Video summary: The impact of LGBT emigration on economic indicators of Armenia

Great job by PINK Armenia to prepare this bi-lingual video summary re: The impact of LGBT emigration on economic indicators of Armenia

The video is in Armenian ["ԼԳԲՏ էմիգրացիայի ազդեցությունը Հայաստանի տնտեսական ցուցանիշների վրա"], with English subtitles (for subtitles - click on Subtitles/CC). Highly recommended.

 


For background info, read: Research: The impact of LGBT emigration on economic indicators of Armenia

Research: The impact of LGBT emigration on economic indicators of Armenia

I am not an economist and I did not conduct a detailed analysis of this report, so I cannot judge re quality or precision of the estimates, but I praise this first attempt at putting numeric values and reflecting the impact of LGBT emigration on Armenia's economy. Of course, as report stresses, particularly in countries with widespread homophobia where LGBT people conceal their sexual orientation, any research on LGBT related issues has its limitations. However, despite these limitations, such research provides us with an invaluable insight into the issues faced and may help at refining the research methodology.

Below I present a summary prepared by PINK Armenia. For the report in full, please follow this link.

“Public information and Need of Knowledge” and “Socioscope” Societal Research and Consultancy Center NGOs prepared a report about the LGBT emigration impact on economic indicators of Armenia. The purpose of the project was to study the impact of LGBT emigration on economic indicators of Armenia during 2011-2013 as a result of discrimination against the LGBT community and to reflect those changes in a long-term perspective.

The calculations made by this study demonstrate that, for a citizen of Armenia of average demographics who emigrated during the years 2011-2013, a minimum of the equivalent of $3,545 was spent on education. According to approximate estimates, 5,891 citizens of Armenia emigrated due to discrimination during the years 2011-2013, which implies that society has lost around $21 million in one go only in terms of educational investment toward LGBT emigrants. As for income not received, the calculations reveal that, in the year following emigration during 2011-2013, Armenia did not receive $88,365,000 across three years and for all LGBT emigrants. This is the loss following only one year after emigration, but that loss is prevalent in reality in all the years until the emigrant reaches retirement age.

Budget revenues for all three years taken together – 2011-2013 – could have been more by $20 million had the LGBT individuals who left due to discrimination remained. As a result of the emigration of 5,891 LGBT individuals, the state budget will lose around $2 billion in revenue, at purchasing power as of January 1, 2014, over the course of more than the following 36 years (until retirement).And as a result of LGBT emigration in the following twelve years, from 2014 to 2025, Gross domestic product (GDP) will have a loss of $3 billion at purchasing power as of January 1, 2014, adjusted for Purchasing power parity (PPP), while the budget will lose $370 million at purchasing power as of January 1, 2014.

The full report consists of sociological study and economic assessment. Read the full report with all its findings here.
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*This chart is from the study Monitoring of Human Rights Violations of LGBT PeopleArmenia conducted by PINK Armenia during September-October 2012.

Queerty: 'America's gays could buy Turkey'

This is hilarious.

Queerty reports on buying power of LGBT people in the US, and concludes that they could buy Turkey. Queerty suggests other alternatives too, from the list of countries where homosexuality is illegal.

*via Queerty:

With an estimated purchasing power of $743 billion, Turkey's GDP of $615 billion ain't no thang. Or maybe we want to buy Uganda 47 times over just to stick it to 'em? Or any of these nations!

Head of Armenia mobile operator VivaCell Ralph Yirikian moves to support HIV education/awareness programmes, calls for tolerance

“Because we care!”

Whenever I go back home Yerevan, I always hear stories about Ralph Yirikian, General Manager of mobile operator company VivaCell, one of the most prominent businessman (and philanthropist) in Armenia. Astonishingly, all stories I hear about him are positive. One would expect to hear lots of ‘dirt’ about the businessman of such a caliber in Armenia. One would be wrong. Yirikian, perhaps, one of those exceptional business personalities in Armenia who managed not only to succeed in his business but earn respect of the population. Well deserved, I must add, as proved by his very latest actions and statements too.

On 31 July 2009, VivaCell mobile phone operator and Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the long term cooperation to raise population’s awareness on prevention of HIV/AIDS - “Because we care!”. “The activities will be multi-staged and will involve a wide range of educational events: spread of information materials, public events, etc.” (full press release - AM, EN, RU)

“Today VivaCell-MTS and Armenian Red Cross Society have come together to join their efforts to address the needs of the most vulnerable population and to provide them with reachable and effective support. Join us, don’t stay indifferent to the pain of others”, says head of the ARCS.

“We owe our society the right to know! With knowledge and awareness we can better prevent and fight any disease. Awareness and prevention are each and every one’s responsibility. On the other hand, we have to be tolerant to HIV-positive people. We are here today, because we care, what about you?” asked VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

(Lragir.am) «Մենք մեր հասարակությանը առավել տեղեկացված լինելու հնարավորություն ենք ընձեռում: Գիտելիքն ու իրազեկության բարձր մակարդակը թույլ կտան ավելի արդյունավետ աշխատանքներ տանել հիվանության կանխարգելման ուղղությամբ: Տեղեկացված լինելն ու կանխարգելումը յուրաքանչյուրի պատասխանատվությունն է: Մյուս կողմից` անհրաժեշտ է հանդուրժողականություն ՄԻԱՎ վարակակիրների հանդեպ: Մենք այսօր հավաքվել ենք այստեղ, քանի որ հոգ ենք տանում, իսկ դու’քե, - իր խոսքում նշեց ՎիվաՍել-ՄՏՍ-ի Գլխավոր տնօրեն Ռալֆ Յիրիկյանը:

(Ankakh.com) Յիրիկյանը նշեց, որ պետք է գիտակից լինել, քանի որ «տասնյակ տարիներ հետո այն կարող է դառնալ ինչ-որ մի ուրիշ տեսակի ցեղասպանություն»: Նա նշեց, որ անհրաժեշտ է հանդուրժողականություն` ՄԻԱՎ-ով վարակակիրների հանդեպ, և պետք չէ ամաչել ու մեկուսացնել ՄԻԱՎ վարակակիրներին: Յիրիկյանը կոչ արեց բոլորին միշտ հետազոտվել և զգոն լինել:
«Պետք է փորձենք շփվել նրանց հետ, հասկանանք նրաց և քաջալերենք. մենք այս արշավն իրականացնում ենք, որովհետև հավատում ենք`բոլորը կմիանան և համախմբված ճիգեր կներդրվեն»,-ասաց Յիրիկյանը:

Not only Yirikian moves to support HIV/AIDS related education and awareness programmes but also he calls for tolerance towards HIV-positive people which is essential for any such initiative to have a chance for success. This is important for developing a more tolerant towards vulnerable groups and minorities environment in Armenia too.

As they say, “VivaCell is more than operator”. I have to agree with this statement. They proved it in past, they proved it with this step again.

If only Armenia have more businessmen like Yirikian, we would have healthier (not only in medical terms) and more open society. I hope Yirikian’s attention to vulnerable groups and minorities will not stop here, evolving more groups, including LGBT Armenians. My respects for now, Ralph.

*In photo (via Lragir.am) - Ralph Yirikian did a blood test for HIV before signing a Memorandum.

Porn Panic! (The Advocate)

"The recession has dealt knockout blows to the auto and financial industries, and now adult entertainment could be the next to drop to its knees."

*new issue of The Advocate magazine

Thousands of Iranians celebrate Novruz in Armenia due to "liberties"

Thousands of Iranians choose to celebrate Novruz in Armenia. Referring to the Public Radio of Armenia, Huliq says that "close to 20,000 vacationers from neighboring Iran have traveled to Armenia to celebrate Novruz, the Iranian New Year in Armenia due to liberties, affordability and warm weather."

The young people from Iran travel to Armenia with large groups to be able to celebrate Novruz while they can attend Yerevan's numerous nightclubs and can drink in public. Whereas in Iran you can only drink inside your house and there is no such a thing as public drinking.

The reporter of the Armenia radio interviewed a young lady who is staying in front of Yerevan hotel saying "look I can have my beer here and don't have to carry a scarf, which is an obligation in Iran." [...]

"We went to night clubs, danced and were able to have good time with our friends. Yerevan is near to Iran, full of good people and provides good opportunities for fun and celebration," says 25 years old Amir from Iran while shopping in Yerevan and who thinks the traditions are too strict in his country Iran.

As the report pointed out further, "It is estimated that an average vacationer spends $1000 U.S. dollars in Armenia per week, which includes most of the expenses, including hotel and meal. Therefore, 20,000 Iranian tourists leaving $20 Million dollars in the Armenian economy is a good investment in the country of 3.5 million people."

As far as I know from various sources, for the same reasons many Azeris tend to spend their Novruz holiday in Georgia.

As posted on this blog, Iranian artists and gays seek freedom in Armenia too. This is VERY relative, of course, from a local Armenian perspectives, but pretty significant for Iranians.

Here is the morale of this story. Under current economic conditions, focus on tourism should become one of the priorities. And as this report suggests, more social liberties will attract more tourists, and subsequently more money to Armenian state budget and local businesses. Even if for practical reasons, it's time to think of pink pound (or euro/dollar, if you wish).

...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.