Elton John, friend of Armenia president, vows support for country’s LGBT community while president Armen Sargsyan says he has ‘no relations with that community'

Elton John arrived in Yerevan as part of charitable project by Starkey hearing aids company. It was great to see he is accompanied by husband David Furnish.

*picture via news.am

And it was awesome that in front of Armenia president and media Elton says he/his foundation will support LGBT community in Armenia.



Unfortunately, Armenia president Armen Sargsyan did not live up to expectations when he shrugged off the question of Elton John meeting with LGBT community saying that this question doesn’t relate to him as he has ‘no relations with that community’.

From 4:05 (video below): "Դա ինձ չվերաբերող հարց է որովհետև էտ համայնքի հետ ես որևէ կապ չունեմ բայց Էլթոն Ջոնը հայտնի է ինքը"



To remind, Elton was invited by Armenia president Armen Sargsyan. President refers to Elton as friend (he even used Armenian wording “բարեկամ” - literally “relative” but used to express closeness).

So, Armenia president is only friends with LGBT people if they are foreigners and wealthy. Big fail here, Mr. President.

Until this mentality changes, New Armenia will keep remaining as a dream rather than a reality.

Outrage as Armenia Fund Telethon promotes homophobia

UPDATE 29 April 2011: VO.X frontrunner Aram Rian has re-edited and replaced the controversial portion of the band’s "I Love Armenia" music video, by removing the reference to homosexuality as “perversion”. We have reached a mutual understanding with the group and consider this matter resolved as dialogue has taken place. We no longer have reason to believe either Aram Rian or VO.X is homophobic, and we wish them success in their future endeavors.
***
UPDATE 7 December 2010: Contrary to Twitter and Facebook reactions, the Executive Director of Armenia Fund, Inc. and the Executive in Charge of Production for Telethon 2010, officially denied that VO.X music video was aired during the Telethon 2010: "My name is Sarkis Kotanjian, I am the Executive Director of Armenia Fund, Inc. and the Executive in Charge of Production for Telethon 2010. Officially, I hereby state that no VO.X music video aired on Armenia Fund's Telethon 2010. Please stop this nonsense once and for all." (see comments section below).
***

The idea of fundraising for a good cause that unites Armenians all over the world is a good one and difficult to resist. However, over time, there have been growing questions whether the Armenia Fund (http://himnadram.org and http://www.armeniafund.org), or “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, is serving its purpose in its current format, citing corruption and state of human rights in Armenia, you name it... (e.g. see here)

And now, as if all the above were not enough, one more concern has been added to the list.

This year the Fund’s Telethon became infamous for all the wrong reasons by featuring homophobic music video of the Armenian band VO.X.

I am not going to repeat what I have already said about VO.X (here and here). There are reasons why this band entered the Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame:

Homophobic music video by Armenian band VO.X disguised under "progressive ideas"

Armenian music band VO.X on PR defensive to 'justify' homophobia

Number of Facebook and Twitter users expressed their outrage re the promotion of homophobia during the Fund’s Telethon, with calls for boycott.

@geoy:
@unzippedblog As a gay man I was donating year after year to #Armenia Fund. The homophobic song during telethon show outraged me. It's over!

@mmkarmenia:
no cent to #ArmeniaFund if they want to create this kind of a Armenia youtube.com/watch?v=5j8vf1…#homophobia #HateSpeech

@tzitzernak:
Wow -Not surprised some #armeniafund folks are homophobic, but how on earth did the video get approved??? @unzippedblog

Armenia Fund must set the record straight once and for all, and clearly distance themselves from the homophobia displayed during the Telethon. They must ensure that similar incidents won’t happen again, and those responsible for choosing this band held accountable. Otherwise, they risk further antagonising (if not already) a significant proportion of Armenians from the Fund.

Until then, there is no way I could support the Armenia Fund. I call others to refrain from supporting it too.

On 1 December 2010, Kim Kardashian WILL DIE

No, the reality vixen isn't actually dead, but Kim Kardashian and several other stars are quitting Twitter and Facebook until $1 million is raised for the charity Keep a Child Alive, which supports AIDS-stricken children around the world.

The organization released a group of ads displaying Kardashian and other celebrities in a coffin, claiming their "digital life" could be restored only when they hit the target of $ 1 million.

Lady Gaga, Serena Williams, and several other stars will join the foundation's ambassador Alicia Keys in supporting the effort in light of World AIDS Day. Supporters can visit BuyLife.org or text "Kim" or other stars' names to 90999 to buy their digital lives back.

*source: HIVPlusMag.com

Keep a Child Alive

Buy Life

Rainbow mosaics, Manchester, UK

*You may spot quite a few of these rainbow flag mosaic tiles in the pavement marking gay heritage sites in/around central Manchester.

*This one is devoted to Albert Kennedy. This is the very place where 16 years old Albert died falling from the roof of the car park being chased by homophobic thugs. The Albert Kennedy Trust was set up in his memory and to help young LGBT people.

...on my way from work (London, Friday evening)

...This is why I love London. Friday evening. On your way home from work you see this.

Yes, it’s a part of a sale PR campaign. But there is also money being collected for cancer charity. DJ is good, music is uplifting, girls are cool, men are sexy and naked. Can you ask for a better way to kick off the weekend? Well, unless you are having a date with one of them ;)

This is what I call survival in recession.