Opera Australia drops Georgian singer Tamar Iveri following virulent homophobia exposé

I devote this post to Armenian pop stars or other personalities, especially the ones in or around showbiz. I did hope that after Eurovision homophobia fiasco, they would learn the lesson. Well, some probably did. But definitely not all. I will come back to the latest example from Armenia in an upcoming post.

In an era of online communications, words have no expiry date and may hunt you down at any time. Of course, anyone can make mistakes, do or say something totally unacceptable, hurtful, and then genuinely apologise for the wrongs and try making amends. I am all for giving a second chance but only if I believe you are genuine in your actions and intentions, or at least I see some real efforts. If this is the case, people will forgive you. But at times the ‘apology’ is so fake that makes things even worse.

Just weeks ahead of her Opera Australia performance, Georgian opera singer Tamar Iveri was exposed as a homophobe. And it was particularly virulent type of homophobia, disgusting beyond words.

Georgian soprano causes outrage for describing LGBT people as "faecal matter”Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri, scheduled to sing Desdemona in Otello for Opera Australia in July and Tosca later this year in Melbourne, has been roundly condemned for an open letter she wrote to the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in May last year. In the lengthy diatribe, originally posted on her Facebook page, she describes LGBT people as “deviants” and suggests that homosexuality is part of the “faecal mass” being foisted on Georgia by the West. 

Iveri’s outburst came on the back of a rally organised by LGBT activists and other Georgian citzens to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) in the city of Tbilisi. According to reports, tens of thousands of Orthodox Christian activists attacked the participants some of whom, it is claimed, narrowly escaped death. Iveri, however, lambasted the Georgian President for condemning the violence writing that she was “proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade”.

The letter, which contains frequent references to bodily waste, sexual practices and Western moral corruption makes for difficult reading. Backing those who attacked the parade, Iveri says that “often, in certain cases, it is necessary to break jaws in order to be appreciated as a nation” and maintaining that the perpetrators of the violence were “Georgian youth of pure blood, still unspoiled by you [President Mikheil Saakashvili]”.

After outrage that the letter had caused, Tamar deleted it from her FB page, but it had already been translated by LGBT activists in Tbilisi and distributed online. Back then, this incident did not reach world headlines, with only Paris Opera cancelling her performance, formally due to “health condition” but many believe the real reason was the letter that was passed to the Director of the Paris Opera.

A year on, this exposé caused online storm in social networks and media headlines in The Guardian and The Independent with an instant demand to Opera Australia to fire her.

To make things worse, Tamar Iveri released a statement where she alleged that the letter was in fact written by her husband.

“My husband was using my Facebook account at that time and he is a very religious man with a tough attitude towards gay people. He copied my text, changed it considerably and posted it under my name.”

This was the most ridiculous and unbelievable attempt at damage control I have seen. And when she claimed: "He copied my text, changed it considerably and posted it under my name." - what was in her original text, I wonder? I do not expect anything positive.

Opera Australia has since been under mounting pressure and demands from LGBT rights activists, Twitter and FB users, opera lovers and financial sponsors to drop Tamar Iveri. After initial hesitation, Opera Australia released a statement announcing termination of the contract with Georgian opera singer describing views attributed to the singer towards gay people as “unconscionable”. Earlier Brussels Opera dropped her from upcoming production too.

The only right decision. And lesson to others.

Gay and straight Armenians join massive marriage equality rally in Paris

Great to see visible Armenian presence during massive pro- marriage equality rally in Paris today. Both gay and straight Armenians, as well as Armenian families joined the rally with posters and interviews to express their support for marriage equality bill that will soon be discussed in the French parliament.

The largest French public TV channel "20h" information show interviewed the participants of the rally, and there was an Armenian family Catheriene and Serge Bagdadian with 2 lesbians daughters. The dad said that he wants this law to become real and also the right for lesbian women to have the possibility of artificial insemination so that he can become a granddad.

[You may watch the brief interview from around 11:30 on http://www.france2.fr/jt/20h] 

Respects!!

Paris, flags, rainbow...

*Paris, France

Oscar Meteor combats homophobia with a gay kiss music video - Water Under The Bridge

"The video started as a piece against homophobia; displaying the very images that homophobes do not want to see : an everyday gay couple kissing. It got its rhythm through association with the Oscar Meteor project, a collective endeavour based in Paris. This particular track was remixed by The Bangers, comprised of David Maltese and Mederic Nebinger, who collaborated with Daft Punk on their first release Homework. Video direction by JC Polien".

Thanks to Tetu for the link.
***
Oscar Meteor

Oscar Meteor is a collective project by a team of artists, musicians, composers, DJs, video producers and performance artists.

An innovative music act which fuses rock and electronic influences, and tackles important issues such as racism, the environment or homophobia through its songs and videos. Regular contributors to the project include The Bangers, comprised of David Maltese and Funky Derrick, known for his work with Daft Punk, and David Richards who produced many albums for Queen and David Bowie.

Together they bring our hero Oscar Meteor to life; a character with mysterious origins, a dandy both elegant and scarred, fragile and lucid. Oscar is an observer of our society's peculiarities. He displays them and sings about them, while letting us decide whether we wish to change.

Famous gay French painter ‘seals’ France - Armenia state friendship in the very heart of Yerevan

Continuing the topic of French-Armenian relations... This morning, presidents Sarkozy and Sargsyan participated in the unveiling ceremony of Rodin’s sculpture of Jules Bastien-Lepage. The statue was France’s gift to Armenia, and was appropriately placed in France square, the very heart of downtown Yerevan, that is, in front of Opera and Liberty sq.

*source of picture - Tert.am

Everyone knows Rodin. But I bet until today not many of you would have heard of French painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. Even less people, including participants of the ceremony, would be aware that this famous French painter was gay.

I have to say, this choice of gift from the French side was perhaps unintentional but considering the circumstances turned into hilarious twist to 'seal' Sarkozy’s Yerevan visit, and will forever be associated with a (prominent) display of friendship between two countries.

“This generous gift will symbolize the eternal and inviolable friendship between Armenia and France,” RA President said [...]

Mr. Sarkozy, in turn, thanked the Armenian community for its important role in his country’s life. “Long live Armenia, long live France, long live brotherhood!” he said. (source)

Jules Bastien-Lepage joined gay Armenian icons Parajanov, Charents & co as a must-see landmark for art loving locals and tourists, and could be added to an itinerary of gay travel agencies.

On surface, Yerevan is enhancing its reputation as a host of queer culture representation of world-wide importance.

Now, if only individuals and society manage to catch up...

Armenia president Serj Sargsyan and openly gay mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë

Jean Eckian reports from Paris that having attended Charles Aznavour concert in Olympia, Armenia president Serj Sargsyan met the mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë. They both then hosted a meeting with around 600 French Armenians.

Background info: “Despite France’s political tradition of keeping one’s personal life out of the public, Delanoë came out in a French television interview in 1998. In his book, “La vie, passionnément” (“Life, Passionately”) (2004), Delanoë says he made that decision because he thought it could help, even if in a small way, “lighten the burden of secrecy borne by so many people.” On the topic of gay marriage Delanoë writes, “In the name of what can one reject this demand for equality?” (source)

Wikipedia: (Personal life) Delanoë was one of the first major French politicians to announce that he was gay, during a 1998 television interview (before being elected mayor). His election made Paris the world's largest city with an openly LGBT mayor at the time; upon the election of Klaus Wowereit as Governing Mayor of Berlin in October 2001, it became the second-largest. Of the largest three, all have taken office since 2001; previously, the largest city with an LGBT mayor had been Winnipeg, Canada, in openly-gay former mayor Glen Murray (1998–2004). Delanoë is not known for taking an active part in the gay and lesbian community, but he has helped end discrimination in municipal subsidies to civic groups.

(Assassination attempt) He was stabbed on 5 October 2002 during the Nuit Blanche, a night of festivities in Paris, while mingling with the public. His assailant was a Muslim immigrant, Azedine Berkane, who reportedly told police that "he hated politicians, the Socialist Party, and homosexuals." Speaking to Le Monde, one of his neighbors said, "He was a bit like us. We're all homophobic here because it's not natural." Before being taken to hospital, Delanoë ordered that the festivities continue. Delanoë's wound was reported not to be life-threatening and he left the hospital after about two weeks. Azedine Berkane was eventually permitted to leave the psychiatric hospital where he had been a patient after his doctors no longer considered him a threat. However, in early April, 2007, he failed to keep a scheduled appointment with his doctors, and has not been seen since.

The mayor of Paris will be in Yerevan in October to participate in the conference of francophone mayors that he chairs.

Selected extracts (AM) from Sargsyan’s speech below, via president.am:

[...] Մենք հատկապես կարևորում ենք մեր մայրաքաղաքների` Երևանի և Փարիզի միջև ընթացող համագործակցությունը և այդ շրջանակում քաղաքապետ Դելանոեի գործունեությունը, ում օրոք Երևանի և Փարիզի միջև համագործակցությունը նոր բովանդակություն ստացավ` ներառելով նորանոր բնագավառներ ու ծրագրեր:

Փարիզի կենտրոնական հատվածներից մեկում Կոմիտաս վարդապետի արձանի տեղադրումը և Երևանի պուրակի հիմնումն իսկապես մեծ հպարտություն է բոլոր հայերի համար, որտեղ էլ նրանք բնակվեն:

Իհարկե, տեղյակ ենք նաև, որ այս տարի Փարիզի քաղաքապետարանն իր հյուրընկալ դռներն էր բացել հայության և Ֆրանսիայի հասարակական շրջանակների առջև` Ֆրանսիայում Հայաստանի դեսպանության հետ համատեղ տոնելու Հայաստանի անկախության 20-ամյա հոբելյանը, ինչի համար հայտնում ենք մեր խորին երախտագիտությունը: [...]

Հարգելի՛ պարոն Դելանոե,

Մենք սիրով սպասում ենք Ձեզ Երևանում այս տարվա հոկտեմբերին՝ Ձեր գլխավորած Ֆրանկոֆոն քաղաքապետերի միջազգային ասոցիացիայի Գլխավոր Ասամբլեայի տարեկան նիստին:

Կրկին շնորհակալություն եմ հայտնում Ձեզ այս հյուրընկալության համար և վստահ եմ, որ Երևան և Փարիզ քույր-քաղաքների հարաբերությունները զարգանալու են առաջանցիկ տեմպերով:

Շնորհակալ եմ:

*pictures - by Jean Eckian

Liza Minnelli at Paris Gay Pride

Liza Minnelli joins openly gay Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe at Gay Pride in Paris on Saturday 27 June 2009.

*photo - by prominent Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseev blog. Nikolai participated at Paris Gay Pride too.

Barack Obama hits Paris Fashion Week

*via Towleroad

"Barack Obama also made an appearance at the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac 2009 ready-to-wear show in Paris, in the form of a sparkling canary yellow dress, complete with "Yes" glove. In the spirit of fairness, the model also wore a "No" glove on the other hand."

Fashion king dies...

It feels sad right now. It feels like the end of an era in fashion... Great talent, fashion king, with not so successful personal life...

Below is a selection of articles, via BBC.

Fashion king Saint Laurent dies

Yves Saint Laurent, considered by many as the greatest fashion designer of the 20th Century, has died in Paris at the age of 71.

Saint Laurent changed the face of the fashion industry when he became chief designer of the House of Dior at 21.

He designed clothes that reflected women's changing role in society: more confident personally, sexually and in the work-place.

He retired from haute couture in 2002 and had been ill for some time.

Saint Laurent died on Sunday evening in the French capital, the Pierre-Berge-Saint Laurent Foundation announced.

Pierre Berge, the designer's former business and personal partner, said he had died at his home after a long illness. He did not give details. More...

Obituary: Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent changed the face of the fashion industry when he became chief designer of the House of Dior at the age of 21.

 

*Paloma Picasso, daughter of the artist, was among his admirers

His creations adorned some of the world's most famous women; he counted Catherine Deneuve, Paloma Picasso and Princess Grace of Monaco among his most ardent admirers.

But so much too of what ordinary women wear today has been influenced by Saint Laurent.

He designed clothes that reflected women's changing role in society; more confident personally, sexually and in the work-place.

Yves Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, on 1st August 1936. Although his parents were wealthy (his father owned a chain of cinemas), French Algerians were often looked down upon by people in mainland France.

The young Yves had an unhappy childhood. Because of his homosexuality, he said, he was bullied and generally ill-treated at school.

His mother brought him to Paris and he joined the House of Dior in 1954, and such was his impact that he became chief designer when Christian Dior died three years later.

Saint Laurent brought elegance and beauty to haute couture

There followed a period of unremitting success. He was credited with introducing short skirts and leather jackets to the world of haute couture in 1960.

But later that same year his world and career collapsed. He was conscripted into the French Army at the height of the Algerian war, and suffered a nervous breakdown.

After three months in hospital he was discharged from the Army as medically unfit. But his return to the House of Dior was short-lived - he left almost immediately amid rumours that he had been dismissed.

He denied this, and claimed that he had resigned because the fashion house wanted him to work in London.

A lean period followed, but he made a comeback designing costumes for Zizi Jeanmaire, the French cabaret artiste. His love of the theatre led to many more triumphs as a set and costume designer.

In 1962, with his business and personal partner, Pierre Berge, he founded what was to become the multi-million-pound Saint Laurent fashion and perfume empire.

His flair re-established him as one of the world's top designers, dictating couture and ready-to-wear fashions. He brought in the safari jacket, the cape, peasant flounces and military blousons.

Trouser suits were almost unheard of before Yves Saint Laurent. Biker jackets, blazers and turtleneck sweaters came courtesy of him. He made women's clothes both more sexy and elegant.

But his personal life was less successful. The depression that ended his military career persisted - his partner, Pierre Berge, once said Saint Laurent had been born with a nervous breakdown. His ego was famously fragile. 

In the 1970s and '80s, he retreated into excess, becoming addicted to drink and drugs. He also indulged in what he himself called "an extraordinary sex life".                                                                             *Pierre Berge (source)

He and Berge split romantically but remained business partners. Reclusive, Saint Laurent rarely left his Paris flat, where he lived surrounded by a massive art collection.

In 1999, he and Berge, having failed to find a suitable successor of their choice, sold their ready-to-wear company Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche to Gucci for $1bn after it had run into financial difficulties.

It was a decision he continued to regret, and left him a bitter and disillusioned man. He had little good to say for the new generation of designers, saying "I have nothing in common with this new world of fashion which has been reduced to mere window-dressing."

It was a sad end for a man whose very name became synonymous with elegance and beauty.

Top European mayors invited to Moscow Gay Pride

GayRussia reports that three of Europe’s leading mayors, two of them openly gay, have been invited to attend this year’s Moscow Pride.

Mayors Bertrand Delanoë (Paris), Ken Livingstone (London) and Klaus Wowereit (Berlin) have all been invited to the Gay Pride and associated conference being held in the Russian capital on May 30 and 31. Organisers are confident their presence will have an important symbolic influence.

“You always support the fundamental right of homosexual people to openly manifest and to publicly express themselves,” they say in their letter to the city halls.

“All of you also regularly take part in Gay Pride parades in your own cities.”

“Taking into account the bans of the public Pride events in the Russian capital in 2006 and 2007, we are not sure that Mayor Luzhkov will permit Gay Pride manifestation this year,” they point out.

“Please take part in our conference and rally,” the organisers ask.

It is not known whether they accepted an invitation or would be able to attend. It would have been superb to see them directly joining Russia’s gay community in their fight for equality. However, I expect that politics and diplomacy via ‘technical’ difficulties will make it impossible. In case of London mayor, I suppose, the situation is complicated by mayoral elections scheduled on 1 May ( In fact, it features openly gay candidate Brian Paddick, one of London’s former police chiefs, although the latest poll showed him on the 3rd place). In any case, it’s a good PR move from Russian gay activists. Well done!

In past, these European mayors voiced their support for Gay Pride organisers in Moscow and condemned Moscow mayor Luzhkov’s decision to ban Gay Pride celebrations. Luzhkov is known for his extreme homophobic rhetoric. He once called Gay Pride “a satanic gathering”.

*photo by GayRussia