"Speak up!": PINK Armenia’s anti-bullying message to mark Day of Silence

On the occasion of Day of Silence, PINK Armenia hold a press conference where they outlined the problem of bullying in Armenia’s educational institutions in particular, starting with anti-LGBT bullying and with other instances of bullying too.

Says Nvard Margaryan of PINK Armenia: “In various countries of the world, starting from 1996, the third Friday of April is celebrated as The Day of Silence. The main purpose of The Day of Silence is to focus public attention on discrimination and degrading treatment against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people and other social groups throughout educational institutions. Moreover, this day is meant to eliminate and prevent such phenomena in an effort to establish safer educational institutions for everyone, regardless of students’ sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic origins, religion, appearance, social and other personal characteristics”.
Then she presented cases and personal stories, which were collected by PINK's staff members.

Here is a fragment of the press conference (AM) detailing cases of anti-LGBT and other bullying in Armenia.



And below is a video “Speak up” (AM with English subtitles), released by PINK Armenia, with real life stories and an important message to convey.

"I am erasing my mask of silence": PINK Armenia marks Day of Silence

*via PINK Armenia

In various states of the world, starting from 1996, the third Friday of April is being commemorated as a day of silence. The foremost aim of the Day of Silence (DOS) is to draw attention on discrimination and bullying towards LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) individuals and other social groups in educational institutions. Moreover, this day is meant to eliminate and prevent such phenomena for the educational institutions to become a safer place for everyone, regardless of students’ and pupils’ sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, appearance and any other social and personal characteristics.

We may witness phenomena as violence, discrimination, hate speech, mockery and abuse – behaviors that humiliate human dignity and violate basic human rights and freedoms – in almost all educational institutions of the Republic of Armenia.

On this occasion, on April 19, on the eve of the DOS, the head of Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO Mamikon Hovsepian pointed out that “Pupils and students are treated this way both by their schoolmates and fellow students, and by educators (professionals) and other workers of the institution. Even though almost every one of us had been a witness to such trends, we regretfully assert that it is not regarded as a problem in our society and it is, furthermore, seen as an ordinary fact. Therefore, no steps are taken in terms of researching such problems and, more importantly, in terms of preventing and overcoming them, in increasing and developing tolerance.” He also added that: “We often witness such cases. A 17 years old young boy had to move from three schools in the process of getting his education as a result of discrimination and bullying as he was overweight and had more fragile (feminine) appearance. And fellow students of a girl, Yezidi by her ethnic origin, refused to sit next to her in the university.”

Social worker Nvard Margaryan has stated that “Discrimination and violence occurring in educational institutions affect both the development and quality of the life of youth, as well as create additional social problems such as social alienation, manifestation of aggressive behavior and complex of inferiority, even attempts of committing suicide and suicide.”

Speakers of the press conference have afterwards spoken about the effective mechanisms of prevention and the need of elaborating measures, in particular about the necessity of having competent professionals in educational institutions as well as about the education and protection of human rights.

At the end, the speakers have added that on April 20, on the “Day of Silence”, the members of staff will keep silence and will not provide any service.
***
“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO has joined this campaign since 2010. European Union Delegation to Armenia and UN Department of Public Information assist the campaign this year.

PINK Armenia and photojournalist Nazik Armenakyan feature in prominent Turkish Armenian newspaper Agos

*You may read Agos article (in Turkish) here

PINK Armenia and activists: "Prejudice and discrimination made us silent today" - Day of Silence 2011

15 April 2011 - Day of Silence

*source: PINK Armenia

The Day of Silence is an event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take some form of a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. The event is designed to illustrate the silencing effect of this bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT.

As a way of supporting the idea and those that are harassed in Armenia, we will undertake certain actions:

We apologize, but we won’t be available for the world on April 15: we will not respond to emails, phone calls, we will not have any activities and will not provide any direct service. On April 15, we will keep silence for...

Next day silence will be broken by launching our new e-mag “AS YOU”! [ԻՆՉՊԵՍ ԴՈՒ]
***
[emphasis mine]

Relevant reading: Call to Armenian media. Do the right thing. Write about the Day of Silence - 15 April 2011. Raise your voice against bullying and harassment of LGBT youth

Call to Armenian media. Do the right thing. Write about the Day of Silence - 15 April 2011. Raise your voice against bullying and harassment of LGBT youth

The Day of Silence is the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) annual day of action to protest the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and their supporters. Students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and their supporters. The Day of Silence has been held each year in April since 1996. The 2010 Day of Silence was held on April 16; this year's will be on April 15. (Wikipedia)
***
www.dayofsilence.org
***
"Մեր լրագրողներն էլ կարող են հանգստանալ ու իրոք թեմային հարիր սրտացավ նյութեր գրել, հո միայն սկանդալներով չի՞ կարելի կերակրել հանրությանը, ամենքս մի բարի, սիրուն բան գրենք էդ օրը մեր հասարակության խոցելի մասը կազմող քաղաքացիների նկատմամբ տոլերանտությունը բարձրացնելու համար: Բոլորս էլ մարդ ենք:"

I second Lusine Vayachyan’s call in the article published on the Armenian Version today (AM).

«Լռության օրը» ապրիլի 15-ին է

Անցյալ տարի ապրիլի 16-ը միաժամանակ և ՀՀ ոստիկանի օրն էր, և աշխարհի քաղաքակիրթ հանրության կողմից նշվող այսպես կոչված Լռության օրն է` ընդդեմ սեռական խտրականության և բռնության:

Այդ օրը, որը լողացող է, ֆիքսված օր չի, ամեն տարի մի շարք երկրներում Լռության Համազգային Օր է, այդ օրն ամբողջ երկրով մեկ լռության ծոմ են պահում, լռության երթեր անցկացնում, որպեսզի ուշադրություն հրավիրեն ոչ տրադիցիոն սեռական կողմնորոշվածություն ունեցող մարդկանց դպրոցներում ու համալսարաններում ու ընդհանրապես առօրյա կյանքում վիրավորանքների, ծաղրանքի ենթարկելուն ու հետապնդմանն ու բռնությանը:

«Հարգելի լրագրողներ, ձեր հորդորներից և մի քիչ էլ անիմաստ կասկածներից հետո ես հանձնարարել եմ տարբեր ինտերնետային կայքերը ուսումնասիրել: Մեր ուսումնասիրությունները ցույց տվեցին, որ ապրիլի 16-ը որևէ երկրում որևէ հիշյալ տիպի կազմակերպության հետ երբևէ չի առնչվել: Չգիտեմ՝ դա ում հիվանդ ֆանտազիայի արդյունքն է եղել տարիներ առաջ, ով է որոշել, որ ապրիլի 16-ը կարող է այդպիսի խորհուրդ ունենալ: Ապրիլի 16-ին Ոստիկանության մասին ՀՀ օրենքն է ընդունվել:

Դեռ երեք ամիս առաջ ես նպատակադրվել էի, որ ոստիկանության օրը նշենք ապրիլի 19-ին, նույնիսկ զեկուցել էի նախագահին, խնդրել էի թույլտվություն, որ անցկացվի 19-ին: Բայց նախագահը խնդրեց մեկ անգամ էլ ստուգել: Հերթական ուսումնասիրության արդյունքում էլ մենք նման երևույթ չարձանգրեցինք»,- ասել է երեկ Ալիկ Սարգսյանը (1in.am):

Ալիկ Սարգսյանի հանձնարարականը կատարելիս ճիշտ են զեկուցել`իրոք, այս տարի Լռության Օրն ամբողջ աշխարհում նշվում է ապրիլի 15-ին, էնպես որ, մեր ոստիկանները կարող են հանգիստ անցկացնել իրենց պառադը ապրիլի 16-ին, նախօրեին լռությամբ միանալով այլաճնշման դեմ պայքարին:

Մեր լրագրողներն էլ կարող են հանգստանալ ու իրոք թեմային հարիր սրտացավ նյութեր գրել, հո միայն սկանդալներով չի՞ կարելի կերակրել հանրությանը, ամենքս մի բարի, սիրուն բան գրենք էդ օրը մեր հասարակության խոցելի մասը կազմող քաղաքացիների նկատմամբ տոլերանտությունը բարձրացնելու համար: Բոլորս էլ մարդ ենք:

Լուսինե Վայաչյան

The Day of Silence - Glendale - Armenian Diaspora

*via Glendale News Press

Support in silence

(Raul Roa/News-Press)

Glendale High students spend lunch period protesting hate.

By Max Zimbert

Published: Last Updated Friday, April 16, 2010 10:09 PM PDT

About two dozen Glendale High School students and teachers were taking their seats Friday to protest prejudice and harassment of all types, when a student a few yards away repeatedly yelled a derogatory term for homosexuals.

The incident occurred as students handed out small notices that said they muted themselves to represent the unheard victims of discrimination and name-calling as part of the national Day of Silence. Participating students kept silent all day and wrote their responses to questions.

“It’s more of a shock that he said it out loud,” wrote Vahe Gabri, a senior. “You will hear it, but as a whisper when they pass you or when no one is around.”

Punishment for harassment or discrimination is typically a suspension, administrators said.

“It’s 2010, but you still hear, see and witness acts of discrimination toward a group,” Principal Deb Rinder said. “Any time there’s something new or different or whatever, it requires dialogue and education, because in my opinion, knowledge is power.”

Many of the participating students were members of the Gay-Straight Alliance, a student club that they say is a safe place.

“I love it,” sophomore Isaac Espinosa wrote. “You make new friends, family and new adventures.”

Gay-straight alliances are controversial at Glendale Unified’s high schools. In 2008, parents spoke against the clubs at a school board meeting, saying administrators had no right to let the clubs exist. But those arguments failed to get traction with district officials who said students had the 1st Amendment right to organize.

Students sat silently in a circle Friday in the middle of the school quad. Some held hands and embraced, while others wrote and passed notes.

“We are here to, in short, battle all hate,” wrote Kit Romire, a senior and club president. “This year, homophobia really hit.”

Christa Bretz, the faculty advisor to the school club, sent out notices Wednesday, informing the campus community of the day and its intent. She did so deliberately, she said, to avoid counter protests.

“It gives less time for conflict and controversy, but less time for people to become aware of it and participate in it,” she said.

Freshmen Savanna Asadoorian and Sose Abraamyan said Glendale High students are tolerant, and the school is a safe place to learn. Harassment or name calling stems from ignorance, Savanna said.

“It’s not intentionally to hurt anyone,” she said.

But students got the alliance’s message, Sose said. And teacher participation would foster conversations about respect and tolerance, said David Spiegel, a teacher.

“Kids ask, ‘Why were you there?’” he said. “There’ll be a lot of discussions next period . . . and I think that’s where a lot of growth happens.”

The Day of Silence - Picture of the Day - Armenia

The Day of Silence is a student-led national event in USA that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.

*Source: PINK Armenia

How Armenia police chief gets fooled by yellow journalism

[Read also: Marking Police Day in Armenia the way only Unzipped can do]

Everything started with Chorrord Ishkhanutyun which as if ‘by the way’, in a brief note about Police Day, marked in Armenia on 16 April, intentionally mentions (= lies) that same day in different countries ‘gays celebrate their day’.

Չգիտես ինչու, այդ լուսավոր տոնը թողած, նույն օրը աշխարհի տարբեր երկրներ նշում են համասեռամոլների օրը: Բայց դա արդեն Հայաստանի հետ կապ չունի: (CHI, 31 March 2010)

Then many representatives of Armenian media (example), without a simple google checking the facts - nothing surprising here - re-posting this ‘juicy coincidence’ and questioning Armenia police chief about it.

And Mr Alik Sargsyan, head of Armenia police, instead of checking facts (a very simple task in this case, believe me), formally asks Armenian president to change the Police Day date from next year.

Ապրիլի 16-ը ՀՀ ոստիկանության օրն է, և այդ տոնին ընդառաջ այսօր ոստիկանապետ Ալիկ Սարգսյանը «Ուրբաթ» ակումբում պատասխանում էր լրագրողների հարցերին: «Իսկ ո՞ւմ նախաձեռնությամբ է ոստիկանության օրը նշվում հենց ապրիլի 16-ին, երբ նույն օրը աշխարհի տարբեր երկրներում նշում են համասեռամոլների օրը»,- հարցրին ոստիկանապետին:
«Չեմ ուզում թաքցնել` ես դիմել եմ երկրի նախագահին, խնդրել, որպեսզի այդ օրը փոխենք: Չգիտեմ` որքանով է ճիշտ այդ վարկածը` ինչ-որ այլ կողմնորոշմամբ մարտկանց տոնի հետ կապված, ամեն դեպքում, փորձելու եմ ամեն ինչ անել, գրեթե խոստանում եմ (որովհետև իմ որոշումից չի կախված), որ եկող տարի մենք ոստիկանության տոնը կնշենք այլ օր: Միգուցե դա կլինի ապրիլի 19-ին, որն Առաջին Հանրապետության ոստիկանության օրն է: Ամեն դեպքում, ես առաջարկը ներկայացնելու եմ երկրի ղեկավարին, որը կլինի նաև մեր ոստիկանների սրտով. բոլորն ինձ այդ մասին դիմում և խնդրում են»,- ասաց Ալիկ Սարգսյանը:
Վերջինս նշեց, որ տոնի օրը որևէ մեկի նախաձեռնությամբ չի ընտրվել, պարզապես այդ օրը`ապրիլի 16-ին, Ազգային ժողովն ընդունել է համապատասխան որոշումը:

Truly, a tragicomedy in making.

Even if the reports were true (which they are not), so what? Is this an evidence of institutional homophobia both in Armenian media and police?

You, ignorant representatives of Armenian media - not all, but many - there is no such thing as ‘Gay Day celebrated internationally on 16 April’. Instead of engaging in yellow journalism, take a time, just a few seconds of your ‘precious’ time, make very simple google search, and you will find out that on 16 April, mainly in the USA, human rights activists mark school-based LGBT related anti-bullying Day of Silence.

Why I am even asking... Of course, you do not care of facts. Sensationalism, intrigues, dirty tricks... that’s what matters to you.

And you, Mr Alik Sargsyan, head of police. Instead of feeling uncomfortable and somehow disrespectful to gays, you should instead state clearly, once and for all, that it’s your obligation to protect all Armenian citizens, including LGBT citizens. Your constitutional obligation. Instead, you got fooled by yellow journalism in Armenia.

Here is a link especially for Armenian media representatives and Armenia police chief: Day of Silence. Read it. Educate yourself about the meaning of the day.

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Each year the event has grown, and now hundreds of thousands of students participate to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Not funny, isn’t it?

P.S. not to mention the use of unacceptable and discriminatory word ”hamaseramol” to refer to gays in Armenian, including by Hetq Online. Shame really. By the way, there is good comment left by a reader of Hetq Online here.

*picture - via A1+

Armenian gay rights organisation in LA - GALAS, blasts Glendale Armenian American homophobia

AGLA NY reports on a welcome move by Armenian gay rights organisation in LA - GALAS, which publicly stood up against homophobia within the local Armenian community effectively breaking the usual pattern of "what has until now been the overwhelming silence to homophobia and heterosexism in the Armenian American community":

Recent “Day of Silence” at Glendale’s Hoover High School was an act of unity with schools across the country to call attention to how gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are “silenced” by harassment and bullying in schools. The event took place on April 25 and many prominent members of Glendale, including Glendale News Press Armenian American columnist Patrick Azadian, supported the action.

Unfortunately some people, including many Armenian Americans, objected to the protest and one confused individual named Martik Abramian wrote a letter to the Glendale News Press newspaper saying:

Don’t be fooled by the Day of Silence, which is a cover-up and in reality is to promote homosexuality. We need to have a day of awareness instead of a Day of Silence and teach students about the dangers of homosexual life and its destructive consequences.

[...]

In today’s Glendale News Press, the president of the Gay & Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS) in Los Angeles, California, Haig Boyajian, takes to task the usually unchallenged Armenian American homophobia of Martik Abramian and others (for instance Naira Khachatrian as quoted in an article by Dan Kimber). GALAS’ response was powerful and here’s an excerpt:

We want to state unequivocally that the handful of Armenian parents who were vitriolic in their opposition to the Day of Silence do not represent the entire Armenian community. The members of the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles and our many supportive family members and friends belong to the Glendale and Los Angeles Armenian communities, and we all believe that there can be no tolerance for bullying and harassment of any student, regardless of his or her sexual orientation.

We condemn the homophobic comments that were aired on a recent Armenian television program. They were irresponsible since such speech can cause disastrous consequences for children, who might go so far as to commit suicide or substance abuse as a result of rejection from their families.

The Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles is saddened to see that some Armenians are unable to see the parallels between racial and sexual orientation discrimination. We come from a culture that is, sadly, too familiar with what can happen when one group is ostracized and discriminated against. However, we have hope for the future that springs from the students who courageously organized and participated in the Day of Silence event, especially given the sometimes hostile response it has received in the community. And, we are proud and encouraged that some of the participants in Day of Silence were Armenian.

We call upon our fellow Armenian brothers and sisters to support tolerance, the local school districts, and most importantly our children. We must all raise our voices against hate and misunderstanding and support valuable programs like Day of Silence that can make a positive difference.

*source - AGLA NY blog