Armenia human rights ombudsman uses anti-gay undertones to beg for more money from state budget

Here we are. Not only Armenia human rights ombudsman flirts with neo-nazi but uses anti-gay undertones to ask for more money from the state budget.

Responding to journalists questions, after trying to secure more money for his agency from the state budget, he reiterated his intention to be consistent to get rid of “moral perversion”. Once again, he was referring to trans sex workers and gay cruising area. Exploitation of this issue in Armenia is simply used to fuel anti-gay prejudice and discrimination. Ombudsman knows this pretty well, and wants to re-invent himself as a fighter for “morality”. Ha!

Օմբուդսմենը լրագրողների հետ զրույցում խոսել է նաև Կոմայգու խնդրից՝ հայտնելով, որ իրենք հետևողական են լինելու, որպեսզի մանկական այգին ազատվի այլասերվածությունից։  «Եթե առաջիկա շաբաթներին և ամիսներին չտեսնենք գործընթացներ, դուք նորից մեզնից կլսեք մեր պահանջի մասին»,- ասել է Կ․Անդրեասյանը։

As I mentioned in my earlier post [Scandalous: Armenia human rights ombudsman targets trans sex workers and cites neo-nazi website as a basis for his statement], couple of weeks ago, ombudsman Karen Andreasyan issued a statement full of discriminatory language and references to “morality” as opposed to human rights.

What was worse, as a ground for his statement he cited neo-nazi web site (!) and their article full of homophobia and hatred.

In past, I did have hopes that this ombudsman may have devotion to human rights. But apparently he was simply playing a role at a time when Armenia was seemingly on a path to European integration. Now, with the decision to join Russia led Customs Union, there is no longer need to play a ‘human rights devotee’.

The institute of human rights ombudsman is supposed to be an important body to safeguard human rights of citizens. However, if this institute is led by people like Andreasyan, whether we have such institute or not, will not be making any difference.

Either human rights ombudsman has to be someone who is devoted to the notion of human rights, or I’d say ditch the institute altogether and divert the state budget money to other areas, e.g. pension. I would also advise international human rights bodies and foreign embassies in Armenia to stop taking ombudsman Karen Andreasyan seriously and not wasting their time and resources on him.

He is not an ombudsman. He is a joke.

Scandalous: Armenia human rights ombudsman targets trans sex workers and cites neo-nazi website as a basis for his statement

Apparently, Armenia human rights ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has solved all the pressing human rights issues in Armenia and now calling for the police... to eliminate prostitution and target in particular trans sex workers and gay cruising area.

It is simply astonishing to see the type of language human rights ombudsman is using, full of discrimination and references to the notion of “morality”.

"It is necessary to eliminate such moral perversity because it is not only immoral, but also illegal" - just an example of kind of wording that the human rights ombudsman (!) using in his statement.

It’s as if in past he was at least trying to act in accordance to his position, but now with Armenia’s decision to join Russia sponsored customs union, ombudsman came out the real self, in full disgrace.

Even more scandalous is the fact that as a 'basis' to his statement ombudsman Karen Andreasyan cites neo-nazi Armenian Aryan Union website's utterly homophobic, full of hate link. [see below screenshot and full statement in Armenian - with a reference to the link on hayary(dot)org]

Karen Andreasyan, you are such a loser. You suck. Big time.

***
Below is a statement (AM) in full:

Կոմայգու այլասերվածությունը վերացնելը անհրաժեշտ է... հնարավոր է... եվրոպական է...

Տևական ժամանակ է, ինչ քաղաքացիները մեզ բողոքում են, իսկ հանրությունը վրդովված է, որ մի շարք անձինք Կոմայգում պարբերաբար զբաղվում են պոռնկությամբ, ինչպես նաև ունենում սեռական հարաբերություններ հենց մանկական այգու տարածքում:

Նման այլասերվածությունը անհրաժեշտ է վերացնել, քանի որ այն ոչ միայն անբարոյական է, այլև անօրինական: Այսպես, պոռնկությամբ զբաղվելու համար պատասխանատվություն է նախատեսվում Վարչական իրավախախտումների վերաբերյալ օրենսգրքի 1791-րդ հոդվածով: Հասարակական վայրում սեռական հարաբերություններ ունենալը կարող է որակվել որպես խուլիգանություն՝ Քրեական օրենսգրքի 258-րդ հոդվածի համապատասխան:

Երևանի քաղաքապետը իր գրությամբ մեզ հայտնել է, որ դրանով պետք է զբաղվի Ոստիկանությունը: Ոստիկանությունն էլ այս հարցում անգործության է մատնված, քանի որ ըստ իրենց պաշտոնական պարզաբանման «պոռնկությամբ զբաղվելու կամ սեռական հարաբերություններ ունենալու վերաբերյալ ահազանգեր չեն ստացվել»:

Չենք կարող համաձայնել Ոստիկանության դիրքորոշման հետ, քանի որ Ոստիկանությունն իրավասու է քրեական գործ հարուցել լրատվամիջոցից հանցագործությունների մասին հաղորդումներ ստանալիս: Խնդրի վերաբերյալ Ոստիկանությանը ներկայացրել ենք նշված այլասերվածությունների մասին վկայող մի շարք հրապարակումներ (այդ թվում՝ http://www.1in.am/arm/armenia_society_202416.html; http://politik.am/?p=8140; http://www.hayary.org/wph/?p=3129): Ըստ Ոստիկանության՝ «ներկայացված հրապարակումներում քրեական օրենսգրքով նախատեսված որևէ արարքի ակնհայտ հատկանիշներ չեն մատնանշվում»: Մեզ համար ակնհայտ է հակառակը: Բացի այդ, Ոստիկանությունը Երևանի այլ վայրերից պարբերաբար բերման է ենթարկում բազմաթիվ մարմնավաճառների՝ պոռնկությամբ զբաղվելու կասկածանքով (օրինակ՝ police.am/news/view/միջոցառումները-շարունակական-բնույթ-են-կրելու.html): Երկակի ստանդարտների ակնհայտ կիրառմամբ Կոմայգում նման օպերատիվ միջոցառումներ չեն իրականացվում:

Կոմայգում այլասերվածության վերացումը հնարավոր է, եթե Երևանի Քաղաքապետարանը ցանկապատի այգին և փակի այգու մուտքը գիշերային ժամերին (ինչպես օրինակ` Սիրահարների այգում), ինչպես նաև այդ ժամանակահատվածում ուժեղացնի լուսավորումը այգու շրջակայքում: Առավել ևս նման արատավոր երևույթները կվերանան, եթե Ոստիկանությունն ակտիվ գործողություններ ձեռնարկի նշված իրավախախտումների կանխարգելման և բացահայատման ուղղությամբ:

Մեր առաջարկները հիմնված են Եվրոպական լավագույն փորձի և արժեքների վրա: Այսպես, դեռևս 1910 թվականին Լոնդոնում փակեցին Թաուեր կամրջի ենթակառուցվածքների մեծ մասը՝ այնտեղ մարմնավաճառների անօրինական գործունեությանը վերջ դնելու նպատակով: Փարիզում այսօր էլ երեկոյան ժամերին փակվում է Տյուիլրիի այգու մուտքը: Մարդու իրավունքների Եվրոպական կոնվենցիան հավասարապես պաշտպանում է թե´ մարդու ազատությունները և թե´ հանրության բարոյականությունը:

Reported hate crime: trans sex workers beaten by group of youth in downtown Yerevan cruising park

Local media reported Armenia police press release that group of youth attacked [“beaten up”] trans sex workers in downtown Yerevan cruising park (Kom aygi, or pleshka) on 25 September 1.10am. Attackers being questioned by police. Motives of the attack were not explicitly stated in the press release. However, the way the info was presented implies homophobic hate crime. No more details are known, as of now.

Interesting to point out the following: 1. police formally reported the incident. 2 police used acceptable non-discriminatory wording to refer to gay people in Armenian “նույնասեռական”, even though the victims may not necessarily be gay per se, but rather trans sex workers. 3. victims of the crime reported the incident to the police.

What would be more important to find out, however, if the attackers will get formally charged with the crime and persecuted according to the law. This will be a testimony of changes, if any.

Reports of hate crime in Yerevan against transvestite sex workers

News.am reports (confirmed by police) that last night shots were fired from the air gun towards transvestite sex workers in downtown Yerevan’s cruising park Kom aygi (also called Pleshka), in front of the Yerevan municipality. Minor injuries were reported. Suspects - two young guys - were swiftly identified, detained and questioned by police. Investigation is underway.

Media reports presented this crime within the context of latest anti-gay violence in Armenia. Although it has not been confirmed yet that the motives were indeed hate crime, considering the circumstances, it is more than likely. Of course, I cannot exclude the possibility of personal client/sex worker related incident.

In any case, two positive aspects I’d like to point out:

1. Sex workers reported the incidence to the police (in absolute majority of similar cases in past, crimes remained unreported).
2. Police acted swiftly to identify suspects.

Of course, it’s a completely different matter re: how the investigation will be carried out, and whether those who committed the crime will be held accountable before the law.

Will update, in case of new developments.

Armenia: "Targeted media campaign against us, say trans sex workers" (Epress.am)

Also relevant:
Բաց հարց Հրապարակ օրաթերթին
«Տրանսերը» նամակ չեն գրել



*Source: Epress.am (+ here; and AM)

A few trans sex workers came to the editorial offices of Epress.am earlier this week to protest two recent stories published by local daily Hraparak.

In the conversation which ensued, the guests spoke about their relationship with the police and the consequences of publishing material without verifying the facts, which could very well endanger their lives.

The photos in the video were supplied by the individuals in the photos and are published here with their consent. They did not, however, wish to have their faces visible in the video. The dialogue is in Armenian only.
***

"I'm the only trans Vika, I did not give any information to the paper Hraparak. I don't know who could've done something like this against me," said local Armenian cross-dresser Vika, commenting on a story published by local daily Hraparak in which a transvestite by the name of Vika threatened a businessman by the name of Hovik. The paper informed Epress.am that the story was prepared on the basis of a telephone conversation. The editors say that a transvestite named Vika called Hraparak and described the incident, which they subsequently published. [Unzipped: Gay Armenia - Տրանսվեստիտը սպառնում է բացահայտել իրեն սպառնացող գործարարին]

Visiting the editorial office of Epress.am along with two other gay cross-dressers, Vika Swarovski insists that he's the only known transvestite Vika in Armenia, and those sources who presented themselves as such aim to endanger him.

Epress.am spoke with Hraparak assistant editor Vahagn Tevosyan and asked him to comment on Vika's statement.

"I am officially saying, not only one, but also a few dozen Vika's can contact you and say that they're not the Vika who called you, but we don't insist, that's that trans Vika who contacted you," he said.

"Whoever wrote that, let them prove it; if there's been a phone conversation, let them tell us the number," said Vika, adding that if they don't reveal who did this, he is prepared to take Hraparak to court.

"If they don't clarify who did it, I'll take them to court. I'm ready to complain. The one who presented himself as Vika and the one who wrote the open letter [referring to another story published by Hraparak] are the same person. They invented it and wrote it," said Vika, visibly upset.

"Let him take us to court, but this is all so absurd. What is he going to say, he's going to say that he's not the Vika who called us, and then?" said Tevosyan.

Recall that on Dec. 7, Hraparak published an open letter signed by "a group of homosexuals," which, according to another trans sex worker Lorena Madonna Diva, couldn't have been written by them, since, for example, the Armenian word "hamaseramol" is used in the letter which is a derogatory term. [Uzipped: Gay Armenia - Միասեռականների բաց նամակը ՀՀ ոստիկանապետին]

Further, according to Lorena, the statement in the letter that trans sex workers pay $100 to local police in order to work in the Children's Park (near Yerevan City Hall) is untrue. Also, the license plate number of the police vehicle noted in the letter is unfamiliar to them. Note that the community of trans sex workers in Yerevan is quite small and it's unlikely for them not to know each other or that another group of "homosexuals" who also work in the park would have written the letter.

Upon Epress.am's request, Hraparak also commented on the open letter they published.

"The eighth page of our paper is called publication of free speech. There we reserve space for such anonymous open letters," said Tevosyan.

According to Lorena, a targeted campaign has launched against them in the press recently. "They can't cook up anything [new], it began with writing against the Jehovah's Witnesses, then the emos and now us," she said.

"Every day, pedestrians, people, come and assault us, in quite a perverse way, they want us, having an interest, they begin to hit us, drive over us with their cars. We go to the police, but they respond to the case of whoever they can get money from. There are incidents where they beat, they kill in front of the eyes of the police, and the police say, that's too little for you, they have to burn you, pour gasoline and burn you," said Lorena.

Speaking to the two stories published by Hraparak, Lorena denies that any one of them could have written the letter or called in the incident. "Definitely it wasn't one of us, it was those publishers, they improvised. And all this to our detriment, police will get agitated at us, they'll come and shoot us, they'll take us to special departments at the police station, they'll hit us so hard... I know many such cases. Don't I have a right in Armenia, in my country, to express myself freely? I've told the police a thousand times, let's be friends, let's understand each other. They don't want to understand," she said.

Speaking to Epress.am, PINK Armenia President Mamikon Hovsepyan explained the situation: "Perhaps someone called [Hraparak] and informed them, but the issue is you can't generalize and write on behalf of a group. That's unacceptable. With this, they want to create tension between the police and transvestites. By disseminating such inaccurate information and different false opinions, a tense situation is created among the public. Now they're trying to attune the public against transvestites, endangering the lives of the members of this vulnerable community."

Hovsepyan noted that the Human Rights Defender isn't engaged in such issues. "They cover up the complaints; they don't even include them in their annual reports. When incidents happen, they don't appeal to the Ombudsman — they've lost hope." [...]

ArmeniaNow about LGBT discrimination in Armenia, gay sex workers and pleshka

I have to say, gay-themed articles in Armenian online media became somehow repetitive and predictable. Even headings and accompanying pictures look the same.

The main interesting part from the ArmeniaNow report, which I have been hearing from other sources too, is the following (re gay sex workers):

Homosexuals, however, say that there is little progress. Under the pressure of NGOs, the Children’s Park has been lightened recently; some police officers are patrolling there every day, preventing attacks of different groups against homosexuals.

“Now when such group attacks are registered, the police interfere, defending us. Of course they [attackers] do not eventually face a punishment, but, at least, they understand that we are also people and we also have rights,” Petros says.

IWPR on employment discrimination because of sexual orientation in Armenia

One of the latest reports by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) has a more specific focus on important problem - employment discrimination because of sexual orientation in Armenia. The author of the report describes experiences of few gay men, and how employment discrimination makes some gay men to engage in sex work - Armenian Gays Face Intolerance, Discrimination. Job-seekers routinely rejected because of sexual orientation.

Nineteen-year-old Argam Babayan’s dyed blond locks, carefully manicured fingernails, plucked eyebrows and eyeshadow set him apart from most young men his age in Armenia.

Fearing he would face discrimination as a homosexual in this conservative society, Argam used to explain away his unusual appearance by saying he was a follower of the “emo” trend in music and fashion.

Like all young men in Armenia, Argam was due for conscription into the army when he turned 18. But when he told the medical examiner at the draft office he was gay, he was rejected for service.

Since coming out, Argam has been unable to find permanent work, and has turned to prostitution as a way of earning a living. [...]

There are, however, few mistakes in the report I’d rather not see:

- “The main meeting point for members of Armenia’s LGBT community is Mankakan Park near Yerevan City Hall.” Wrong. This is not a “meeting place” for LGBT community. It’s a place for cruising and sex workers.

- A less important mistake but still... “Precise figures for Armenia are not available, but applying United Nations data showing that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual, LGBT, community makes up between four and seven per cent of most countries’ populations, the number for Armenia would be 12,000 or 13,000.” Even if they consider conservative estimates of 4-7%, it’s not 12-13 000. One zero is missing.

What is important in this article is that it exposes one more time the attitude of human rights Ombudsman’s office: ‘no complain, no problem’.

The office of Armenia’s human rights Ombudsman seemed unaware that the LGBT community faces discrimination, saying no one had made a formal complaint in this regard. They made similar statements in past too.

“We get non-specific complaints such as that they’re hated or ignored, but nothing concrete,” said Grigori Grigoryants, spokesman for the ombudsman’s office. “Intolerance of gays does exist in Armenia because of the religious views here, but either nothing explicitly illegal is done to them, or else they haven’t come to us with specific complaints.”

However, I can confirm that there were formal complaints made too, which apparently got ‘conveniently’ ignored by the Obudsman’s office. But I would agree that most of such cases remain unreported. This is mainly due to lack of trust in institutions that are supposed to deal with such cases; and fear of being outed among family/friends.

In a follow-up piece - Story Behind the Story, journalist Sara Khojoyan provides an interesting insight on making this report. She describes challenges faced in getting in touch with gay Armenians, making them open up to her, and how this experience helped her to overcome her own prejudices.

When I was commissioned to write an article about Armenia’s gay community, I did not anticipate the problems I would face finding people to talk to. It took me a month to arrange the meetings I needed, each of them laboriously set up via a mutual friend.

[...] I had never met a gay man before, so I was as nervous about the meeting as he was.

[...] But it all turned out well – he was open and helpful, which helped me overcome many of the prejudices I felt.

[...] Each time I wanted to meet someone, a mutual friend would call them, tell them I was trustworthy, get their permission to give me their number, and then give it to me. It was a laborious process that shows the suspicions they feel about outsiders in a city where the police take no notice of their problems. [...]

What pleased me most about working on this story was that not only did I overcome my own prejudices and make new friends in the gay community, but I also learned a whole new system for making the contacts needed to meet them.

“Unlike most of the society, policemen in Yerevan are not homophobic”

Interesting story (AM) by the Armenian Version (journalist Lusine Vayachyan) about 19 yrs old transsexual Armenian Erik from Yerevan.

Although they refer to Erik as “transvestite”, from what I understood reading the article and clarifying few details with the author, Erik is in fact transsexual.

What I find of particular note in this story is the case of physical violence Erik and his friends encountered in Yerevan. Not only they reported the case to the police (majority of such cases remain unreported), but according to Erik, police was working “within the law” and “overall, unlike most of the society, policemen in Yerevan are not homophobic”.

- Իսկ քաղաքում լինո՞ւմ են դեպքեր, երբ «քյարթուները» նեղեն քեզ ու քո ընկերներին:

- «Քյարթուները», երբ նրանք խմբովի են, ահավոր հոմոֆոբ են, բայց երբ մենակ են ու տեսնող չկա, բոլորն էլ ուզում են մեզ: Հիմա ավելի շատ «գեղցիներն» են նեղում, նրանք մեզնից ընդհանրապես անտեղյակ են, միանգամից շոկի մեջ են ընկնում ու դառնում ագրեսիվ: Սեփական ագրեսիայի պատճառով էլ հետո տուժում են: Վրեջերս, ոչ էնքան վաղուց ես, ընկերս ու երկու աղջիկ քայլում էինք: Ռեպլիկ գցեցին՝ «Արա, չի ջոգվում սրանցից տղեն որն ա, աղջիկը որը»: Ու մինչ մտածում էին, թե մեզնից որն է տղա, որը աղջիկ, մենք զգացինք, որ նրանցից մեկը մեզ շատ մոտեցավ: Անհիմն ագրեսիան ալկոհոլի հետ կոկտեյլում նպաստեց նրան, որ կռիվ եղավ, ընկերոջս շրթունքը ճղեցին: Հիմա նրանք պրոբլեմներ ունեն օրենքի հետ, մենք դիմել ենք ոստիկանությւոն ու գործ է հարուցվել:

- Իսկ օրենքի մարդի՞կ: Նրանք ո՞նց են ձեզ վերաբերվում:

- Իսկ օրենքի մարդիկ առայժմ գործում եմ օրենքի սահմաններում, այլ կերպ հնարավոր էլ չէր: Շատ վկաներ կային: Ու ընդհանրապես, մեր քաղաքի ոստիկանները, ի տարբերություն հասարակությամ մեծ մասի, հոմոֆոբ չեն:

I have to say, lately I’ve heard of similar positive attitude from few other LGBT Armenians who live or visited Yerevan. Although for now I can’t generalise such statements, it’s a positive sign, indeed. I can only hope it will become a norm.

Pleshka and Hraparak’s obsession with transvestites and gay cruising in Yerevan

Armenian homophobic daily Hraparak can’t get enough of ‘juicy’ gay-themed topics. At the time of posting, this reference to Hraparak’s publication was the most read entry on Tert.am. So we know at least one of the reasons why they are so into everything gay related.

Hraparak seems pretty frustrated that Yerevan mayor was so far unsuccessful in fighting a “meeting place for gays” right next to the City Hall. They also write about “surprise” (what a mild word) by Diaspora tourists who witness cross-dressing gays in central Yerevan.

«Հրապարակ». Որտեղ են զգեստափոխվում երևանյան հոմոսեքսուալիստներն ու տրանսվիստիտները
11:43 • 24.07.10
Ձկան խանութի հարևանությամբ շենքի բնակիչները գիշերային ժամերին իրենց մուտքերում հանդիպում են զգեստափոխվող հոմոսեքսուալիստների և տրանսվիստիտների, որոնք, մուտքերում հագնելով կանացի հագուստներ, ուղղվում են դեպի մոտակա՝ քաղաքապետարանի դիմացի այգին, որը նրանց հավաքատեղին է։ Միայն քաղաքի այս հատվածում հավաքվող համասեռամոլները, սակայն, վերջերս սկսել են հայտնվել նաև Կարապի լճի և Օպերայի մոտակայքում՝ իրենց տեսքով զարմացնելով սփյուռքահայ զբոսաշրջիկներին։ Հիշեցնենք, որ մի քանի ամիս առաջ Երևանի քաղաքապետ Գագիկ Բեգլարյանը փորձել էր արգելել քաղաքապետարանի դիմացի այգում սեռական փոքրամասնությունների հավաքները։ Անգամ ոստիկանական ուժեր էին կիրառել, սակայն նման միջոցառումներն ընդամենը մեկ-երկու օրվա ազդեցություն են ունենում։

I have to say, many in Armenian media confuse cruising places with “meeting places for gays”. As I mentioned before in reference to A1+ report, there is also a tendency to put an equal mark between sex workers and gays.

The most infamous cruising place in Yerevan is Kom aygi (also called Pleshka), close to the Yerevan City Hall and the French embassy. This is not a “meeting place for gays”. This is a place to pick up gay (almost exclusively transvestite) or transsexual sex workers and a place for cruising.

Pleshka turns particularly busy at night but beware of possible police raids. There are also occasional reports of gay bashing and reports of thefts in/around the area.

Gay scene in Batumi (+ updated Georgia Gay Guide)

As summer holiday season is upon us, and many gay Armenians will spend their vacations in Georgia, including Batumi, I thought it would be useful to present below this brief info on gay scene in Batumi, via Gay Batumi blog.

Have a look also at Georgia Gay Guide which I updated for the first time after I first posted it 3 years ago.

I know, despite promises, I did not update my Armenia Gay Guide for the last 2 years. Sorry for that. Will update it within a week.

If you have any updates, comments re Armenia or Georgia gay guides, please do let me know.
***

Batumi gay life is most active during high summer season, when it is mostly crowded.

During low seasons there is still some gay scene, but not as good as during hot summer days.

At the moment there are no dedicated gay bars or clubs in Batumi, but most of them (especially on a boulevard) are gay friendly.

Cruising:

- Alley between boulevard and beach (the best)
- Beach close to the lighthouse in pishcheviki area
- Around old railway station

'Fighting' public toilet sex in Yerevan

Very 'creative' way of fighting cruising and sex in public toilets by administration of cinema Moscow in downtown Yerevan. Their public toilets have been a popular place for cruising and gay sex from way back Soviet times. According to Kamoblog, they now decided the most 'effective' way of fighting against such practice - by putting 'windows' over the upper half of toilet doors. Only in Yerevan. Bizarre beyond words :)

Yerevan park 'outlaws' love making

ATTENTION!

Love making in this park is absolutely prohibited

Administration

Via Reporter-arm, these hilarious announcements which recently appeared in one of Yerevan central parks - English park. You have to know Armenian to get fully the hilariousness of these announcements (with accompanied spelling error). I am not even sure that I translated right the word "sirabanutyun" (something like "love making"). But you got the idea :) They call it "sirabanutyun". What they really mean is... cruising which this park is known for. (I doubt there is direct Armenian equivalent of "cruising"?)

Georgia Gay Guide

country overview, useful info, gay institutions and venues

*last reviewed: 18 July 2010

As I already mentioned on this blog, even though homophobia is widespread in Georgian society, the attitude towards gay people in Georgia, especially Tbilisi, is more open-minded and gay scene is more developed than in surrounding countries. This was rightly pointed out by Spartacus International Gay Guide (2007). In fact, Georgia was the first country in South Caucasus to decriminalise gay male sex in 2000.

However, recent events in Georgia (here and here) surrounding failed attempts by Council of Europe to promote "All Different - All Equal" campaign which was considered by some as 'gay rally' and, therefore, forced to get cancelled, show that Georgia has a long way to go in terms of human rights / gay rights and equality.

For more Georgia related news and posts, click on Georgia or Tbilisi labels.

I decided to publish this Guide on my blog since the on-line resources on LGBT life and gay scene in Georgia are scarce. There is a sizable Armenian community there, and many gay Armenians visit neighbouring Georgia for various reasons.

Unlike Armenia (Armenia Gay Guide), I do not have much personal insight into the gay scene in Georgia. This Guide represent mainly the information taken from the Spartacus (+ Gay Batumi), with some input/additions from me. I will update this Guide as soon as I learn new info. For convenience, I put easy access link to Georgia Gay Guide under 'South Caucasus LGBT Links' of this blog.

Country overview

"Even under the Soviet Union, Georgia was known to be one of the "gayest" regions. However, a gay scene in the western sense of the word hardly exists. Even in the capital Tbilisi the venues that are listed in this guide are mixed, but they are popular with the community as well. Gay behaviour like holding hands and kissing is accepted in the larger cities only [I would be particularly cautious with this suggestion by Spartacus - even in larger cities you may encounter more than problems with the open display of same-sex affections. As in case of Armenia, although you will see men (and women) holding each other's hands in public or kissing each other when they meet or part, this is not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation but rather established tradition].

On the other hand, gay related violence still exists, notably in the countryside. In September 2001 a journalist was killed by the mafia because of his alleged homosexuality. We also advise to be cautious with cruising: most of the areas in this guide are observed by police cameras. The recordings are said to be used to force gays to work for the police. Unfortunately, the current government has more urgent matters to deal with than the acceptance of sexual minorities."


TBILISI

Bars

Success
Street: 3, Vashvlovanis Street
Description of Location: In Perovskaia district
Commentary: Once very stylish place, nowadays casual cruising bar, frequently visited by straight people.

Unique
Street: 18, G.Akhvlediani Street
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: Former Perovskaia St.
Phone: 93 53 83
Commentary: DJ bar, with very friendly staff and visitors. Open until the early morning.

Cafes

Cafe Cala
Street: 8-10, Erekle II Street
Postal Code: 0107
Description of Location: In Chardin area
Commentary: Good Georgian food, many artistic people hanging out, live jazz performances, frequented by gay people.

Le Cafe
Street: 4, Vashlovani Street
Description of Location: Opposite the Success bar in Perovskaia district
Commentary: Quiet place with European cuisine. Friendly staff.

Rue Chardin 12
Street: 12, Chardin Street
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: In old town Chardin area
Commentary: One of the most popular dining out places. A place to sit and be seen in the heart of old town. The smallest street in Tbilisi is home for number of upscale places that attract many community people. One can also find many other cafes in this area.

Restaurants

Meidani
Street: 2, Right Bank
Postal Code: 0108
Description of Location: In Chardin area
Phone: (reservations) 32 30 30 30
Website: mgroup.ge
Commentary: Upscale restaurant, very friendly. Offers traditional and fusion cuisine. Has chillout section with Kalian.

Kopala
Street: 8-10 Chekhov st. (On the left bank of old town)
Phone: (reservations) 995 32 77 55 20
Website: kopala.ge
Commentary: Belle-view terrace. Hotel restaurant with extensive menu and good service. Tarace offers one of the best views of old town.

Saunas/Baths

Coloured Bathhouse
Street: Square in front of the Sulphur Springs
Description of Location: In Abanotubani (Bath district)
Opening hours: 10-20h
Commentary: Number of traditional bathhouses with natural sulphur spa. Traditional massage and scrub with traditional gloves (Kisa). Public section is very cruisy especially by evenings. People basically pick up each other and leave together. For more discreet acts one can rent a cubicle. Coloured baths were favourite of A. Pushkin and A. Dumas.

Fitness Studios

Vake Fitness
Street: 49b, Chavchavadze Avenue
Website: vakefitness.ge
Commentary: Huge fitness complex with gym, olympic swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnastics, solarium etc. Upscale workout place.

Hotels

Sheraton Metekhi Palace
Street: 20, Telavi Street
Postal Code: 0119
Phone: 77 20 20
Fax: 77 21 20
Email: smpht@sheraton.com
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton
Commentary: Luxury hotel with 182 rooms with data port, safe, TV, phone, mini-bar and bathroom phone. Cruisy sauna.

Marriott Tbilisi
Street: 13, Rustaveli Ave.
Phone: 77 92 00
Commentary: 5 stars luxury hotel.

Cruising
- Underpass in front of the circus (dangerous)
- Rustaveli Ave. daytime cruising.
- Central station (Metro Vagzliss Moedani)
- Tchelouskin bridge (In the centre of the city, between central station and the
circus)
- Blumentrasse (Boulevard between central station and the circus)
- Underpass in front of the circus (Dangerous)
- Pushkin park (Metro Thavisouphlebis Moedani)
- Exit Metro Rustaveli
- Baratachvili bridge (first level, Mutual masturbations, Piss and Scat)
- Between Liberty Square, “Thavisouphlebis Moedani” and Avlabari street
- Metro Issani (near the military barracks, ideal for those who like soldiers)


BATUMI

Batumi gay life is most active during high summer season. There are no dedicated gay bars or clubs in Batumi, but most of them (especially on a boulevard) are gay friendly.

Cruising
- Alley between boulevard and beach (the best)
- Beach close to the lighthouse in pishcheviki area
- Around old railway station


KUTAISI

Bars

Theatralouri (opposite the National Theatre)

Cruising
- Park opposite the National Theatre


ZUGDIDI

Cruising
- Lenin park


National Groups

Inclusive Foundation (in English and Georgian)
website
The first openly LGBT rights organisation in Georgia and in South Caucasus, ILGA member. Main areas of work is advocacy and lobbying information and public awareness campaigns, study and research, empowerment of LGBT community, HIV/AIDS and STI prevention.


National publications

"Me" magazine (quarterly; in Georgian, with English summary)
Available to download here

Georgian National Gay Resource (in Georgian)
website


Other useful links:

ILGA-Europe: Georgia Country Guide
website

Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
Advocacy, lobbying, individual legal counselling, surveys
website

Information and Counselling Centre "Tanadgoma"
Psychological and health counselling, HIV/AIDS/STI prevention measures, surveys
website

Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC)
Organisational development, trainings for organisation staff and volunteers
website

Women Initiative Support Group (WISG)
Women programme, surveys
website

*source of pictures: Spartacus (cover page); Lonely Planet (map of Georgia); Wikipedia (flag of Georgia)

Armenia Gay Guide

country overview, useful info, gay institutions and venues

[inspired by and partly based on Spartacus International Gay Guide]


*last reviewed: 1 September 2008

Spartacus guide is the most famous and popular gay guide worldwide. The fact that Armenia entered the guide is the recognition of emerging gay scene. It may attract more gay tourists to Armenia.




Important notes re Armenia Gay Guide:

*This guide is partly based on Spartacus, with the additional info from other sources if available and appropriate.

*This guide will be updated regularly as/when new info is available. For convenience, the link to this guide is provided on the main page of my blog (see upper right corner).

*If you think that the info or listings in this guide are incorrect, please let me know your additions based on reliable sources. If you are aware of other gay or gay-friendly venues and attractions in Armenia or any other info which you think may be of interest or relevance to gay people who live in or visit Armenia, please let me know so that I will update this guide.


Country overview



In December 2002, Armenia adopted a new Criminal Code and abolished the anti-gay article 116 that dated back to 1936. Since then, homosexuality [strictly said, gay male sex] is no longer punishable. At the same time, a "gay scene" started to emerge in the capital Yerevan.

To this date, there is no gay rights movement in Armenia [well, not organised or obvious, more subtle gay rights movement exists in form of emerging gay institutions/venues, with the support of Diaspora organisations] and society remains extremely homophobic. The first gay bar Meline's opened on 12 November 2004. The first LGBT NGO called We For Civil Equality (WFCE), also known as 'Menq', was formally registered by the Ministry of Justice in July 2006. Second LGBT related NGO - PINK Armenia (Public Information and Need of Knowledge), was registered in December 2007. In May 2008, Armenian gay women group, the Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective, was established. Despite this little progress, Armenian society remains homophobic and therefore we strictly advise not to hold hands or kiss in public [although you will see men (and women) holding each other's hands in public or kissing each other when they meet or part, this is not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation but rather established tradition]. Even if some venues listed in this guide are frequented by gays and lesbians, that doesn't mean they can be compared to western gay bars and discos.

Nevertheless, Armenia has much to offer: as one of the cradles of Christian civilisation, it has over 40 000 churches and the capital alone has over 20 museums. The month of July is rich in events. In the beginning of the month, Yerevan hosts Golden Apricot Film Festival followed by more and more popular Yerevan Jazz Festival. Outside the capital, there is a sometimes stunningly beautiful countryside. Apart from the widespread homophobia, Armenians are said to be tempered, but friendly and welcoming people.

Famous Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Armenians, as compiled by Armeniapedia (with additions), include:

• Armenian pre-Christian King Pap
• Byzantine Emperor Basil I the Macedonian
• Gay Catholicos Grigoris I or Grigor Aghtamartsi
• poet Vahan Tekeyan
• poet Yeghishe Charents (see also here)
• poet Sarmad the Naked Mystic
• filmmaker Sergei Parajanov
• Armenian American literary pioneer George Stambolian (see also here), a key figure in the early gay literary movement that came out of New York during the 1960s and 70s.
• musician, writer and activist Chastity Bono, daughter of pop duo Sonny Bono and Cher

YEREVAN

[at this stage, only listings for Armenian capital - Yerevan, are available]

For more general and useful info about Armenia, Yerevan, including travel, visitor info, entertainment, activities, sites of interest and attractions, visit Armenia Info and Armeniapedia.



Bars

Cheers
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; dancing/discotheque; more popular at the weekend; younger crowd of 18-29 years old)
Hours: 7pm-5am
Address: Nalbandyan Street 48
Phone: (+37410) 580 416
Website: http://www.geocities.com/cheerspubyerevan
It's the only disco-bar that stays late, where other places are closed. Most of the clients are foreign students who study in Yerevan.

Meline's (CLOSED DOWN!)
(gay and lesbian mixed crowd; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages)
Hours: 9pm-5am (closed on Monday)
Address: Abovyan Street 2 [according to the bar non-official website - Aram Street 30, Aram and Abovyan streets' crossroad]
Phone: (+374 10) 564 414; (+374 10) 544 644; mobile (+374 91) 112 893
Website (non-official): http://melinesbar.narod.ru/
Opened in November 2004. This is the only openly gay bar in town with gay staff and clientele. It is situated in the basement of French restaurant called simply "Le Restaurant Français".

Best time to go - around or after midnight.

Meline's bar was closed down in June 2007 for unknown reasons, but re-opened in August 2007.

Meline's was closed down due to financial reasons, as well as ongoing renovation projects in central Yerevan. The very last party was held there on 31 July 2008.

Cafes

Artbridge
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; full breakfast; extensive menu available; mixed ages)
Address: Abovyan Street 20
Phone: (+37410) 521 239
Email: artbridge@netsys.am
Great food and nice social place, a very American "Barnes & Noble Cafe"-type atmosphere. New and second hand books, souvenirs, and handcraft works are available here. Offers original coffee, a light European cuisine, daily breakfast and very good pasta.

Not necessarily food-wise, but atmosphere-wise, this is one of my favourite places in Yerevan.


Discotheques

Note: In Armenia when people say "nightclub", they most commonly refer to “striptease club”. To avoid possible confusions, if you intend to go to “dance clubs”, I would advise using the word “discotheque”.

There are number of discotheques/danceclubs frequented by LGBT Armenians; sometimes they organise 'invitation only' club nights by hiring specific venues. However, preferences and venues change frequently and it is therefore advisable to find out about relevant club nights and discoteques in place. If more 'stable' information becomes availabe in future, I will update this section of the Guide accordingly.

There are regular/occasional popular DJ nights organised in Square One (see below). Recommend it!

Monte Cristo (CLOSED DOWN!)
(gay and lesbian mixed crowd; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; extensive menu available; mixed ages; outdoor seating, terrace or garden)
Address: Nalbandyan Street 48 (above Congress Hall)
Phone: (+37410) 545 007
With French operated restaurant. Free entrance on Thursday. More gay on Friday & Saturday.


Restaurants

Square One
(gay-friendly venue; extensive menu available; mixed ages)
Hours: 9am-2am
Address: Abovyan Street 1/3
Phone: (+37410) 566 169
Website: http://www.squareone.am/
A newly opened eatery offering American dishes in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere from 9-2h. It has very gay-friendly staff and many mostly young gay and lesbian people come here to taste the best burgers in town. Occasionaly they hold popular DJ nights here. Highly recommend it!

The Club
(not gay, but of interest to LGBT community)
Restaurant, cafe, tea room, gallery, concert hall. They regularly hold art exhibitions, concerts, film screenings.
Address: 40 Tumanyan st
Phone: (+37410) 531 361
Website: http://www.theclub.am/club/home/


Museums / Galleries / Cinema / Theatre

Parajanov Museum
Hours: 10.30am-5pm (open seven days a week)
Address: Dzoragyugh Street 15/16 (off Proshyan Street)
Phone: (+37410) 53-84-73
E-mail: parajanovs@web.am
Websites: http://www.parajanovmuseum.am/home.html
http://www.parajanov.com/museum_info.html


Yeghishe Charents House-Museum
Hours: 10am-5pm (closed on Monday)
Address: Mashtots Avenue 17
Phone: (+37410) 53-55-94
Website: Armenia Info




Armenian Center For Contemporary Experimental Art
(“NPAK” in Armenian acronym)
Exhibitions, art projects, cinema, experimental theatre
Address: 1/3 Pavstos Biuzand Blvd., Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+37410) 56.82.25, 56.83.25, 56.02.18
Fax: (+37410) 56.02.16
E-mail: info@accea.info
Website: http://www.accea.info/main.php



Cascade
The massive white steps that ascend from downtown Yerevan towards Haghtanak Park (Victory Park). The Cafesjian Museum of Contemporary Art will be located at the top of Cascade (under construction, will open in 2010). (source: Armeniapedia)

It will host Cafesjian’s permanent art collection, comprising of works in glass by internationally known artists Stanislav Libenski and Yaroslava Brichtova, paintings by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, and the distinctive sculptures of Fernando Botero, as well as influential traveling exhibitions. The arts centre will include open air cinema, decorative pool, sculpture park, and public spaces for arts education, seminars and discussions.
(source: Unzipped)

Some statues by various artists have already been brought in and placed all along the monument, including works by Lynn Chadwick, Barry Flanagan, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova, and Paul Cox. There are two statues by Fernando Botero a black cat at the bottom and a Roman Warrior at the top platform. (source: Armeniapedia)


Excellent place to hang out, enjoy art, listen to music etc.



Independent and arthouse cinema -
National Gallery of Armenia
This is the best place for independent and arthouse cinema in Yerevan, from Pasolini to Fassbinder and other gems of cinematorgraphy, with regular Q&A sessions, thematic screenings, restrospectives, festivals. A rare pleasure. Highly recommend it! Screenings are normally held over weekends, but check out the programme from the National Gallery to get the full listings. You may also wish to enjoy permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Gallery.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:30 - 18:00, closed on Mondays and Major holidays
Address: Republic Square, Yerevan
Phone: (+374 10) 580812, 561812
Website: http://www.gallery.am/
E-mail: galleryarmenia@yahoo.com

Note: For up-to-date listing of art related events, check out ArmeniaInfo's "Calendar of Events".


Travel and Transport

Hyur Service
Address: Nalbandyan Street 50 (going up from Sakharov square to Tumanyan intersection, on the right)
Phone: (+37410) 560 495
Website: http://www.hyurservice.com/
Furnished apartments for short and long term rentals in the capital; hotel reservations; airport transfer; tour packages; day trips; car/minibus rent etc. The company has offices in Los Angeles and in Paris.


Hotels

Ararat
(not gay but possibly of interest to gay men; hotel or other accommodation welcoming gay men; air conditioning; bar with full range of alcoholic beverages; full breakfast; extensive menu available; mixed ages; outdoor seating, terrace or garden; swimming pool; dry sauna; video shows; work-out equipment available)
Address: Grigor Lusavorich Street 7
Phone: (37410) 541 100
Website: http://www.ararathotel.am/
52 rooms and 5 suites with sat-TV, mini-bar, phone, internet access; WC/bath with floor heating and king size beds. Non-smoking rooms available.


Cruising

- Opera Place (AYOR (At your own risk. Danger of personal attack or police activity): discretion recommended, only a place for picking up people).

- Kom-aygi (also called Pleshka) - close to the Yerevan City Hall and the French Embassy - best place to pick up at night but beware of police raids.


National Groups

We For Civil Equality
Location: Yerevan
Mobile phone: (+37491) 641 046
Email: wfce@cooperation.net
Website: http://www.wfce.am/
The first local NGO working for promoting LGBT issues and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention.

PINK Armenia
Websites:
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/pinkarmenia
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8328868419
Blog - http://pinkarmenia.blogspot.com/
This is the second LGBT related NGO in Armenia registered in December 2007. (announcement)

The Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective, Armenian gay women group
http://queeringyerevan.blogspot.com/

Yesoudo: LGBT Discussion Group
http://www.yesoudo.com/groups_home.php?gid=7

Blogs by transgender Armenians
Transgenders in Armenia
Hye Trent


Online publications/personal adds

The Pink
Website: http://thepink.agla.info/
The gay and lesbian online magazine available only in Armenian. It provides press reviews, articles and analyses on LGBT issues, HIV/AIDS prevention info. [no updates since 2006]

Gayarmenia.com
Website: http://www.gayarmenia.com/
GayArmenia.com is a meeting place of LGBT Armenians around the world, with some useful links and personal adds in Russian, English and French.

Another personal adds website popular among Armenian and ex-Soviet LGBT people (mainly in Russian): http://love.mail.ru/. Have a look also at HyeGay.


National Centre for AIDS prevention

Address: Acharyan Street 2, Yerevan
Hot Line: (+37410) 61-08-20
Phone: (+37410) 61-07-30
Fax: (+37410) 61-05-71
E-mail: armaids@armaids.am
Website: http://www.armaids.am/

AIDS Prevention in Armenia (in Armenian): http://www.agla.info/aids


Links to Armenian LGBT Organisations in Diaspora

AGLA France (CEASED TO EXIST!):
http://www.agla.info/
LA Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS):
http://www.gayandlesbianarmenians.com/
AGLA NY (formerly known as 'HyeQs of New York'):
http://aglany.org/
Interview with AGLA NY President Chris Atamian
AGLA NY blog
http://aglany.wordpress.com/
Q-Hye - San Francisco GLBT Armenians:
http://www.q-hye.net/
AGLA Sydney:
http://www.geocities.com/haigay_sydney/
AGLA Boston:
E-mail: aglaboston@earthlink.net
GALAS Montreal:
E-mail: galas-mtl@home.com
Toronto QueerHye:
E-mail: queerhye@yahoo.ca



*Source of pictures: Spartacus (cover page); Lonely Planet (map of Armenia); armeniainfo.am; websites of venues; Henrik Nydell (Republic Square in Yerevan at night); Unzipped: Gay Armenia (Cascade)