British embassy in Yerevan raised rainbow flag to mark IDAHOT + more news from South Caucasus

For the first time ever, British embassy in Yerevan raised the rainbow flag to mark IDAHOT - the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

To see the rainbow flag proudly waving in the very heart of Armenia capital, even though by a foreign country, is pretty historic.

Big respects to the UK Embassy in Yerevan. It’s an important act of solidarity with local LGBT activists.

And of course, all the usual suspects on Armenian Facebook and beyond were in a state of total agony at a sight of the rainbow flag.

I hope this will become a tradition and more embassies in Armenia will follow suit.

But more significantly and importantly, I wish THE day will come when I will see the rainbow flag waving openly at local venues, institutions, groups...



Btw, British embassy in Baku has joined embassies around the world in flying the rainbow flag.

In Tbilisi, embassy posted a picture with the British ambassador holding the rainbow flag to accompany their IDAHOT message.

In other important developments from the South Caucasus, brave LGBT activists in Tbilisi managed to hold an IDAHOT rally which reportedly passed without major incidents, although not without reports of physical assault.

Great coverage by OC media here: Queer rights activists mark 17 May in Tbilisi under heavy police presence; Church takes to streets

And awesome PINK Armenia unveiled their calendar of events to mark IDAHOT.

***
In a related development, while not as radical as British, the US embassy in Yerevan changed their Facebook cover photo to the rainbow flag for the occasion (great move!), and posted a message marking IDAHOT.

Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi: in solidarity with Orlando

Yerevan, 13 June 2016, in front of the US embassy

*via @pinkarmenia

*via US embassy in Yerevan FB page: PINK Armenia, friends, US ambassador in Armenia

*video via RFE/RL

Baku, 13 June 2016, in front of the US embassy

*via @nabiyevcavid, here and here

Tbilisi, 13 June 2016, in front of the US embassy 

*via Onnik Krikorian 

*via @Tabagari

Lesbian Azeri activists in Baku stage photo-session in front of mosque : “We exist!”

Photos coming from Azerbaijan capital Baku target visibility in a context of LGBT, Islam and secular society.

The photo-session is titled “Z-53”, and as Azeri LGBT activist explained to this blog, this refers to Sura (chapter) from Quran, aya (verse) 53, where it is mentioned: “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves (by singing), do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful”.

“Our society always says that being LGBT is a great sin. Allah cursed them all, but these sentences from Quran show different view of Islam which denies all the dogmas in secular Azerbaijani society”.

Says Gulara Azimzadeh, head of the “Peace for LGBT” organisation:

“The photo-session “Z-53” represents religious, national and legal aspects of Azerbaijani LGBT people’s lives. Those photos are a message and a protest to the unbearable levels of discrimination from the homophobic society towards LGBT people. The fear for our lives derived during the making of “Z-53” did not suppress our demand for freedom of expression. For years our existence has been ignored – today we say “We exist”! Despite all the shaming, humiliations for years, and making us believe we were doing wrong - we accept our homosexual nature, we are not ashamed of who we are! You did not give us the rights to take them away. Do not try to fit everybody under the same figure! It is time to accept us – the people “different” from you.”

Unsurprisingly, as per organisers, this action generated a “huge wave of hatred” towards them, as is always the case whenever LGBT activists in the South Caucasus lower a threshold of visibility by their actions.

Respects to these brave Azeri activists.

*pictures courtesy of "Peace for LGBT"

Azeri group Peace for LGBTQ held IDAHOT event in Baku

Azeri group Peace for LGBTQ held an event in Baku - "The burden rainbow carry" - to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17th May.

As a special guest during their interactive seminar, Dr. Elmir Akbar, well known in Azerbaijan
psychotherapist, spoke about his analysis concerning the causes and treatment of emotional breakdowns experienced by LGBT people, as well as related issues.

Even though it was an open event, the location and the names of participants were kept confidential considering safety issues.

Says Peace for LGBTQ: “The world is beautiful as long as there is peace. It's in our hands to free this world from hatred.”

Participants then hold posters with human rights messages, which were published on the Peace for LGBTQ Facebook page.

"Normal dediyiniz nedir?” - reads one of the messages on posters, meaning ‘What do u define as normal?”. This is one of the slogans of Peace for LGBTQ.

*based on Peace for LGBTQ FB page

“We Are Among You” campaign by LGBT group in Azerbaijan

Via Gay.az, the aim of “We Are Among You” campaign by Azeri group Nefes LGBT (“Free LGBT”) is to send a message to the public in this largely homophobic country that LGBT people are an integral part of the Azerbaijani society.

As part of the campaign, LGBT activists posted stickers “before you, a lesbian [or gay/bi/trans person] sat [or stood] here” in various parts of the capital Baku.

Как говорят организаторы, цель компании - показать общественности, что ЛГБТ являются неотъемлемой частью азербайджанского общества.

По словам общественной организации «Свободные ЛГБТ» (Nefes LGBT), общество ошибочно полагает, что представители ЛГБТ никогда не жили в Азербайджане и появились в результате изменения образа жизни после обретения Азербайджаном независимости, в результате активной интеграции в Европу.

«Мы, как и гетеросексуалы, являемся неотъемлемой частью азербайджанского общества. Мы не больны, и наравне с гетеросексуалами активно участвуем в общественной жизни страны». С этой целью в различных частях столицы ЛГБТ активистами были расклеены стикеры «До тебя тут сидел гей», «До тебя тут сидела лесбиянка».

*screenshot - via Nefes LGBT Facebook group

Human Rights Watch "World Report 2015": reflections on LGBT rights in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Brief reflections of different aspects re LGBT rights in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan by Human Rights Watch within their annual World Report 2015 released today.

Armenia

Minority Rights
Local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists reported that LGBT people continue to face discrimination, harassment, and physical violence. Hate speech against LGBT people, including by public officials, remains a serious issue. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not included in anti-discrimination or hate speech laws, limiting legal recourse for many crimes against LGBT people.

Iravunq newspaper published several online articles calling for LGBT people and organizations working to protect them to be excluded from public life and for their families to shun them. A May 17 article included a “blacklist” of 60 people with links to their social media pages. Several people named in the article requested a retraction, but the paper refused. Sixteen people filed lawsuits for damage to honor and dignity, but a court rejected their claims in October.

Key International Actors
The PACE fact-finding mission report noted the improved political climate and progress toward Armenia’s fulfilment of its Council of Europe (CoE) membership obligations but also highlighted serious shortcomings, including the lack of judicial independence, abuses in the military, domestic violence, and hostility toward religious minorities and LGBT people.

Georgia

Anti-Discrimination and Minority Rights 
In May, parliament adopted an anti-discrimination bill that provides for protection against discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Some criticized the bill for lacking efficient implementation mechanisms, including means for imposing financial penalties for perpetrators. The bill put the Ombudsman’s Office in charge of overseeing anti-discrimination measures.

In February, the constitutional court in Georgia struck down a 13-year-old ban on homosexual men being blood donors.

Azerbaijan

Human Rights Defenders
Isa Shahmarly, former chair of the Free (Azad) LGBT group, hanged himself with a rainbow flag in his Baku apartment in late January 2014, writing in a note that Azerbaijan society was “not for him.”

Azerbaijan: IDAHOT 2014 with rainbow flashmob, online campaign and LGBT-related newsletter

Nefes LGBT Azerbaijan Alliance organised rainbow flashmob to mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

*source: @LGBT_Azerbaycan

Earlier they launched online "Hate Kills" campaign.

*source: @LGBT_Azerbaycan

Ahead of IDAHOT, Nefes published online newsletter reflecting some of the main LGBT-related news over January-March 2014:

1. Suicide of the chairman of Free LGBT Azerbaijan:

"As a mark of respect for Isa and hundreds of victims of hate crimes, we would like to declare that, from now on we will celebrate 22nd January date as "LGBT Pride Day‟.

2. Physical violence and death threats against president of Nefes LGBT Azerbaijan Alliance. As per reports, the perpetrator effectively escaped being charged and received a symbolic fine.

3. The results of survey on employment discrimination of LGBT people (survey covered 8 regions in Azerbaijan):

"64% of anwerers doesn't want to work with LGBT person and overall, 60% has negative attitude towards LGBT people. Furthermore, 60% of respondents said that, they will not hire LGBT person, if they were a boss."

Azerbaijan LGBT rights activist commits suicide: “This country and this world are not for me”...

[…] Isa says that, the pressure from the family leads most LGBT (lesbian, gay,bisexual, transsexual) to suicide. 

[extract from interview with Isa Sahmarli, October 2013]

Reports say that 20 years old Isa Sahmarli, Azeri LGBT rights activist, head of Azad LGBT group, committed suicide today. According to friends, he hanged himself with the rainbow flag. This video  that impossible to watch shows unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.


According to RFE/RL, he left a suicide note on his Facebook page reading: “I am leaving you. God bless you. This country and this world are not for me. I am going to be happy now. Tell my mother I loved her very much. I blame you all for my death. This world is not colorful enough for my colors. Farewell."

In an interview posted in October 2013, Isa commented on discrimination and abuses faced by LGBT people in Azerbaijan:

His family doesn’t want to accept that Isa is homosexual. Is also admits that it is difficult for his family to change mind. “ Though psychologists explained everything to my family ,they still accept it as illness.” Isa says that, the pressure from the family leads most LGBT (lesbian, gay,bisexual, transsexual) to suicide.

…And how many such cases go unknown or unreported, and not only in Azerbaijan…

Sadly, at times it’s such tragic events that generate reaction strong enough to shake the society to its core with changes in both attitudes and rights. Unfortunately, I do not think we will see Stonewall any time soon in Azerbaijan.

Baku: Not quite “pride march” but Azeri LGBT activists attempt at visibility statement with rainbow flag

Azeri LGBT website Gay.az reports that a week ago, on 7 September 2013, for the first time some LGBT activists walked the streets of Baku with a rainbow flag. Two activists are pictured on the website, seating and standing with a rainbow flag in Azerbaijan capital Baku.

This was not a “pride celebration”, “march” or “mini-rally”, as wrongly indicated by PinkNews and Gay Star News, or anything remotely close to that scale.

This was an attempt at making statement on visibility, albeit with covered faces.

Considering a poor state with human rights in Azerbaijan with virtually non-visible LGBT community, this is a positive small but brave step forward.

As per reports, the action passed without incidents.

В минувшую субботу информационный ресурс Gay.Az провел мини акцию, пройдя по городу с радужным флагом. Как отметил организатор мероприятия Балухин Руслан, встречала прошла в дружественной обстановке и без инцидентов.  Отметим, что это первый случай в Азербайджане, когда ЛГБТ граждане прошлись по городу с радужной символикой.

*pictures - via Gay.az

#funnysad : “No Cross-Dressing Comedians Please, We're Azerbaijani”

Even in the former Soviet Union cross-dressing for comical purposes, comedy sketches was considered pretty acceptable and widely used.

In independent Azerbaijan, like in other post-Soviet states, including Armenia, cross-dressing is still used by some of the most popular comedians, actors, performers.

RFE/RL report suggests, however, that at least for one Azeri MP & co this is no longer considered as ‘funny’ (regardless of the context) .

Dressing up as women is something of a stock in trade for Azerbaijani comedians Rafael and Cosqun. But the double act has run into trouble over an advertisement for a major mobile-phone operator in which the two men don blond and brunette wigs twinned with white and black dresses. The advertisement for Azercell appeared on billboards across Baku and on television. [...] But not everyone was amused. Parliament member Fazil Mustafa sharply criticized the actors' cross-dressing, labeling it as contradictory to the Azerbaijani mentality, and last month called on the Baku City Executive Office to take down the billboards.

*picture via RFE/RL

If I understood right from this Wikipedia article (AZ), he is a member of parliamentary human rights committee (! - not that I have any illusion re what ‘human rights’ committee in Azeri parliament could possibly represent) and member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE. He is also a member of the “Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe” (no comment, indeed). 

I suppose, as long as cross-dressing appeared as part of parody or comedy sketch shows, it was considered for him & co as something of an ‘entertainment only’, 'safe', something to laugh-off. But seeing this on billboards, up-your-face, or as part of ads entering into daily life (routine!) signalled some kind of ‘threat to masculinity’ and apparently 'national mentality'.

I like the mobile phone company response: “The company has investigated and established that there are no laws that would forbid male actors in women's clothing from promoting a company. The 'Azercell' advertisement contained no embarrassing elements and nothing that would cause psychological stress or spoil people's moral atmosphere."

Truly, a comedy. #funnysad

The ads were since halted and billboards taken down, reports RFE/RL.



*Thanks to O.K. for the link.

“Anti-fascist” Armenia deputy speaker Sharmazanov? Huh? I do not think so

 When couple of months ago, I wrote about Armenian politicians and state officials supporting and encouraging anti-gay terrorism, Global Voices linked to my post under the headline: Armenia: state sponsored fascism? This was a spot on headline and terrifying at the same time. 

Let's consider another example from the recent events re people fleeing Syria to Armenia. It turns out that if your wife is non-Armenian, your family is not allowed to enter Armenia using simplified Syria related visa rules. There were subsequent reports that the whole family is in fact not ethnic Armenian but rather Assyrians. So what???

Writer and journalist Vahan Ishkhanyan, writing on his blog, mentioned of other examples of Armenians in Diaspora applying for residency in Armenia being required to "certify" their Armenian ethnicity in a... church (!!)

I am all questions now. Since when Armenian apostolic church became a "verifying" or "certifying" body for Armenian ethnicity? What about mixed families? What about people of other ethnicity who happened to reach Armenia while fleeing (in this case) Syria? What about international, including refugee related, conventions Armenia is a signatory of? When will we stop this 'pure blood' nonsense?  Wtf is going on?

Armenia deputy speaker of parliament and spokesman of ruling republican party Eduard Sharmazanov recently lashed out at Azerbaijan and accused the Azeri authorities in conducting a “state sponsored fascism”, following pardoning of axe-murderer Safarov and turning him into a national hero.

Շարմազանով. «Ադրբեջանում պետական մակարդակով իրականացվում է ֆաշիզմի քաղաքականություն» 31 օգոստոսի, 2012
Հանցագործ Ռամիլ Սաֆարովին Ադրբեջանին արտահանձնելու հունգարական իշխանությունների քայլն առնվազն տարակուսանք եւ վրդովմունք է առաջացնում, քանի որ պարզ էր, թե Ադրբեջանում ինչ էր սպասվելու այդ մարդասպանին: Իսկ ինչ վերաբերում է նրան ներում շնորհելու Ալիեւի որոշմանը, ապա այս քայլը եւս մեկ անգամ ապացուցում է, որ Ադրբեջանում պետական մակարդակով իրականացվում եւ խրախուսվում է հայատյացության եւ ֆաշիզմի քաղաքականություն: Կարծում եմ՝ այս մարդասպանին ներում շնորհելու Ադրբեջանի ապշեցուցիչ քայլը չպետք է անարձագանք մնա եւ դատապարտող գնահատականի արժանանա միջազգային հանրության կողմից: ԱԺ փոխնախագահ, ՀՀԿ խոսնակ Էդուարդ Շարմազանով (source: Hetq.am)   

Seriously? Sharmazanov??? 

The very person who supported anti-gay terrorism and encouraged neo-nazi style violence against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity in his own country has no right to condemn fascism in another country.

I can do it. He can't.

In her piece [Բացե՛ք ձեր աչքերը, մհերներ ու շարմազանովներ], contemporary writer Violet Grigoryan expressed perfectly what I wanted to say too.

[...] Ու երբ Շարմազանովը, ի պատասխան Ալիևի հայտարարության, թե Ադրբեջանի ու Հայաստանի միջև անդունդ կա, փորձում է այդ անդունդն ու տարբերությունը նկարագրել իբրև թե՝ «Այսօր Հայաստանում խրախուսվում են ժողովրդավարական արժեքները, իսկ Ադրբեջանում՝ ռասիզմն ու ֆաշիզմը», պիտի հիշեցնել նրան, որ ով` ով, բայց ինքը Հայաստանի այն պետական պաշտոնյաներից էր, որ DIY վառելն ու վառողներին պաշտպանելը համարում էր ազգային արժեքներին հավատարմություն, այսինքն` խրախուսում էր ֆաշիզմը (http://www.aravot.am/2012/05/17/71465/):  

Խտրականության հողի վրա հանցագործությունները` լինեն ազգային, կրոնական, թե սեռական, Շարմազանովի վկայակոչած ժողովրդավարությամբ շատ երկրներում դատապարտվում են նույն հոդվածով ու փոքրամասնությունների միացյալ ջանքերով: Եվ եթե Շարմազանովն ու իր նման մտածողները ոչ թե խրախուսեին միասեռականների հանդեպ գործված հանցանքը, այլ դատապարտեին, Հունգարիայի դեսպանատան դեմ էթնիկ ատելության ու ռասիզմի դեմ բողոքող ցուցարարները մի քանիպատիկ շատ կլինեին, քանի որ նրանց կմիանային Հայաստանի այն ակտիվիստները, ովքեր դեմ են ֆաշիզմին ընդհանրապես` լինի սեռական, թե ազգայնական խտրականության: Կմիանային նաև սեռական փոքրամասնությունները, որոնց ներկայացուցիչներից շատերը Սաֆարովին հերոսացնելու դեմ իրենց բողոքն արտահայտում էին սոցցանցերում, բայց ամենայն հավանականությամբ զգուշացան միանալ այն խմբին, որոնց մեջ կային DIY-ը վառելը արդարացնողներ ու բազմազանության ցույցի վրա հարձակվողներ:  

Այնպես որ, բացեք ձեր աչքերը, մհերներ ու շարմազանովներ, մի լղոզեք ու մի խրախուսեք հանցագործությունները, դրանով մի կողմից վիրավորում եք զոհերին, տուժածներին ու նրանց մերձավորներին, մյուս կողմից` խոչընդոտում եք, որ Հայաստանը դառնա ժողովրդավարական արժեքների շուրջ համախմբված քաղաքացիների երկիր: [...]

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’

Kanan Taghiyev to represent Azerbaijan at Mr Gay Europe 2012 (No longer! - post updated)

UPDATE 9 June 2012: As per update I received from the office of Mr Gay Europe, due to "unforeseen circumstances", Azerbaijan has had to pull out of the Mr Gay Europe:

"I would just like to inform you that for unforeseen circumstances Azerbaijan has had to pull out of the Mr. Gay Europe Competition. This saddens us greatly as it would have been great to have a representative from this part of the world do a great job for gay rights. I wish him all the best in all his future endeavours."

I may only speculate that "unforeseen circumstances" mean this guy came under pressure from certain circles in Azerbaijan to pull out of the competition, as soon as news of his participation became public. [I posted the info on my blog 2 days ago as soon as Mr Gay Europe made initial delegates' info public] Sad to know, indeed...
***
For the second time in a brief history of this contest, Azerbaijan will be represented at Mr Gay Europe.

Kanan Taghiyev will represent Azerbaijan at Mr Gay Europe 2012 to be held in Italy in August.

Name: Kanan Taghiyev 
Representing Azerbaijan
Age: 21
Height: 173 cm
Zodiac: Leo
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
City: Baku
Occupation: Study social and cultural service and tourism
Hobbies: Relaxing

Neither Armenia nor Georgia participated in the Mr Gay Europe. Initial intentions and announcement on possible Armenia participation from 2008 were scrapped due to lack of sponsorship. In 2007, Azerbaijan was represented by Sadikh Ragimov, 19 yrs old, from Baku. Interestingly, over the last two years Russia's entrants to the Mr Gay Europe were Ramin Ismailov of Azeri origin (in 2010/11) and David Baramija of Georgian origin (in 2009).


*picture - via Mr Gay Europe

Armenia: Amnesty International shocked by official Yerevan reaction to neo-nazi hate crime attack on DIY bar

Amnesty International: ‘Virulent’ homophobic attacks put South Caucasus activists at risk

18 May 2012

Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan must do more to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, Amnesty International said after a spate of attacks on activists.

Instead of condemning a firebomb attack on a gay-friendly bar in downtown Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, last week, some public officials went on the record making homophobic remarks and condoning violence against LGBTI people.

Meanwhile, on Thursday in neighbouring Georgia, police in the capital Tbilisi did little to prevent an Orthodox Christian group from obstructing a peaceful march by an LGBTI organization to mark the International Day against Homophobia.

“The virulent nature of these recent attacks shows the need for a public dialogue to tackle homophobia throughout the South Caucasus to protect LGBTI people from discrimination,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

Yerevan firebomb

On 8 May, self-described “fascists” were caught on tape by a security camera as they threw Molotov cocktails through the windows of a gay-friendly bar in downtown Yerevan.

Police reportedly arrived at the scene 12 hours later to investigate the arson attack.

Two young men were arrested as part of the investigation, but were bailed shortly afterwards by two opposition parliamentarians from the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun party (ARF), who condoned the attack, saying it was in line with "the context of societal and national ideology”.

ARF leaders have distanced themselves from the bailout, saying that the parliamentarians acted in their personal capacity, but they have fallen short of publicly calling on their colleagues to apologize for supporting the alleged hate crime.

Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for Armenia’s ruling Republican Party and Parliament Vice Speaker told Hayots Ashkharh newspaper Thursday that, “As an Armenian citizen and member of [the ruling] national-conservative party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against the homosexuals … completely right and justified…Those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the national and universal values.”

[For background: read Terrorists as ‘national heroes’? Armenia ruling Republican party spokesman and MP explicitly support firebombers of DIY bar in capital Yerevan and encourage anti-gay attacks

Also: HATE CRIME: DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan under neo-nazi arson attack]

Amnesty International believes this type of official discourse is dangerous, fuels discrimination and undermines the role of human rights defenders.

“The official response to the firebombing in Yerevan is utterly shocking – protecting the human rights of LGBTI people is not a concession, but an obligation under international law that Armenia is a party to,” said Dalhuisen.

***

Homophobia and Transphobia in Tbilisi

On Thursday, a peaceful march in central Tbilisi marking the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia came under attack when a group of Orthodox Christians and members of the “Orthodox Parents’ Union” began insulting and threatening protesters from IDENTOBA, a Georgian LGBTI rights organization.

Orthodox priests were among the counter-demonstrators, who prevented the marchers from continuing to the Georgian Parliament, shouting abuse and throwing punches at the peaceful protesters. Fighting reportedly broke out as the counter-demonstrators attacked marchers, tearing up placards.

A video of the incident shows police intervening once a scuffle broke out between the two groups. Five people were detained – including three of the IDENTOBA protesters – and were released shortly afterwards.

“A hallmark of a tolerant society is allowing peaceful protests to proceed and stopping discrimination in its tracks,” said Dalhuisen.

Public authorities must respect the freedom of expression of all groups without discrimination. This extends to protecting peaceful demonstrators from violent attacks.

“Police in Tbilisi failed to prevent homophobic and transphobic violence from marring the International Day against Homophobia march – they must now investigate what went wrong and implement measures to improve their policing of peaceful demonstrations in future,” Dalhuisen added.
***

Concerns in Baku ahead of Eurovision

LGBTI groups in the neighbouring South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan have also raised concerns about the safety of LGBTI participants in the upcoming Eurovision song contest, which will take place in the capital Baku from 22-26 May.

Azerbaijan decriminalized same-sex relations in 2001, but has so far failed to enact laws that specifically ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and provide effective protection to LGBTI people. Homophobia and transphobia remain rife and little progress has been made to change public attitudes and the discriminatory practices against LGBTI people.

Holding hands: Azeri policemen in 'action' - Picture of the Day from Baku

*source: Gay.az, picture by Mehman Huseynov [Бакинская полиция (Police) ходит под ручку друг с другом (ФОТО)]

When I saw this picture, it instantly reminded me the ones with the Armenian police I posted two years ago. The circumstances were slightly different, but the overall result was equally hilarious. [for more - Armenia police 'in action']

*picture by © PanARMENIAN Photo/ Davit Hakobyan

2nd Regional Network Against Homophobia in Ankara unites activists from South Caucasus, Balkans and Middle East

Turkish LGBT group Kaos GL hosted 2nd Regional Network Against Homophobia on 16-19 February in Ankara with the participation of organisations from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Lebanon, Serbia and Turkey.

First session, moderated by Mamikon Hovsepyan, head of PINK Armenia, welcomed new groups that joined the Network and discussed current developments and changes in participating countries.

There was also “Photography Presentation” by Nazik Armenakyan from Armenia.

Ahead of this meeting, the “Regional Network Against Homophobia” book has been published, with separate chapters on Armenia and Georgia. (see LGBT Situation in Armenia and Georgian Legislation on LGBT Issues)

***

Kaos GL reports:

Activists from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Lebanon, Serbia and Turkey came together to talk about forming news ways of network and using it as a powerful tool against hate and as a solidarity shelter in the regions. During the meetings, discussions on how and what kind of a network to create, motivations for the network, best practices from each country (such as shelters, legal victories and media…), challenges being faced, organizational needs and future cooperation took place.

Participants agreed that we reach information about each other via far channels and on different platforms; instead, we wish to reach each other in our own countries and in our local realities. The network will be established in a way it is used as a source of information about regional updates and as a pool of knowledge on local policies and developments.

The meeting was started with a welcoming forum for the new organizations and countries. Pro LGBT from Albania, Gender and Development from Azerbaijan and Helem from Lebanon took the floor to introduce their work and the most dominant agendas in the countries. Pro Albania underlined the importance of the current Anti-Discrimination Bill to be implemented. Helem expressed the “Morality Police” pressure on the community, Article 534 in Penal Code which prohibits having sexual relations that are "contradicting the laws of nature” and the BDS campaign they are endorsing. Gender and Development have expressed their stance on the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest by saying: “We do not want Europeans to come and organize a Pride event in our country. We have our own ways of working against homophobia and transphobia in our own local contexts.”

Organizations have shared their organizational needs for a number of work fields. A good number of organizations have expressed their need to reach the regional information from first hand. Other needs were to establish a lawyers network with a wealth of knowledge on local and international court results and establish a media network to promote human rights of LGBTs in the three regions.

One of the outstanding parts of the network meeting was “Existence of Lesbians and Bisexual Women: Looking at Patriachy and Feminism”. Biljana Stankovic from NLO Novi Sad Lesbian Organization and Andrea Gilbert from Athens Pride took the floor to speak on the issue from their own local realities. Stankovic, mainly speaking on women’s solidarity and the influence of wars on women and female sexuality, expressed: “We started as women in peace movements and as conscientious objectors. When Yugoslavia fell apart, there was hate speech spreading all over the Balkans. So we started writing solidarity and peace letters to each other in prisons, in shelters and as refugees.”

The Regional Network meetings will continue with sub-regional meetings in the three regions. The first sub-regional meeting will be hosted by Queer Zagreb in Croatia. The event not only aims to bring the network members together but also support the local activities being held in the hosting country during the time of the visit. The dates of the meeting in Croatia will be announced soon.

(picture - via Kaos GL)

Public TV in Armenia and pop singers in PR disaster over Eurovision

Let me start from the very beginning of this story. A story that quickly turned into farce. Perhaps, one of the most spectacular yet tragic PR disasters of Armenia’s Public TV & co.

Group of initially unnamed Armenian pop singers issued a ‘statement’ on 23 February 2012, in which they urged country’s public broadcaster to boycott the Eurovision song contest in Baku. As a more immediate trigger for such decision, the ‘statement’ cited the news that “20-year-old solder Albert Adibekyan was shot by an Azerbaijani sniper on the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and the disputed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

“Theatre of absurdist Eurovision related propaganda continues.” - this was my immediate reaction that was subsequently quoted by AFP.

It was instantly obvious that this "group of singer/songwriters" was used as a propaganda tool and as a pretense so that Armenia’s Public TV will have an excuse to announce their “no”. The wording of the ‘statement’ left little to imagination as to the real authors behind such ‘creation’. State propaganda machine.

Entertainment website bravo.am, immediately after the release of the 'statement', tried approaching those "well known and famous" (yet unnamed!) singers, only to discover that many of them had no idea about the “written statement”, and contrary to what was indicated in some outlets ('all previous Armenian Eurovision singers signed it in') at least Andre said that in fact he would like to perform in Baku. Basically, Armenian propaganda people prepared and distributed the 'statement' first, then started asking singers to sign in. Tragic and laughable at the same time.

In a further evidence that this spectacle was coordinated by Public TV, one of the signatories - singer Artur Ispiryan - admitted in an interview with Yerkir Media that it was them (Public TV) who called him asking whether he thinks Armenia should participate in Baku or not. He said he was not aware of the accompanying text.

Following eventual 'disclosure' of signatories, I was glad to notice that Sirusho (the most successful Armenian Eurovision entrant so far) and Dorians (the band I like and favor for this year’s Eurovision) were not among them. Ironically, none of the signatories were even considered for this year’s Eurovision.

Many on social networks, in particular Facebook, and media, condemned the move as unacceptable exploitation of soldier’s death for personal and political propaganda purposes, especially by those singers who tarnished their reputation during 2008 post-election bloodshed by keeping silent or siding with the authorities.

(AM) "Այո, անբարոյականություն է, երբ որ դու առիթ ես որոնում` «Եվրատեսիլ» չգնալդ հիմնավորելու համար եւ հանկարծ օգտագործում ես զինվորի մահը: Անբարոյական է էն «աստղը», որ զոհված զինվորի անունը չարաշահում է իր մոտակա անելիքները պլանավորելու համար, իսկ մարտի 1-ի զոհերի մասին ասում է՝ թող էնտեղ չլինեին, չսպանվեին:" (source)

And here is just one of the reasons why I respect Dorians:

Addressing the reason cited by the artists for refusing to perform in Baku (Adibekyan’s death), Dorians’ producer [Vahagn Gevorgyan] said:
“The saddest part is that the soldier’s death yesterday is tied up with Eurovision and more uproar was evoked than the deaths of other soldiers. Not now, but long ago we should’ve reflected on the cause of [these] deaths in the army, who is to blame that soldiers are being killed. Of course, they say, the Azeris, but I don’t think that we don’t have problems within our own army,” he said.

The situation evolved into spectacular yet tragic PR disaster when first ArmeniaNow, then other news outlets (with the confirmation by Ministry of Defense) admitted that the soldier whose death was exploited for propaganda purposes and as an excuse to withdraw from the Eurovision was in fact killed by his fellow Armenian serviceman [read: Mis-Information: Army says Azeri sniper killed soldier, but new information contradicts and confirmation by MoD in News.am and RFE/RL]

Conscript Albert Adibekyan, who died on February 23 in a military base near Chinar village, Tavush province, according to new information, was killed not by an Azeri sniper, as it was officially reported, but rather by an Armenian serviceman. [...]
Helsinki Association expert Ruben Martirosyan told ArmeniaNow that yesterday at the meeting with Yura Badalyan, head of the Central Apparatus at the Ministry of Defense Investigative Service, Badalyan told him that they “had managed to find out that the killer was not an Azeri sniper but was an Armenian [serviceman].”
“So there is a new way of calling the murders committed in border military bases - to hide the case, attributing the blame to a [Azeri] sniper, to gain dividends in front of the international community. Parents will be comforted believing that their child has died as a hero. But this will simply destroy our army,” Martirosyan says. 

During 2012, eight soldier deaths have been registered. Only two were from enemy fire.

Where are your voices now? Where is the statement condemning death of the Armenian soldier killed by his fellow serviceman? Where is the outrage of our super-patriotic singers? I can’t hear you.
***
P.S. There are quite a few genuine reasons that Armenia’s Public TV may have considered to withdraw from the competition, without resorting to above. Among them, I would like to highlight the underrated fact of virtual impossibility of Armenian fans (apart from being part of delegation or media) to travel to Azerbaijan capital Baku for Eurovision. I genuinely believe that Eurovision should not be held in a country where there are obstacles for participating fans. Because Eurovision is not only about songs, singers and country delegations. It's equally or more so about fans too. I will not even go into the issue of widespread and systematic human rights abuses in Azerbaijan (see the very latest example highlighted by the Human Rights Watch). And as if Armenian Public TV / pop stars‘ ridiculousness was not enough, now Azerbaijan’s Eurovision winner Nigar Camal resorted to propaganda language stirring anti-Armenian hysteria by exploiting the anniversary of tragic events during Karabakh war on Twitter. This is not the language that supposedly welcoming host should have used.

“Official” Eurovision-related decision by Armenia’s Public TV [participate - Yes/No; if Yes - the entry] will be announced by 18 March 2012.

Armenian rock band Dorians aims at Eurovision with “This is our world”

This is perhaps not your typical Eurovision song, but as of today I have not seen better choices on offer to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2012 to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This is one of those occasions that I agree with the Minister of Culture of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan who expressed her support for the band saying that Dorians would represent Armenia the best.

According to Public TV, this year’s selection of both singer and the song would be done via internal committee. The results will be announced before 18 March.

I am among this band’s fans, and I do support Dorians to represent Armenia in Eurovision. Talented. Cute. With a message that I can sign for too. “This is our world”.



Lyrics of the song, as per Dorians Facebook page:

This is our world

When the time is right, we always run away,
Or retire
Flawing water shouldn't really be afraid
From a fire
Why we hurt someone
Only just for fun
Why we always have to run

Why don't we just live like people have to live,
Tell me people
Why don't we just try to see the light and believe

Stop the fire
Cut the wire
People of the world
No more running
No more crying
This is our world

Why we like to make
Always-same mistake
Our love is truly fake
Why don't we just live like people have to live,
Tell me people
Why don't we just try to see the light and believe?

‘No gay rights movement’, admits co-founder of Azeri LGBT website

Have to be honest, when this new Azeri gay site - gay.az - was announced, conveniently coinciding with the victory of Azerbaijan at Eurovision and calls for its boycott by LGBT activists due to widespread homophobia and extremely poor human rights record, I was not convinced.

There has been some, perhaps over-optimistic, comments that the prospect of Eurovision in Baku would help local activists to put the spotlight on human rights record, including gay rights, and use the opportunity for benefits of rights movement. Unfortunately, while some attempts has been made here and there, including on Facebook, this doesn’t seem to make any real impact.

The very admission by Azeri gay activist and co-founder of gay.az website in an interview with LGBT Asylum News (reposted below) that “we do not put any aims in the struggle for our rights on the government level” says it all.

***
via LGBT Asylum News

By Paul Canning

Interview with Ruslan Balukhin, co-founder gay.az, a website for LGBT people in Azerbaijan:

Q: What is the purpose of your website?

A: This informative-entertainment resource is for LGBT community of the capital, Baku.

After news about the site appeared on the local news outlets, I started to receive SMS messages from supporters but also from people with negative views about this site. I often receive e-mails and calls with threats. Channel One and Euronews also sent me message and asked to give interviews.

Then I received similar message from Euronews where BBC and CNN were mentioned. I think, this interest is associated with the victory on Eurovision 2011 and with the calls from LGBT communities worldwide to boycott the show in Baku in 2012.

As far as I can remember, an organization, official representatives of LGBT community in Azerbaijan, exists from 2006 – 2007 [this was 'Azeri Gay Community']. During its existence it has done nothing to solve problems of sexual minorities. What to talk about, if even the site lgbt.az, which is the site of the organization, doesn't work anymore.

Q: What methods do you use in the struggle for your rights?

A: We do not yet have any defined methods. Today, our main goal is to offer psychological help to sexual minorities, and we also try to establish communication. Our site is not associated with politics and therefore we do not put any aims in the struggle for our rights on the government level.

Q: Although homosexuality is legal in Azerbaijan, I understand that it is not tolerated?

A: It's very serious problem, because there may be many backgrounds of negative attitude and aggression: conservatism, religion, education and people's views. But the main reason of different people not being accepted in our society is ignorance.

People do not know about biological and genetic causes of homosexuality. It is not easy to replace negative attitude with tolerance. In the first place, educational work must be done, it is necessary to tell people who LGBT people are and why they are different.

Q: How do gay couples survive, is everyone closeted?

A: If you mean living together, there are many homosexual couples in Azerbaijan. Of course, most of them keep their relations hidden from others, but it is not hidden from sexual minorities.

In most of our families, the attitude towards gays is that they shouldn't be in their families.

Sooner or late, families accept it. Sometimes much time is needed for the family of a transsexual to understand that nothing has changed with the person after they discovered a hidden part of his biography.

Q: What do you think about the future of the LGBT gay movement in Azerbaijan? Will change happen?

A: I'm sure that there will be equality among people, independent of their sexual orientation. It's hard to tell, how much time will be needed for it – tens or hundreds of years, but that depends on us.

Some Azerbaijani journalists call homosexuality “disgusting”, reports on these are left without reply. Gays encounter insults in everyday life – in universities, streets. Struggle against discrimination should be accompanied with educational work. We would like to have discussions about homosexuality in an adequate, delicate and informed way in universities and schools and mass media on the required level.

CoE country-specific "thematic studies" on homophobia & transphobia, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Turkey

I didn't have time to read the reports yet but FYI...

*source: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights 

Country thematic studies on homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity

For the preparation of the report “Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Europe”, research was conducted in all 47 member states of the Council of Europe. For each Council of Europe member state independent national experts or consultants prepared a legal report and a sociological/social report to which access is given on this webpage. These reports are published for information purposes only. Any views or opinions expressed in the reports are those of the author and do not represent or engage the Council of Europe or the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights.

The country thematic studies relating to the 27 EU member states were shared with the Council of Europe by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). These were commissioned by the FRA to serve as background material for the 2010 update of its comparative legal analysis on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity across the EU Member States. The views expressed in these country thematic studies do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA and are made publicly available for information purposes only.

Armenia  Legal study on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity  The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Armenia Azerbaijan  Legal study on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity  The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Azerbaijan Georgia  Legal study on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity  The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Georgia Russian Federation  Legal study on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity  The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Russian Federation Turkey  Legal study on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity  The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Turkey