
Momjian is particularly interested in the intersection between family law and biotechnology — different methods of reproduction, gestational surrogacy, DNA distribution and frozen embryos. With modern technology, family law is a rapidly changing field. Momjian lectures nationally on these and other issues of family law, and teaches at area law schools in Philadelphia. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Drexel University’s College of Medicine, teaching mental health law.
His public service work focuses on problems facing non-traditional families, as well as victims of abuse and domestic violence. He is a member of the board of directors of both the Homeless Advocacy Project and Philadelphia VIP (an organization working for equal justice for the poor). [...]
*picture - via The Armenian Mirror-Spectator