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Sunday, 27 February 2011

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.
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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.

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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
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7 comments:

  1. Onnik Krikorian27 February 2011 at 04:27

    And somewhat ironically, his logic is kinda flawed. I fail to see how having more women for every man would actually result in homosexuality.

    As I mentioned in a tweet, however, such a statement isn't based on fact or logic. It's merely low-level populism. Unfortunately.

    One day it would be encouraging to instead hear a political force instead refer to homophobia as an ill that needs to be tackled.

    Indeed, it is not too late for the opposition to declare that as a declared liberal force it doesn't stand by these earlier words.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mediapitek27 February 2011 at 05:32

    Vay, WTF? What the hell Manukian is talking about! I'm stunned! :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. artmika27 February 2011 at 12:32

    Tell me about it... Theatre of absurd...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Meri27 February 2011 at 16:09

    are u joking? it will be a political suicide for any political force in armenia at present to talk against homophobia or speak about LGBT rights as their election platform. it's another thing to promote lgbt issues once they are elected.

    however i agree they should not express homophobic ideas to get popular.

    ReplyDelete
  5. artmika27 February 2011 at 16:39

    Meri, agreed re your last point. If not promoting all-inclusive (incl. LGBT) equality during pre-epection period, they should at least refrain from any cheap populist tactics in use of homophobia to appeal to the mainstream. In this context, Manukyan's behaviour is totally unacceptable.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Onnik Krikorian28 February 2011 at 10:30

    Indeed, society is not yet ready for such things -- to talk out against homophobia. However, to choose to talk about homosexuality like this is cheap exploitation and populism, especially when there's so many other things they could speak about. Worse, however, is that such talk also reinforces and increases homophobia.

    ReplyDelete
  7. artmika3 March 2011 at 22:33

    Post-Soviet states: "Liberals" and gays

    ReplyDelete