Challenges faced by Armenia's LGBT people to be discussed at "Armenians and Progressive Politics" conference in New York

"The Armenians and Progressive Politics" conference focusing on Armenia at 21 (referring to the 21th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union) will be held at Columbia University on 28-29 September 2012. [http://www.armeniansandtheleft.com]

For the first time, head of PINK Armenia Mamikon Hovsepyan will participate in the conferences to talk about "LGBT Rights in Armenia – Silenced Reality." He will be on the "Emergence of Social Movements, NGOs, and the Rise of a New Identity Politics" panel. The following is the abstract of his talk (via Armenians and Progressive Politics FB page):

In the shadow of societal and institutional discrimination, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Armenia face tremendous struggles in achieving equality, both at the personal and organizational levels. Although the Armenian government has signed and ratified most of the UN, Council of Europe and OSCE covenants, treaties, and other instruments, including a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, in practice, those commitments have not been met with regard to human rights pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity.

In Armenia, homophobia is widespread and deeply ingrained in society. Visibility of the LGBT community is limited. Individuals face discrimination and human rights violations in virtually all spheres of society due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. Most seriously, LGBT individuals can be bullied in educational institutions or become victims of psychological and physical abuse while serving in the Armenian army.

Hate crimes and their promotion are supported by the majority of society and politicians, under the pretext of “patriotism” and “Christianity.” As a result, extremist groups of young people and their sponsors have deliberately spread misinformation to disrupt Armenia’s diversity march, considering it a gay parade, and have subjected its participants to violence. This spring, a fascistic group bombed a bar patronized by supporters of diversity and multiculturalism. This talk will examine these profound challenges faced by Armenia’s LGBT community.

Reported hate crime: trans sex workers beaten by group of youth in downtown Yerevan cruising park

Local media reported Armenia police press release that group of youth attacked [“beaten up”] trans sex workers in downtown Yerevan cruising park (Kom aygi, or pleshka) on 25 September 1.10am. Attackers being questioned by police. Motives of the attack were not explicitly stated in the press release. However, the way the info was presented implies homophobic hate crime. No more details are known, as of now.

Interesting to point out the following: 1. police formally reported the incident. 2 police used acceptable non-discriminatory wording to refer to gay people in Armenian “նույնասեռական”, even though the victims may not necessarily be gay per se, but rather trans sex workers. 3. victims of the crime reported the incident to the police.

What would be more important to find out, however, if the attackers will get formally charged with the crime and persecuted according to the law. This will be a testimony of changes, if any.

“Brotherhood” - “Ախպերություն”

I was watching “Brotherhood” film (2009, dir. Nicolo Donato) the other day.

The storyline immediately resonated for me with the recent events in Yerevan surrounding firebombing of gay friendly DIY bar. “Brotherhood” is “Ախպերություն” in Armenian. Here is what this film is about:

Brotherhood explores what happens when you add same-sex attraction to the already volatile world of neo-Nazis. Dismissed from the army after allegedly making a pass at a fellow soldier, young Lars soon falls in with a gang of gay-bashing neo-Nazis. Although the group is initially wary of this new figure, Lars proves that he is a fast learner and rises quickly through the ranks while simultaneously developing closer bonds with the other members, especially the sexy Jimmy. It is soon apparent that the two are far more than 'blood brothers' and confronting these sexual longings threatens to jeopardise their very lives.  

They will resort to hate and violence to suppress their inner fears and desires. They will indulge in neo-Nazi crap so that to have at least some kind of 'aim' and 'meaning' in this life, to make themselves 'important'. Because of their own vulnerability, they will easily be manipulated by others. But the only outcome this inevitably leads to is self-destruction. It’s pretty tragic, in fact. For all the sides involved. And the society, as a whole. Sounds familiar?..

Read also:

Underage "fascists" employed for psychological terror towards DIY bar in Yerevan

Neo-nazi attack Diversity march in Armenia capital Yerevan calling it "gay pride"

Neo-nazi thugs indulge in same-sex 'action' as they attack Diversity march in Armenia capital

This piece by Sona Abgaryan “STANDART” (AM) posted on Գրողուցավ provides almost anatomical dissection of similar types in Armenia:

Quote (1): "Հետևող լռության մեջ հիշում եմ կոնսերվատիվ, բթամիտ ազգայնականին, որի համար կենդանի լինելը մեծ պատիվ կլիներ: Նա հրճվում է մարդկային ողբերգություններից և սնվում է արտաթորանքով: Նա խոսում է անցյալից, որովհետև դա նրա ներկան է: Նա թաքցնում է իրական պատճառները հայրենասիրական տեքստերի մեջ:"  

Quote (2): “Փողոցում հանդիպում են նաև երջանիկ մարդիկ, որոնք «Թոփ 10»-ի համար հաղորդագրություններ են ուղարկում և քվեարկում են լավագույն հայ երգչի օգտին: Նրանք չարացած ռոմանտիկներ են: Նրանք ասում են մի բան, մտածում են այլ բան, ուզում են մեկ այլ բան և անում են լրիվ ուրիշ մի բան: Անխիղճ լիբիդոն բռնել է նրանց կոկորդից և խեղդում է, սպառնում է ոչնչացնել ավանդույթները: Այդ պացիենտները ամենատարածվածն են մեր օրերում: Նրանք շատ են սիրում խոսել հայրենիքից, պատերազմից, շրթներկից, շորերի գներից, բոմժերից, գոմիկներից, ամուսնության գաղտնիքներից, խոհարարական հմտություններից, անբարոյականներից, սրբություններից, աղջիկների կուսաթաղանթից, ծովից-ծով Հայաստանից… Նրանց դիագնոզը դեռ պարզ չի, պայմանական նրանց ասում են երջանիկներ: Դա միակ հիվանդությունն է, որ պաշտոնապես համարվում է ընդունելի:”

Independent news back to mainstream TV in Armenia. BUT... along with homophobic editor

I am glad to see that independent A1+ TV’s flagship news programme is back on air (on its rival ArmNews!). Since its (decade-long) closure, I keep saying that until A1+ is back I won’t believe that things are changing in Armenia.

I know that homophobic editor of Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan (Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame) has been part of A1+ in past and present (online). Now, with the revival of news programme, it’s disappointing to see that the editor who advocates homophobia is part of the project too.

I wrote about A1+ in one of my very first posts after I launched Unzipped blog:

"(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. [...] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in..."

Well, not quite a transformation yet. A small progress - probably.

As long as Aram Abrahamyan is part of the project, these changes will remain illusive for me.

International Hrant Dink Award names PINK Armenia ‘Inspiration 2012’ recognising its work for LGBT rights

On Hrant Dink’s birthday - 15 September, the Hrant Dink Foundation presents annual International Hrant Dink Award. The Award is "presented to people who work for a world free of discrimination, racism and violence, take personal risks for their ideals, use the language of peace and by doing so, inspire and encourage others. With this award, the Foundation aims to remind to all those who struggle for these ideals that their voices are heard, their works are visible and that they are not alone, and also to encourage everyone to fight for their ideals."

Since 2010, in addition to the grated awards, the International Hrant Dink Award ceremony salutes “Inspirations” - “those people, organizations, initiatives and projects that we support wholeheartedly, those that make us happy for sharing the same world and walking the same path”.

This year PINK Armenia was named among “Inspirations”. PINK Armenia is truly an inspiration for many of us. One of the very few groups in Armenia keeping THE hope alive that one day Armenia will turn into a country closer to my dreams.

Big congrats, PINKies !! Well deserved.

List of “Inspirations” is pretty awesome this year, including groundbreaking group of Families of LGBT from Istanbul.

Before the awards presentation, Inspirations, a group of people and institutions from Turkey and from all corners of the world who multiply hope for the future with the steps they take, were saluted with a film acknowledging their achievements. The Inspirations of 2012 included the resistance of villagers of Bil’in, a Palestinian village in the West Bank; the Romedia Foundation in Hungary who work for the rights of the Romani people in Romania; HOPE NOT HATE, an initiative from the UK that fights racism; PINK Armenia, an organization that works for LGBT rights in Armenia; Masa Mirkovic, director of ‘New Generation’ in Bosnia Herzegovina, an organization that supports children who are victims of violence; Triveni Acharya, an activist and journalist from Mumbai who works to prevent human trafficking; Mark Kabban, a Lebanese American immigrant, who works towards the social integration of immigrant children; Dr. Benjamin LaBrot from the United States who develops healthcare projects for remote parts of the world; James Kityo from Uganda, who develops innovative public health and shelter projects; the Initiative for Solidarity with Arrested Students in Turkey; the ‘My Body, My Decision’ campaign of Bianet, a media organization from Turkey; the solidarity organization Families of LGBT from Istanbul; the ‘Van, You Are Not Alone’ Campaign, organized in the aftermath of the Van earthquake; and The Mad Waves Outside initiative from Turkey that sends books and stationery to political prisoners.

*/emphasis mine/* 

Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York (AGLA NY) demands resignation of Hungary PM Viktor Orban over axe murderer Safarov fiasco

September 12, 2012

The Board and members of the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York (AGLA NY) would like to officially state their dismay concerning the Hungarian government’s extradition to Azerbaijian on August 31st, 2012 of former Azerbaijan Army lieutenant Ramil Safarov, who had already served eight years in a Budapest jail for killing Gurgen Margarian in 2004. As has been widely reported in the press, Margarian, an Armenian officer who was a fellow participant in a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise, was hacked to death in his sleep with an ax by Safarov.

The Hungarian government originally stated that it transferred the prisoner to Azerbaijan on the understanding that he would serve out the rest of his life sentence in his home country. It is difficult to take such a statement at face value, given the fact that Ilham Aliyev, the dictator who runs Azerbaijian, has referred to Armenians in only the most vile of terms and continually threatened to destroy Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh by military means. In later statements it seems that Prime Minister Orban may have known all along that Margarian would be pardoned once in Azerbaijian. Not surprisingly upon his arrival in Baku, Lieutenant Safarov was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev, restored to military duties and promoted to major. He was also given an apartment and awarded back pay for his time in prison. In the press, Safarov has been hailed as a national hero when he has perpetrated a hate crime, pure and simple.

The pardoning of Safarov sets back the quest for peace in the Caucasus, as it is a direct provocation to the Republic of Armenia.

The United States, the United Nations and other international organizations and governments should apply all available pressure on the Azeri government to honor its agreement with Hungary and return Safarov to where he belongs for the rest of his life—a jail cell. We also second the motion of the Hungarian opposition party for the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban—who has admitted to approving Safarov’s transfer to Baku—to resign immediately.

***
Read also: Epic shame for Hungary as axe murderer Ramil Safarov extradited to Azerbaijan to be pardoned and turned into ‘national hero’

Rainbow tree, Yerevan, Armenia

Enjoy!! ;))

*Abovyan & Sayat-Nova crossroad, downtown Yerevan, Armenia. Picture - by Mamikon Hovsepyan