Harvey Milk in Armenia (2): 'Milk' was shown on a national TV channel H2

His life changed history. His courage changed lives.

When I first watched Milk in London in January 2009, my first thought was "We need someone like Harvey Milk for Armenia. Someone who will inspire. Someone who will lead civil rights movement."

My second thought was whether the film will be shown in Armenia. I knew that it won't be released in cinemas, but there should be no problems with the DVDs.

However, I did not expect the film to be shown on Armenian TV channels so quickly. Always like pleasant surprises, and always happy to share them with you.

First, it was Tsayg TV channel in Armenia's second city Gyumri. They showed Milk in April 2009. Mamikon of PINK Armenia posted his impressions after watching the film: "I learn a lot from Harvey Milk, even all the phrases that he said are in my mind. Hope one day I can be so strong like him and I can do at least part of his work. I wish one day to stand on the top of the mountain with you and feel the wind of freedom."

What is even more significant is today's news from Yerevan, that Armenia's national TV channel H2 showed Milk tonight. News were first broken via Twitter. These are truly tweets of the day for me:

Armenian H2 channel shows a film on gay movement campaign in san francisco. WOW
*@astepany

The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist NOW on H2 armenian channel.
*@astepany

@unzippedblog - yes and the film is in russian. sony ericsson is the official "hovanavor"
*@astepany

Yes, "His life changed history. His courage changed lives". Let's just hope that we'll achieve this in Armenia without losing (more) lives...

Georgia: new issue of Me magazine focuses on global LGBT movement

New, 10th issue of Georgian LGBT "Me" magazine (published by Inclusive Foundation) is out now. It focuses on “history and reality of global LGBT movement”, in particular reflecting recent developments in the US with Obama’s inauguration and the release of Milk film. It also contains news and commentary on local developments in Georgia, including a review of the HIV/AIDS situation in Georgia with updated trends.

According to the Georgian Centre for Infectious Pathologies, AIDS and Clinical Immunology, there are 1,825 cases of HIV infection in Georgia as of 12 December 2008. Of this number, 1,372 are men and 453 are women. Most infected people are between the ages of 29 and 35 years. A total of 402 people have died of AIDS in Georgia. 487 patients are currently undergoing treatment. The following is the distribution of likely transmission ways among HIV/AIDS cases registered in Georgia, as determined through patient interviews: 59.5 per cent are injecting drug users (have shared unsterilized needles with other users); 33.4 per cent were infected through heterosexual contact; 2.7 per cent contracted the virus through homosexual contact (men having sex with men); 2.4 per cent were infected by their mother (either in uterus or from breastfeeding); 0.6 per cent contracted HIV through blood infusions; 1.4 per cent - cause of infection undetermined.

As Georgia aspires closer ties with the EU, the magazine features interviews with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency director Morten Kjaerum.

ME: It is a very difficult time for Georgia right now and this is discussed a lot on the European level. We feel that social phobias are becoming more severe in this situation. Do you think that external threats can be an excuse for undermining the rights of social minorities? When a country is at war, is it time for a break in defending the rights of LGBT people?
Thomas Hammarberg: In fact, in a situation of crisis with the security of a nation and in an economic crisis, it is even more important to continue watching the treatment of minorities and those who traditionally tend to be discriminated against. Because in the crisis situation there is a risk that certain groups of society will be scapegoated. So I would say the opposite – it is important to remain on watch both on the national level as well as by international agencies to ensure that scapegoating or discrimination does not take place. Security concerns and economic crisis is not a justification for discrimination.

You may download current issue of the magazine by clicking here. Previous issues of the magazine are accessible at the following link.

Harvey Milk in Armenia - Gyumri rules! Tsayg rules!

WOW! What a fantastic news!! Just read on PINK Armenia that a local Tsayg TV in Armenia’s second largest city Gyumri was showing Milk (Harvey Milk) yesterday and today.

Yesterday I came to Gyumri for 3 days to conduct a training session in the frames of “Global Health Week of Action”. At night I was watching TV and I was so happy that many channels were showing comedy, the best choice for the 1st of April. Suddenly I noticed that “Tsayg” local TV is showing “Harvey Milk”, they also repeated the movie in the afternoon of April 2, I want to remind that this is the channel that in December, 2007 invited me to their live talk show about sexual minorities.

It was my dream to watch this movie, to see the person who struggled for freedom, tolerance and equal rights.

Harvey was a person who was living for his community and never giving up, protecting the rights of people who are the victims of discrimination and intolerance. […]

I learn a lot from Harvey Milk, even all the phrases that he said are in my mind.
Hope one day I can be so strong like him and I can do at least part of his work. I wish one day to stand on the top of the mountain with you and feel the wind of freedom. […]

I was always wondering if this film would be shown in Armenia. To learn that it was shown in Gyumri on a local Tsayg TV… well done! Gyumri rules! Tsyag rules!

Great film, great acting, an inspirational story for all of us.

Thanks to Mamikon of PINK Armenia for making me start my working day with an excellent mood :)

Let’s hope that your dreams (our dreams!!) will come true, Mamikon!!

*photo - Film.com

Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black - Men of The Day

Gay rights night at Oscars

Needless to say how happy I am to see Sean Penn winning the Best Actor at the Oscars for his portrayal of gay rights champion Harvey Milk, America’s first openly gay politician in San Francisco, in Gus Van Sant’s Milk. Not only his performance in Milk was excellent and inspirational, but so was his speech at the awards ceremony - my RESPECTS:

"... for those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone. And there are, and there are, these last two things. I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president and a country who, for all its toughness, creates courageous artists. [...]" (video)


Press room - Sean Penn

Also, my big RESPECTS to Dustin Lance Black who received the award for the Best Original Screenplay for Milk. What a moving acceptance speech:

"...When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married. [...]

I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk." (video)


Press room - Dustin Lance Black

*photos - via Oscar.com

'Milk' in London. What about Armenia?

At last, Milk was formally released in London today. Must see!!

Brilliant film by one of my favourite directors Gus Van Sant. Amazing Sean Penn.

I left the cinema inspired by the civil rights movement led by Harvey Milk, America's first openly gay politician in San Francisco. Truly inspirational figure. Very current references to ongoing struggle for equality and human rights. "People told him no openly gay man could win political office. Fortunately, he ignored them" (TIME magazine, 100 most important people of the 20th century)

We need someone like Harvey Milk for Armenia. Someone who will inspire. Someone who will lead civil rights movement.

P.S. I doubt this film will be released in Yerevan cinemas. There should be no problem with DVDs though...

Gus Van Sant's Milk (trailer)

Judging by this first trailer, a must see film from one of my favourite directors Gus Van Sant. It's about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States, as a city supervisor in San Francisco. "Mr. Milk was previously the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary feature "The Times of Harvey Milk," but "Milk" - filmed on location in San Francisco - is the first non-documentary feature to explore the man's life and career."



Milk will be premiered in San Francisco on 29 October 2008. General release is expected from December onwards.