Lady Gaga's manifesto - "Born This Way" - premiere

You were born this way, baby !! ;)



***

...earlier at the Grammy Awards

Absurdistan. Prominent oppositionist in Armenia links emigration to... homosexuality

Up until two days ago I thought that one of the prominent opposition figures, head of HHSh (Pan-Armenian National Movement) party Aram Manukyan is an intelligent enough guy with a liberal mindset. But this was up until two days ago, when during press conference he linked emigration to... homosexuality stating that the opposition will be able to “stop these processes”.

Manukyan noticed as well that 10,000 boys leave Armenia during the period of transferring from 9th to 10th grade. “This leads to homosexuality, breakdown of families; late marriages and divorces. The disbalance [imbalance] between the number of boys and girls is a serious demographic problem,” he said, noting that it’s necessary to bring a stop to these processes. “We’re ready to stop these processes. Our political team is ready to lead the movement as much as possible without any losses; as much as possible, through reasonable, intelligent, organized, proven methods; to affect a change in regime with a team,” he concluded.
***
Մանուկյանը նաև նկատել է, որ 9-ից 10-րդ դասարան անցման ժամանակ տասը հազար տղա է լքում Հայաստանը: «Սա իր հետ բերում է համասեռամոլություն, ընտանիքների քայքայում, բերում է ծեր ամուսնություններ, ամուսնալուծություններ: Տղաների և աղջիկների քանակի դիսբալանսը լրջագույն դեմոգրաֆիկ պռոբլեմ է», – հայտարարել է ընդդիմադիրը` նշելով, որ հարկավոր է այս գործընթացների «դեմն առնել»: «Մենք պատրաստ ենք էդ պռոցեսների դեմն առնելու: Մեր քաղաքական թիմը պատրաստ է ղեկավարելու շարժումը հնարավորինս անկորուստ, հնարավորինս խոհեմ, խելացի, կազմակերպված, փորձված մեթոդներով, կայացած թիմով կատարել իշխանափոխությունը», – եզրափակել է Մանուկյանը: (source: Epress.am)

If this is an example of type of mentality prevalent among opposition leaders in Armenia, no revolution and no change in ruling regime will result in any positive CHANGES whatsoever. Revolution in streets is irrelevant here. What we need now and utmost is revolution in minds.

***
Below are only few comments via Twitter in response to Manukyan’s ridiculousness. More - on Facebook.

@epressam more homophobia from #Armenia public figures: "Emigration Leads to Homosexuality, Breakdown of Families" http://www.epress.am/?p=69915
24 Feb

@onewmphoto So, the opposition's rhetoric to justify an uprising? "The loss of Karabakh" and to "stop homosexuality." Sigh... http://bit.ly/fUa5Wb #1mar
24 Feb

@supersayatnova @onewmphoto oh my, immigration is so gay! hahahahaha, good one! what a bunch of lunatics!
24 Feb

@tzitzernak @onewmphoto though I must say i keep hoping the comment on homosexuality was a mistake/misinterpretation
24 Feb

@epressam @tzitzernak @onewmphoto Did you read the article in Armenian? It was what he said though the details are unclear
25 Feb

@dolcenelly @unzippedblog i guess it's not about homophobia, it's more about "tgitutyun", and i haven't read more stupid opinion, it's even ridiculous
25 Feb

@unzippedblog @dolcenelly I'd say both: routine homophobia (or playing on it) + tgitutyun. And cheap political tricks
25 Feb

Lady Gaga vs Horovel

This is beyond words hilarious :)))



*Thanks to M.N. for the link.

When hypocrisy meets homophobia: founder of Civilitas Foundation and editor of Aravot daily

He never distanced himself from his own words. He never said “sorry” for one of the most disgusting displays of homophobia to come out from the editor of national daily: Homophobic editor of Armenian daily Aravot - Aram Abrahamyan - came out with another hate editorial. Yes, “sorry seems to be the hardest word”, and the least he could have done.

I have to say I am not surprised that homophobic editor of Armenian daily Aram Abrahamyan has been invited to moderate the first discussion in new series One Hundred Questions and Answers hosted by Civilitas Foundation. This is yet another display of hypocrisy by organisation that talks about European values and human rights.

Let’s not forget that founder of the Civilitas and first “guest” of the ‘100 questions’ forum is Vartan Oskanian who tries hard at rebranding himself as ‘human rights champion’. In his latest statement Oskanian denounced Armenia’s ruling coalition latest announcement:

The ruling coalition’s announcement highlights the authorities’ disregard of democracy, elections and the public will.

There is just one big problem here, Mr. Oskanian.

Vartan Oskanian was Armenia’s foreign minister during 1 March 2008 bloody crackdown on the opposition in the aftermath of falsified presidential election. He was silent re human rights abuses then. In fact, I am wrong, he was vocal in his support and excuse of ruling regime’s actions. I do not remember him ever coming clean or apologising. For real.

At least one reader of this blog who received the invitation below, has already sent a complaint to Civilitas re collaboration with the homophobic editor.

I thought it would be good if someone could go there and challenge both Vartan Oskanian’s hypocrisy and Aram Abrahamyan’s homophobia. As they say, the aim of these discussions is “to give the citizens a possibility to pose direct questions to personalities who are responsible for different areas of life of the society.”
***

The Civilitas Foundation cordially invites you to the first discussion in its new series called

One Hundred Questions and Answers

Each month we will invite a public personality from all walks of life – political parties, civil society, public officials, etc. – to answer questions from the audience. The aim is to give the citizens a possibility to pose direct questions to personalities who are responsible for different areas of life of the society.

The discussions will be moderated by

Aram Abrahamyan
Editor-in-chief of Aravot daily

The first guest of the forum will be

Vartan Oskanian
Founder of Civilitas and
former Minister of Foreign Affairs

The event will take place at the
Yerevan Golden Tulip Hotel, Rossini Hall,
on February 28, Monday, at 4 p.m.

Entrance only by registration,
by phone 010 500 119.

Number of places is limited.

Kazaky in drag. Ukrainian "response to Lady Gaga" did it again ;)

They hit the headlines last year with In the Middle and instantly gained big gay following. Their performances are over-the-top bordering 'bad taste'. But hilarious viewing, nevertheless.



In this new music video Love they do it in drag, with stilettos. Kazaky from Ukraine ;)



*Wikipedia
**official website
***Facebook page

PINK Armenia launches Diversity project

*full AM version
**full English version

Synopsis

“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO (PINK Armenia) is launching this project, willing to reach a high level of acceptance of diversity, mutual respect and cultural sensitivity by promoting the ideas of tolerance, respect, and understanding. Nowadays, sadly, the rise of neo-Nazi movements and ultranationalists is registered. It’s a pity, but often activists of these movements take ultranationalist or neo-Nazi ideas for and represent them as nationalism, even worse – as patriotism. Gender based Human Rights violations, xenophobia, homophobia, neo-Nazism, ignorance and illiteracy will do nothing but flourish, if no serious actions are taken, if these issues remain unaddressed or silenced, or ignored, and the marginalized and discriminated groups will be defamed as ‘good’ as nowadays.

Addressing and fighting the issues of stereotypes, intolerance, xenophobia, homophobia, discrimination based on gender, including LGBT- related issues[1] are highly important for this project, as well as generally are the issues of any kind of discrimination based on age, sex, gender, sexual orientation. Moreover, a list of must-dos includes spread of knowledge on the issues mentioned above, inspiration, youth empowerment, preparation of human rights activists, cooperation with other NGOs, inclusion of wider public, marginalized and discriminated groups into the actions and events presented above. We especially stress the idea of youth empowerment all across the nation.

Main activities and events within the framework of this project will include – organization of seminars, round tables, flash mobs, exhibitions and other various types of cultural, social and public events, writing articles, creation of an e-magazine, building a relevant library and e-library, creation, translation and spread of various relevant materials with regard to the issues, challenges and to the scope of activities mentioned above.

Women Resource Center non-governmental organization will support us in the frame of this project.

The activities and events organized during “Diversity” project shall lead to the promotion and to better understanding of human rights both as a theory and as a practical tool to use in daily life, realities and situations, as well as in case of abuses, abuse reporting, etc."

Trainings/workshops/roundtable discussions

"There will be trainings, seminars and other types of activities organized for the active and promising youth willing to become human rights advocates, activists and peer-to-peer educators. Also, there will be supervision provided from our organization to other civil society organizations that will make steps towards organizing similar activities and events. It is through this kind of activities that there will be shaped a chosen core of active volunteers, activists, educators and peer educators especially in the regions of Armenia for whom we will organize annual trainings/workshops on the topics of human rights, tolerance, diversity and other important topics and issues."

"In the framework of this project we will implement round table discussions on matters that are relevant for marginalized and vulnerable groups in Armenia. The discussions are framed responsive to gender and LGBT issues. This kind of activities are a very good source to both gather and share proper, actual information and knowledge on problems these groups face today, also to find constructive solutions, to empower them and contribute to their consolidation."

Working with media

"Another sphere where we will extend our activities and will try to enhance cooperation is Mass Media. In Armenia, Mass Media is trying to follow the example of the state by leading its development toward the creation of a mass media system that informs and empowers all the members of the society, also enhances democratic values. Slowly, topics such are gender equality, gender based violence, LGBT issues, tolerance, human rights are being more discussed. Changes are visible. Nonetheless, there is still a lot to be done in that field either. Thus, PINK Armenia will cooperate with various types of mass media in order to promote and raise the issues of human rights, gender, LGBT, challenges that exist in those spheres, as well as means to overcome them."

Quarterly e-newsletter

"As a mean of possible cooperation with wider media, to help overcome difficulties concerning the lack of knowledge and information, we plan to create an e-newsletter with other activists and civil society representatives, which will be published once in three months. The newsletter will include articles about the projects, activities, events planned and carried by PINK Armenia and partner organizations. Also, there will be a room for recent domestic and international news concerning the topics of human rights, civil society, gender issues, LGBT community, sexual healthh, culture, etc."

Letter turned song. Juice - “You are my KIX” by Karen Grigoryan

First it was a letter, presumably a love letter, written in London by Karen. Then it became a song. Music video was made in Yerevan and Beirut. Once I called Karen Grigoryan “multitalented”: artist, songwriter, producer, film director and TV host, with degrees... in political science and European studies. With this music video he adds “cameraman” to his credentials too :)

I must confess I like Juice. I loved her appearance in Reincarnation video. In this video, she is less risky, more conventional. Pleasant enough, though, with good make up at the beginning. What I’d like to see from Karen and Juice next is something more cutting age. I know Karen can push the boundaries further, much further. Juice can do it too.

For now, it’s "You are my KIX".

Haig Chahinian: “The Time We Came Out at Work: In an Armenian Village”

Very telling and moving piece by Haig Chahinian. He runs website called Workplace Nudity which is not about “nudity” per se, but rather “intellectual and emotional nudity, or being open to share your thoughts, feelings and beliefs–your humanity, in essence–on the job”. He is a “career counselor and training and development specialist. New Yorker. Blogger. Dad.” He recounts coming out as gay man to his colleagues at the Land and Culture Organization (LCO) + local Armenians during his first trip to Armenia. He “traveled to Armenia in the summer of 2003 and worked in Ayroum, a small northern village, and helped construct a solar fruit dryer to assist the local economy.” He was interviewed at the time by an Armenian-Americal publication, and now reprinted it on his website: "The Time We Came Out at Work: In an Armenian Village".
***
1. I know this is your first time joining a campaign with the Land and Culture Organization (LCO), how did you get involved with this organization?
I grew up in Los Angeles, where my parents sent me to Armenian Mesrobian School until I was 12 years old.  At Mesrobian, I learned that one day there would be an “angakh ou azad Hayastan [liberated and free Armenia]” and that all Armenians in the Diaspora would move there and live together happily ever after.  I wasn’t so sure about moving to Armenia, but the prospect of one day placing my feet on Armenian soil felt like part of my destiny.

Flash forward twenty years, I’m 32 now and living in New York, working as an independent career counselor.  Over the last year I felt I finally had the means to travel to Armenia and make good on my wishes.  I don’t have children yet, and could manage my personal and professional obligations from a distance for a prolonged period–six weeks, in this case.

A few years back I had heard of LCO through a colleague.  She was enthusiastic about her experience, and encouraged me to participate.  It seemed to be the best way to journey through the country while giving of myself, which was important to me.  I wanted to contribute to the betterment of my homeland, and not only by helping the economy as a tourist.

I think it’s important to mention that over the last several years, I distanced myself from the Armenian-American community.  For example, as a gay man, I didn’t feel very welcomed at the Armenian Student Associations of the universities I attended, so I rarely participated in organized events.  Coming to Armenia has been a way to reconnect with my Armenian identity.

2. You did mention on your initial application form that you were gay. Were the volunteers in your group also aware of this or did you have to come out to them in the course of events? How did that go and what kind of support or not did you receive?
A friend of mine from the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association (AGLA) of New York wrote my letter of recommendation.  Naturally she addressed my participation in the group, and that’s essentially how I “came out” in the application.  Nowhere else did I make reference to my sexual orientation.  Then, through the natural course of events I came out to my fellow LCO’ers.  Herein lies my story.

The first Sunday night, the group was having dinner with the town mayor, who had been encouraging everybody to drink homemade mulberry vodka (interesting, yes; tasty, no; strong, YES).  Mid-way through our meal, a fellow campaign member I’ll call Vartan turned to me and asked, “I don’t know if you’ll be offended by my question, but are you gay?” I replied, “Yes, I am.” For the record, he was a straight man, 23 years old, from Los Angeles, and born in Beirut.  I probably won’t ever forget his immediate response.  With a somewhat sinister giggle, he declared that he’s against gay people, and that he’ll “slit my neck for being gay.”  Keep in mind, I expected to grapple with issues of my identity–mostly the convergence of my sexual and ethnic identities–while traveling in Armenia, but this interaction came as a surprise.  I questioned to myself where he might be coming from: Was his intent to hurt me serious?  Did he need to be educated about diversity?  Could I help him in this regard?

Our conversation continued, mostly about sexual things.  He shared stories about his sexual activities, and asked about mine.  Throughout this time, I was still assessing whether or not I was in imminent danger.  I needed to confirm or refute his threat to me, so I asked him a few moments later if indeed he would slit my neck, to which he replied, “for being gay, yeah.”  I looked around the room of drunken fellow volunteers, and nowhere did I feel any potential support.  Instead, I sensed only general hostility from the group members and the site leader.  There was one person who seemed kind, “Nicholas,” an older European gent.  I approached him in private, told him that Vartan had asked if I was gay, I replied “yes,” and Vartan said he would slit my throat.  For this, I was considering leaving the campaign the following morning.  Nicholas stated that this issue was between Vartan and me, and he wouldn’t get in the middle.  Thus, my decision was made, I needed to flee from this situation to preserve my life.  Someone had threatened me, and I was alone with no support should Vartan follow-through on his word.

In order to avoid any resistance, I notified the site leader that the conditions in the village were not what I expected, and I would be leaving for Yerevan early the following morning.  After a restless and sleepless night, although feeling at ease that I would soon be fleeing with my life intact, I took a bumpy and cramped van back to the capital at the cost of 3.00 USD. Upon reaching our final destination near the main square, I was so relieved that I gave the van driver the equivalent of a 9.00 USD tip.  Later I learned that he could probably feed his family for a week with that sum.

Within two short hours of arriving in Yerevan, I was at the LCO main office meeting with two program organizers to tell them my story.  I was comforted to be in Yerevan, pleased that I could take care of myself in an emergency situation, yet angry that I had to endure such pain.  In this vulnerable state I recounted my story.  The LCO representatives were polite for the most part, but could not sympathize with my ordeal, even though I desperately hoped they would.  The coordinator and I agreed to return to the village of Ayroum where I had been assigned, 4 hours away, and talk through the issue with everyone involved.  I reluctantly agreed, on the condition that I would make the final decision about my assignment.

That evening I met with the friend of a friend, Shushan, who gave me such comfort, support, and strength.  This was our first meeting, but she listened intently to my story, and we shared laughs and tears at Monte Cristo, a local cafe.  I remember talking about how I couldn’t give up in the face of hostile and homophobic Armenians.  She suggested that my presence in Ayroum would send a message that as a gay person, I wouldn’t tolerate any bigotry, and that there was a place for me, a gay man, in this Armenian village.  I essentially understood that I would be going as a sort of crusader, educating ardasahmantsees (Diasporan Armenians) and native Armenians alike that gay Armenians exist, we’re good people, and we won’t tolerate discrimination.

With this in mind, I was quite anxious when we arrived in Ayroum.  I asked Vartan if he had any idea why I might have left the village, to which he responded, “no.”  I reminded him of our conversation, and how I took his threat seriously.  He laughed, and had difficulty believing that I would place such weight on his words, which startled me.  I felt sad that he believed his words didn’t have much merit, and hoped that he would learn that they do.  I acknowledged to him that I had been scared, but was now full of rage towards him.  In a playful gesture, he encouraged me to sock him repeatedly on his bicep, and I obliged.  It felt good to release my pent-up anger towards him, and make some peace with him at the same time.

I then spoke with the whole group during a break from the physical labor of constructing the solar fruit dryer.  Most had been confused and were concerned about my well-being.  I related to them what transpired at that Sunday evening’s dinner with the mayor, and the details of my subsequent departure.  They listened, and I felt some relief as I told them I’d be returning the following day to join them at work.  As we headed back to Yerevan, I thought how in the end, my contribution to Armenia was very important to me, and I wouldn’t let this homophobia get in my way.

3. In an email sent from Ayroum, your campaign site, you wrote, “I find that I must consciously soothe myself some moments, things sometimes are just uncomfortable.” Could you talk more about your emotional state, and the toughest moments?
When I arrived back in Ayroum, the group carried on in typical fashion.  A number of cliques had formed, and not surprisingly, I wasn’t a member of any of them.  While I soon made a true friend, a student from UC Berkeley, being in the presence of a group of mostly straight, 20-something, upper middle class Armenian-Americans was unnerving.  My relationship with Vartan grew in different ways.  While he was genuinely curious and ignorant about gay life, I tolerated most of his rather offensive remarks about gay people and women.  For example, sometimes he would call me “gay guy.”  He referred to my sexuality as “faggotism.”  In response to some jokes I made he would say “what a homo.”  Believe it or not, these words were almost refreshing to hear, since I sensed others in the group may have been thinking similar things, but Vartan was the only one saying them.

When I felt alone and tired of continuously fending for myself, I would think back to the conversation with Shushan in Yerevan.  It gave me strength to remember that just my presence in the village was powerful.

4. Did you meet any local gays/lesbians and what is your impression on gay life in Armenia?
I certainly didn’t meet any queers who were out in Ayroum.  In fact, I asked everyone in the group not to share my sexuality with any of the villagers.  However, on the very last day, about an hour before our departure, I sat down with our main contact in the village, Digin Laura, and told her I was gay.  People in Ayroum had come to like me for the most part, and I wanted her and the rest to know that gay people are good people.  I waited literally until the last minute only because I didn’t know what kind of reaction she might have.  She took the news in stride, and said something to the effect of “if it’s God’s will, that’s how things are.”  I told her I had a partner of 7 years back in the States, and that he was a good man, too.  She agreed to share my news with the rest of the village after I left.

In Yerevan I met some gays and lesbians in different settings–at friends’ homes, at concerts, at the discotheque.  The queer scene felt “underground;” there is still such shame related to being gay.  As an Armenian-American, I have a wish to see a Gay Pride Day in Yerevan, but I imagine that local gays and lesbians wouldn’t be so enthusiastic to put themselves in such a vulnerable position:  out in relatively hostile territory. [...]
—–
It’s a funny thing, to maintain friendship with someone who’s been openly hostile to us, about something so personal, right? Yet working with hostile feelings out in the open can be an intimate experience. We were strong enough to tolerate “Vartan’s” aggression and naivete, and patient enough to embrace him rather than pummel him, well, at least after that initial punch. He’s since revealed to us his dreams and his disappointments; he’d like to sail around the world in his own boat, which he just recently purchased.

Council of Europe issues non inclusive anti-discrimination report on Armenia amid rise in intolerance towards minorities

I have to say, despite Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) report on Armenia dubbed as a 'report against discrimination and intolerance', it almost exclusively touches ethnic/racial discrimination and religious intolerance and only in very vague terms refers to “intolerance” in general, without e.g. specific mention of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or other grounds. I do agree with the prominent Armenian human rights defender Mikael Danielyan that the report is pretty mild. I would also add that the report is not inclusive.

Danielyan says that intolerance towards religious and sexual minorities is on rise in Armenia but the authorities do nothing about it.

"Մեր զրույցի ժամանակ իրավապաշտպանը կարծիք հայտնեց, որ Հայաստանում թե՛ կրոնական, թե՛ սեռական փոքրամասնությունների նկատմամբ նկատելի է անհանդուրժողականության աճ, և իշխանությունները որևէ քայլ չեն անում այդ անհանդուրժողականությունը մեղմելու ուղղությամբ:"

The report mentions ridiculous hateful posters campaign by ultra-nationalist right-wing group Mek Azg (‘One Nation’) but only in relation to religious minorities.

For example, there has been an ongoing poster campaign calling on Armenians to engage - in their own buildings and on their own floors - in a struggle against the antinational and corruptive activities of the sects. [The posters in question are signed by an individual in the name of the “One Nation alliance of organisations.]

Here is an example of homophobic posters in Yerevan by the same group. Read my relevant blog post here.

*Links to press release and full report