Must see: Zara - “Karmir Khndzor” (‘Red Apple’)

I saw the preview of this clip by Zara “Karmir Khndzor” (‘Red Apple’) while in Yerevan. Now it’s released. Love it. Well done, Zara. 



And what an influence the action by Women’s Resource Centre and activists is having. Pay attention to the ending of this clip - ‘burial of Red Apple’. And now read the story of 8 March 2009 in Yerevan:  International Women’s Day in Armenia: small. It may have been small, but its impact and influence are evident. (more about this tradition and meaning of the ‘funeral’ – here)

*photos - by Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009 (+ The Caucasian Knot - Oneworld Multimedia Facebook Group)

International Women’s Day in Armenia: small women’s march, riot police van, 'private burial' of “Red Apple”, business as usual

It was business as usual in Armenia marking International Women’s Day. Still, overwhelmingly, it was “flowers and chocolates” for women. Only few, very few in fact, tried to make it somehow relevant.

Women’s Resource Centre , along with some other NGOs and supporters marched via downtown Yerevan, calling for equal rights, and held a ‘private burial’ of “Red Apple” (more about this tradition and meaning of the ‘funeral’ – here)

Onnik Krikorian posts photographs and an account of how these civil society groups marked International Women's Day in Armenia on the Frontline Club blog.

There were attempts at disrupting the event by some. Some of those ‘defenders of traditions’ were discussing the other day on their blogs the option (among others) of bribing religious women at Yerevan churches (!!) so that they will come and disrupt the action. No surprises here.

Twice the marchers were stopped by police, which was a clear violation of the Armenian Constitution and laws allowing any march of less than 100 people to pass without a prior authorisation. To see a riot police van accompanying a small women’s march, that’s something. How frightened are they with any display of rights movement...

Overall, machismo was on full display in Armenia on International Women’s Day.

Sadly, I have to agree with Onnik Krikorian that “...the day illustrated how tradition and patriarchal attitudes are slow to die out in countries such as Armenia. Basically, if anyone is expecting a female liberation movement, let alone a sexual revolution, to occur anytime soon, well, don’t hold your breath.”

On the other hand, thanks to that small group of activists, the hope for changes in our country stays at least alive. Well done to Women’s Resource Centre and supporters for making International Women’s Day in Armenia somehow relevant to its real meaning.

*all photos - by Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009 (+ The Caucasian Knot - Oneworld Multimedia Facebook Group)

Armenian women burying the "Red Apple" on 8 March

Celebrating International Women's Day in Armenia

Start Time: 07 March 2009 at 3pm
End Time: 07 April 2009 at 5pm
Starting point: Women's Resource Center, 34 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

The Women's Resource Center of Armenia with the cooperation of Utopiana, WOW and other NGOs, intends to mark the 8th of March, by performing a funeral rite and burying the “Red Apple” (to verify women’s virginity for marriage) one of the cultural traditions still popular in most of Armenia which the Center considers demeaning for women and a violation of their human rights and dignity.

Here is what Lara Aharonian of the Women's Resource Center has to say to clarify misconceptions associated with this initiative:

"To clarify certain things and to not mislead anyone:

By burying the red apple, we are not telling anyone to not be a virgin, because we believe that everyone has the right to choose their personal life and sexuality, as a basic human right.

On the contrary we want to express that every woman has the right to choose for herself and not be forced in the name of tradition.

The red apple is an attempt to our private life as women. And what we decide to do with our bodies concerns us and nobody else.

So if we want to stay virgin, it is our right and completely respected and if we don't that it is also our choice.

We want to bury the traditions that makes us feel less than a human and that makes us choose against our will.

So in order to not offend anyone, I wanted to add this comment."

OTL blog provides with the details of the staged 'funeral procession':

"The funeral rite will be stylized as Armenian. We will lead Mr. Apple, someone dressed in a 3D apple outfit, with chains, carrying flowers and a tombstone while a woman-priest (a teacher from the women’s center will dress up as one) will chant a modified reading of “funeral biblical scripts” replaced by verses about the end of the Apple. We will end the walk in a “lover’s park” in front of Congress Hotel where we will rip the Red Apple apart and bury the pieces in the ground. As a final celebration we will pour cement onto the spot and inscribe “Here lays the Red Apple” (“…..-2009). A party in the park will follow."

And here is the link to the intreview with RFE/RL Maxliberty programme about the 'funeral' (in Armenian).

Finding Zabel Yesayan (documentary)

Date: 7 March 2009
Time: 5 - 6 pm
Location: Tumanyan Muppet Theater
Street: 4 Sayat Nova
Town/City: Yerevan, Armenia

The Women's Resource Center and Utopiana will present the screening of the documentary film "Finding Zabel Yesayan" by Talin Suciyan and Lara Aharonian. The 40 min documentary depicts the life of the writer after her move to Soviet Armenia.

By Invitation only, places limited

Women's Resource Centre: for Armenia free of any type of discrimination

*The Women’s Resource Centre in Armenia organises march to stop violence against women on 25 November 2008, to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.*

Lara Aharonian, head of the Women’s Resource Centre

Address: 34 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

Founded in July 2003, the Women's Resource Centre (WRC) is "open to all women regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and social status."

Since November 2006, WRC has initiated the following projects:

• Book Club: reading and discussion of books, articles and poems on gender issues.
• Film Club: movie screening and discussion.
• Career Development Club: language and computer skills development, assistance to find a job, professional portfolio making and interviewing skills.
• My Body/My Right: training on sexual rights and health.
• Adolescents for the Mature Life: trainings, workshops, discussions aimed at the personal development of participating adolescents and toward professional orientation.
• No one is Perfect: parental skills development program designed for mothers and children under 2 years.
• Pre-natal program: program for pregnant women regarding pregnancy and newborn childcare. • Peer-to-peer Service: assistance to available to anyone who needs to talk or to receive consultations.
• Life is Just Beginning: program designed for women aged 40 years and plus involving meetings and discussions.
• Round-tables and workshops on issues surrounding women and gender.

PINK Armenia launches Information Centre in Yerevan

Unzipped: Gay Armenia highly recommends PINK Armenia for all your information needs and support while in Yerevan, Armenia

UPDATE! - 5 July 2009: PINK Armenia launches "Masculinity: breaking stereotypes" project at their new office in downtown Yerevan

UPDATE! - 18 March 2009: Sadly, due to financial reasons, this office was shut down in March 2009. However, PINK Armenia is active, and, in fact, widened its activities online and offline. You may contact them via their newly launched website:

http://www.pinkarmenia.org/
***

Official launch of the PINK Information Centre in downtown Yerevan (see below for contact information) took place last Friday, 12 September 2008. The office is conveniently located near the Yerevan State University.

"PINK Information Center"
40 Charents str, apt. 45
Yerevan, Armenia
tel. +374 10 556 946
Working hours: 11am-19pm
Working days: Monday-Friday




There are good bunch of people working there. Friendly, energetic, open to new ideas and discussions. They know local scene perfectly. They also work with local and international human rights related and other relevant NGOs, as well as some governmental agencies, particularly, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.

Below are some pictures from the launch event. We then end up clubbing in one of downtown Yerevan discotheques. We did not stay long though, still, it was fun.


Head of PINK Armenia Mamikon Hovsepyan

Lara Aharonian of Women’s Resource Centre and Mikael Danielyan of Armenia's Helsinki Association

PINK Information Centre has began developing a library of relevant literature, leaflets, CDs/DVDs, educational materials in Armenian, Russian, other languages which they intend to expand into a comprehensive and useful source of information on LGBT related issues, STI prevention (with the special attention to HIV/AIDS) and so on. Any help in this regard or other support for PINK’s activities will be highly appreciated.

Relevant links:

PINK Armenia MySpace page

PINK Armenia Facebook page

PINK Armenia blog

Soon PINK Armenia will launch its own website.

AGLA NY started blogging

In a welcome move and in line with previously announced expansion of organisational activities, Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York (AGLA NY) launched its blog, with the focus on life of LGBT Armenians in NY, US, as well as organisational news.

Here are some headlines from recent posts.

“Member spotlight” presents NY fashion designer Loris Diran and metalware designer Michael Aram

Nancy Agabian reports on a lecture by Vigen Guroian, Prof. of Theology at Loyola College (MD), entitled, “Homosexuality & Same-Sex Union” at the Armenian Prelacy (16 November 2007). “The main point of Professor Guroian’s talk was that same sex union goes against one of the Armenian Apostolic church’s sacraments, that of a marriage between a man and a woman, as stated in the bible.” However, as Nancy concluded, “The event wasn’t openly hostile towards gays and lesbians; rather, people seemed interested to listen and talk to teach other about the issue. This represents real progress, especially for those who remember when the word gay wouldn’t have even been understood within an Armenian religious context. Our queer Armenian voices were heard in connection with the church, and on the issue of gay marriage, which affects many of us.”

There is also announcement on a special Gartal event in NY on 17 February 2008 which featured reading of the new book (An)daratsutian Mej or In the (Un)space (Women’s Resource Center, Yerevan, 2007) in English, French and Armenian with authors Nancy Agabian, Lara Aharonian and Shushan Avagyan. “In writing about such topics as the domestic violence of upstairs neighbors, an absurd gynecological visit, and furtive reading in a grandmother’s library, the tri-authors create the “(un)space”, where each Armenian woman must interpret herself and translate others in order to find a place to more fully exist.” Hrag Vartanian has more details.

I will keep an eye on AGLA NY blog and will update here on new developments from NY LGBT Armenian community. You may access their blog at http://aglany.wordpress.com