NEFUIL: new initiative by Armenian LGBT activist

NEFUIL is an initiative by one of Armenia's well known LGBT activists, Sevak Kirakosyan. It's an acronym that stands for "Nest For Understanding And Improving Life".

Unzipped: Gay Armenia asked Sevak to describe the initiative:

"It all started with struggling to understand my own sexuality. Later I felt like as if I transcended many borders along the way and it all culminates with the foundation of NEFUIL."

For the past 5+ years Sevak has volunteered for LGBT rights and other causes. He used to work and still volunteering with PINK Armenia, the country's leading LGBT rights group, being targeted, along with fellow activists, by various conservative, homophobic elements. Currently he is part of a new NGO to address rights of transgender people in Armenia - Right Side NGO.

The website of NEFUIL (very basic, as of now) has only three offerings so far, and two of them LGBT related.

A short oeuvre, in Armenian, entitled "Holy and Filthy: Homosexuality and Transgenderness in World Religions” reflects how various religions treat homosexuality and gender identity across time and cultures. Sevak stresses that 50% of the income from this sale will be invested back into a new initiative to support LGBT movement and empower LGBT+ individuals in Armenia: ”Most probably we'll make a new fund for supporting LGBT+ individuals thrive".

The other bilingual article (available in English and Armenian) is entitled "LGBT in USSR, ASSR & III RA” [“ԼԳԲՏ Պատմություն. ԽՍՀՄ և Հայաստան”] and “unearths unique stories from USSR, Soviet and modern Armenia, some of which were never told before.”

Says Sevak: ”We hope to establish physical "nests" around Armenia and later in the region to help transform Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and bring more peace and harmony into the region and the world."

If you find this initiative interesting and wish to support, here is their website: https://nefuil.myshopify.com. You can contact Sevak on Facebook.

Pope Francis in Armenia presented with the “gift of the Armenian people” created by openly gay American-Armenian designer Michael Aram

During Pope Francis visit to the country, Armenian social networks were full of praise and admiration of Pope. Thousands and thousands took to the streets across the country to greet him. Most comments, whether by ordinary people or state officials, were of superlative nature and pretty much idolised the Pope and the fact of him visiting Armenia.

Towards the end of his visit, Pope was presented with the “gift of the Armenian people” on the occasion of his visit to Armenia.

This “Noah’s Ark” sculpture was created by renown metalware, homeware and fine jewellery designer, openly gay American-Armenian Michael Aram.

Michael Aram’s Twitter wall is pretty much incredible on this occasion, as his tweet greeting New York’s Gay Pride follows by picture of his “Noah’s Ark” sculpture for Pope Francis which was gifted to him by the Armenian people”.

Michael Aram’s husband Aret Tikiryan reflected this on his Instagram too.

Btw, his Instagram headline reads: “2 dads with 2 amazing kids”.

Here is their beautiful family picture.

No wonder, en route from Armenia, Pope Francis made this remarkable statement, that church ‘should apologise and ask forgiveness from gays for their past treatment’. Truly, a miraculous gift, one may speculate :))

And this picture with accompanied headline is pretty much incredible for all the right and wrong reasons. Here you see Armenian president & his wife, head of Armenian church, Pope Francis and the headline: Pope Francis: Catholic Church Should Seek Forgiveness from Gay People, Women

***
Michael Aram posted more details on background of this sculpture on his Facebook page.

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"

"Red Dress" LGBT-themed Georgian short film

This film is produced by Identoba - Georgian LGBT rights group, based in Tbilisi. Via personal story it reflects events last year when homophobic mob, led by Georgian orthodox church priests, attacked LGBT rights activists in Georgian capital Tbilisi, marking IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia).

*thanks to @Tabagari for the link

Tbilisi: IDAHOT hijacked by Georgian orthodox church amid "shoe protest" action "on behalf of the Invisible & against Invisibility"

The most hilarious news of the worldwide celebration of IDAHOT came from Tbilisi: "Mistakenly believing one of them to be gay, two homophobes attack each other on Rustaveli Ave."

According to the video, uploaded by http://www.Liberali.ge, two homophobes, attacked each other, after wrongly believing that one of them was gay. People gathered at the rally thought one of them was gay and demanded from him to leave the territory before the Parliament building, Tbilisi on May 17th, 2014. Video shows that rally participant (held by the police on the picture below) tells the other: “I shall not let you stand next to me, next to true God! Leave now!” Soon, they attacked each other and continued adorning each other with pejoratives, swearing and name calling, including comparisons with female and male sexual organs. “Police force, mobilised on spot, took one of the participants of the scuffle out from the territory” – Liberali reported.

*picture - via Identoba

In general, the day was hijacked by the Georgian orthodox church, announcing 17th May as "Family Day" and calling people to protest against recently passed LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination bill.

Orthodox groups marched and rallied in downtown Tbilisi on May 17 to protest against newly adopted anti-discrimination law and to mark day of “family strength”, introduced by the Georgian Orthodox Church in an attempt to counter the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). 

Last year an attempted anti-homophobia rally on May 17 in Tbilisi to mark IDAHO was violently disrupted by thousands of demonstrators, led by Orthodox clerics. Fearing homophobic violence, LGBT rights groups held no event this year.

*picture - via @onewmphoto

After last year's violence instigated by Georgian orthodox church, LGBT people kept low profile on 17th May. Instead, a "shoe protest" action was conducted "on behalf of the Invisible & against Invisibility".

More than 100 shoes lay on Pushkin Square, where on May 17th, 2013 LGBT community was supposed to hold a silent flash-mob to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. As the title of the Installation “Protest on Behalf of the Invisible & Against Invisibility” and concept suggest it, this “shoe protest” is a sort of revolt against invisibility and on behalf of those rendered invisible. It speaks for those, who, last year tried to bring their voices forward to the society: “This is an installation for the invisible, those who are unseen, those who are not heard, whose existence is not recognised. This is installation is for us, those who view but don’t see and listen to each other. This is for those who can’t leave homes and those who have no home to go to. This is for those who were chased after, persecuted and removed, by [...]
Today, these empty shoes stand instead of those humans, who dared, 1 year ago, to stand up against the invisibility of one social group, LGBTQ community, those who tried to unmask how merciless we are, those to attempted to discuss our common challenges. Those who wish to be here to express their woes and joys, but neither the state, nor the society respect their voice and their existence. This is a protest for the invisible and against invisibility. Despite that fact that we couldn’t yet manage to recognise and appreciate each other, we still exist, with our desires to speak, with your everydayness. Turning blind eye and covering up ears won’t erase our existence, won’t smooth over our wounds, won’t take away our ability to feel empathy and love.
Passersby are free to take a shoe of their choice after 6PM, May 18th.

*pictures - via Identoba

***

Read also: "The Invisibles" make rainbow visible in Tbilisi with more LGBT rights flash mobs in Georgia capital

Georgia PM’s EU trick: ‘OK for LGBT inclusive anti-discrimination bill, but only if we discriminate more, constitutionally’

Georgia's PM offers setting constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as a trade-off for passing LGBT inclusive anti-discrimination bill. Basically, on one hand, the authorities in Tbilisi are showing-off with anti-discrimination bill to tick all the EU check boxes, on the other hand, in practice, constitutionally reinforcing the very discrimination they (supposedly) committed to tackle.

In parallel to endorsing an anti-discrimination bill, which will now be submitted to Parliament for confirmation, the Georgian government has also proposed to define marriage in the constitution as a “union of man and woman.” The proposal, as PM Irakli Garibashvili put it, aims at avoiding “speculation” over the planned anti-discrimination legislation, which will provide protection against discrimination on the ground of, among others, sexual orientation. Adoption of this legislation is among requirements set in Georgia’s Visa Liberalisation Action Plan with the EU. Article 36 of the Georgian constitution currently reads: “Marriage shall be based upon equality of rights and free will of spouses.” Same-sex marriage is already banned in Georgia’s civil code, which defines marriage as “voluntary union of man and woman.”

For the European Union to accept the proposed ‘solution’ would make a mockery of the very idea of anti-discrimination legislation they are trying to enforce. This would be a dangerous precedent, indeed. What is a point of anti-discrimination bill if as a result of its approval you are getting discrimination constitutionally reinforced?! I’d say better not have such legislation at all.

If Georgia is not ready yet to move closer towards the EU, then it's not ready. The EU should never agree with such artificial and unacceptable trade-off, which is nothing less than throwing dust in the eyes.

As Georgian gay rights group Identoba noted, the country is on a “dangerous path” with proposed homophobic amendment in the constitution.

[…] Campaigning on  xenophobic and recently, on homophobic grounds has been a strategy of choice for most political players in the country, since it gained independence in the 1990s. The initiative came as  shock to many, since the issue of same-sex marriage has never come to the agenda of LGBT movement in Georgia which has struggled to exercise basic rights to security and protection. In 2012 and in 2013, under UNM and GD parties being in power, respectively, Georgia has consistently failed to ensure the freedom of assembly for Georgian LGBT activists. Georgia has not been able to persecute a single person for the horrific attacks against LGBT activists and supporters on  May 17th, IDAHO day. Therefore, constitutionally banning the prospect of marriage equality, already banned by Georgia’s Civil Code, can only be seen as a homophobic move. It further deteriorates already feeble state of LGBT human rights in Georgia. If the amendment is successfully initiated, it will directly violate universal equality of single parents, LGBT community and many others who do not live nuclear families. Alarmingly, this homophobic and cynical move ultimately kills the very spirit of equality protection of incoming Anti-Discrimination Law. 
Identoba, Georgia’s largest LGBT and gender equality protection NGO calls on all parties to speak up against proposed changes in Georgia’s Constitution.

Tbilisi: "Combating Hate Crimes in Georgia" (LGBT advocacy video project)

Combating Hate Crimes in Georgia from New Media Advocacy Project on Vimeo.

"The history of LGBT human rights in the Caucasus is a sordid one: homosexuality was a crime in the former Soviet Union, and remains so today in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In contrast, the Republic of Georgia remains one of the few post-soviet States that legally prohibits discrimination against LGBT people; however, legal protection does not defend Georgians against the violence directed toward this marginalized group. The country’s entrenched homophobia surfaced last year when a group of conservative Ultra-orthodox supporters assaulted gay rights activists at a rally in the capital city of Tbilisi. Unfortunately, instances of targeted violence extend far beyond the events of May 17, 2013. One in three LGBT people were physically assaulted in the Republic of Georgia between 2011-2012 – a statistic that only measures the small group of people who are active in the LGTB community in Tbilisi. N-Map partnered with Identoba to produce a short film with a specific advocacy goal: to empower the Georgian LGBT community by encouraging them to demand accountability for hate crimes and become a part of the growing LGBT movement in Georgia."

Human Rights Watch: World Report 2014 on LGBT rights violations in Armenia and Georgia, silence re Azerbaijan

Unfortunately, no similar section (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) is available within the country specific Human Rights Watch report for Azerbaijan. This is regrettable, as in a country with the poorest rights record in the South Caucasus, there is no doubts about violation of rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity too. Subsequently, without more publicity, LGBT rights in the country are moving even more underground and the issue is becoming even less visible while the rights abuses continue in Azerbaijan. Of course, the situation is exacerbated with the lack of active groups such as PINK Armenia (Yerevan) and Identoba (Tbilisi) in Baku.

Armenia

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists have expressed concern for the alarming level of homophobia in Armenia. According to PINK Armenia, a local rights group, transgender women who engage in sex work are frequently assaulted and receive no police protection when they report abuse. PINK Armenia also reported that the LGBT population continues to experience employment discrimination, obstacles to health care, and physical and psychological abuse in the army, in public, and in families.

According to an August Amnesty International report, government officials frequently condone violent attacks against LGBT people, characterizing the violence as an expression of “traditional values.” In July, the Armenian police made a proposal to amend the code of administrative offenses to establish a fine of up to US$4,000 for promoting “nontraditional sexual relationships.” The proposal was subsequently withdrawn.

Also in July, a Yerevan court convicted two people for damage to property stemming from a bomb attack in May 2012 against DIY, a bar frequented by LGBT and women’s rights activists. Graffiti identified LGBT people as targets of the attack. One attacker was sentenced to 19 months in prison and the other received a two-year suspended sentence. They were both amnestied in October. Local human rights groups expressed frustration that the sentence was too lenient. Armenia does not have hate speech legislation.

Georgia

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

On May 17, 2013, a peaceful gathering to mark International Day Against Homophobia was violently disrupted by thousands of counter-demonstrators, including some Orthodox clergy. The day before, the patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church publicly urged the authorities not to allow the gathering, calling it an “an insult” to Georgian traditions. Police had to evacuate the LGBT activists to safety, but they failed to contain the mob, which attacked a van carrying the activists, throwing stones and other objects; one journalist was hit on the head and briefly hospitalized. Authorities charged two Orthodox priests and three other men with obstructing freedom of assembly and petty hooliganism. The Tbilisi City Court ordered that charges be dropped against one priest. At time of writing, the trials against the others were ongoing.

Identoba, a local LGBT rights group, reported 34 incidents of violence and intimidation against LGBT people during and after the May 17 incident. The group noted that many victims do not report homophobic violence due to fear of retribution and police failure to investigate adequately.

Progress in Tbilisi: Presidential candidates in Georgia questioned on gay rights

Impressed that presidential candidates in Georgia were questioned on their views re "sexual minority rights". This is in itself a progress. Example to other countries in the region.

For the first time in the region, both main candidates were not afraid of publicly expressing their stance re LGBT rights, especially as this was generally in line with the protection of human rights for all and non-discrimination. They were not afraid that their views could alienate voters in a country where homophobia is widespread and fueled by highly influential Orthodox church.

However, in comparison, I consider the answer of Giorgi Margvelashvili (Georgian Dream) to be the best out of all candidates.

Sexual minority rights 

"What do you think on protection of sexual minority rights and their better integration in socio-political life?"

*WWW.PREZIDENTI.GE has been created to foster an informed political debate on the issues that are important to the Georgian society for upcoming Presidential Elections of October, 27. The Project: Support to the Development of Democratic Institutions in the South Caucasus is funded by the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia.

To these ends, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) invited the registered presidential candidates to respond to 20 specific and policy related questions. Every candidate could have provided no more than 250 words when answering each of these questions.Website is available in 4 languages: Georgian, Armenian, Azeri and English.

Main candidates

Margvelashvili Giorgi » represents current PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party
The objective of a democratic state is to protect the rights of every citizen. The protection of minority rights should be specially emphasised. The modern democracy consists in balancing rule by majority with the protection of minority. It takes a lot of attention and efforts to ensure that decisions made by majority do not restrict the minority rights. The government should never allow any discrimination, persecution or oppression of humans on any grounds. At the same time, it must create conditions for full and creative self-expression of every human being.

Bakradze David » represents the outgoing president Saakashvili’s United National Movement 
The UNM considers any discrimination, any restrictions of political and civil rights on any grounds as inacceptable. While remaining faithful to the essence of common beliefs about family relationships, it condemns any violence and expressions of xenophobia against members of sexual minorities.

Other candidates

Asatiani Akaki » Union of Georgian Traditionalists 
According to current Georgian legislation, the rights of sexual minorities are protected. Our task would be to steadily follow the legislation.

Bobokhidze Teimuraz » Initiative group 
The Georgian legislation, to the extent I know, does not put any restriction to the right of sexual minorities. Some people think the violation of right is the fact that representative of these minorities does not have the right to go through a service of marriage and to live together without benefit of clergy. Well, I believe they are allowed to get employed; they have free, unimpeded access to schools and colleges. If there are not, then it is up to the court of law to decide what the matter is in each specific case.

Burjanadze Nino » Democratic Movement - United Georgia
The persons of non-traditional sexual orientation should enjoy the same rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and shall have the same responsibilities, as the citizens of traditional orientation. In Georgia it's always been and will always be so. The President should be the guarantor and protector of rights of each citizen.

Chikhladze Giorgi » Initiative group 
All citizens of Georgia have equal rights of participation in social life, despite their sexual orientation. The equality of rights is protected by the law, based on respective protective mechanisms.

Javakhidze Sergo » Justice for Georgia 
The state shall care for its citizens including the rights of its sexual minorities and shall facilitate their integration into political and social life.

Kharatishvili Zurab » European Democrats of Georgia
Georgia is a part of the Christian civilization and lives according to the respective rules. Such values as inviolability of life, right of property, institute of family, personal and national dignity are important for us. I think that each person should feel him/her a worthy member of a society, and difference according to this or that feature must not be a basis of violation or restriction of right. More exactly, we will not restrict anybody by ethnic affiliation and will not announce nontraditional sexual orientation a criminal offence. This concerns the private affair of a person and is not a business of the state or policy. The state on the one hand must ensure strengthening of the state status of the Georgian language, and on the other hand -finance and promote learning of Georgian by the ethnic minorities. As well, the state must in every way strengthen the institute of traditional family and on the other hand - do not allow violation in respect of people with nontraditional sexual orientation. At the same time it should be mentioned that we will not support the institute of same-sex marriage, because this contradicts the traditional concept of a marriage. Why we should change the contents of the concept of a marriage? We know that a marriage is a union between man and woman.  In the same-sex marriage this means the union of two any person.  In such case I would ask - why only two? It is understandable that this carries us to the point of absurdity.

Margiani Avtandili » Initiative group 
Historically the rights of sexual minorities in Georgia have never been violated, it is not violated now and considering the general tolerance of our nation, it will not be violated in the future. Being a sexual minority always meant maintaining of low profile or keeping of one’s private life in secret. Advertising and arrangement of sexual minority demonstrations/parades will facilitate debauchery, which shall be prohibited from moral standpoint.

Mzhavia Teimuraz » Christian-Democratic People’s Party 
The given question has several aspects - a right in general, exercising of the right and argumentation of the conceptual approach to the issue. The right of the sexual minorities to carry out actions corresponding to their own choice, is regulated by the appropriate legislative act „The framework convention of the Council of Europe concerning protection of the sexual minorities“, which does not allow anybody to interfere in the above mentioned choice, and in my opinion also envisages that representatives of the sexual minorities may not demand from the so called sexual majority in this or that form unconditional recognition of their choice. This provision is unequivocally written in the above mentioned legislative act. I think the state should actively participate in balancing of differing interests. Otherwise its activity will not be justified, and as to the issue of provision of their equal rights in the social-political life of the country, it is to be considered in the context of protection of rights of any men/women. The basis of the main argument of my conceptual approach to the given issue, as the concrete citizen, is the unconditional recognition of the fact that the first source of  development of the world or maintenance of its viability, of evolution itinerary and the dynamics of dialectic regularities, that from the scientific point of view unconditionally depends on male and female relations not only in the biological organic sector of the world, but, as the modern science states, even in its inorganic part itself; when a human being opposes the stable foundations of the evolution  of a man, it calls into question even the perspective of existence of the man. I would state sincerely that I do not want that the mankind be in front of the choice, when his right will be on one  dish of scales, and on the other - an issue of his/her very existence in the world.

Natelashvili Shalva » Labour party of Georgia
Representatives of sexual minorities in Georgia have always participated in social and political life, they are inseparable parts of the social and political development of our country today, and I am sure they neither have nor had any problems with that. However, I do not think it is either fair or correct to demonstrate your sexual orientation in the streets having said that, I oppose any kind of violence.

Saluashvili Mikheil » Initiative group
Every citizen of Georgia, regardless of his sexual orientation paraded or covered, should have the equal rights. According to the Christian morality, it is necessary to fight against any form of sin, and not the person who committed this sin.

Targamadze Giorgi » Christian-Democratic Movement
Private life is inviolable. Therefore, the state cannot interfere unduly with the establishment of sexual orientation of specific people and their participation into social or political life. However, if equality means civil legal relationship such as marriage, then adopting children by same sex couples is naturally absolutely inacceptable. On the contrary, draft constitutional amendment had been proposed, pursuant to which the state shall recognize and uphold the marriage only between a woman and a man. Current edition of the Constitution does not specify the parties of the marriage and stipulates their equal rights only. Therefore, according to researchers’ opinion, Civil Code contradicts with the Constitution of Georgia and chances to win the case of an individual appeal to the Constitutional Court are very high. Thus, same sex marriage can be considered legal in Georgia not through the adoption of certain bylaws, but by announcing the existing norm as an un-constitutional. Suggested draft involves the edition of the Constitutional norm that is accepted by the Constitution of EU member countries, such as Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary.

Part IV: the aftermath of church-led homophobic attacks in Georgia. PM Ivanishvili delivers groundbreaking Independence Day speech

Waking up with hangover and watching #Ivanishvili talking about homophobia in his Independence Day speech. I hope I'm not still drunk
— Sh. Khinchagashvili (@lishtotah) May 26, 2013

No, he was not drunk.

What happened in Tbilisi on 17 May was a disgrace for Georgia. As I said in my previous post, under the facade of "democracy", we witnessed Middle Ages in the country aimed at European integration.  However, the follow-up to 17 May brings a ray of hope that - after all - the *change* is happening, and Georgia may well recover from the defeat as a modern country and an example for the South Caucasus.

What is different, e.g. from last year homophobic attacks in Armenia, is the reaction of top level officials. Instead of silence or endorsement of attacks, you see PM using the Independence Day speech to condemn homophobia and re-assert equal rights of citizens, “regardless of ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation”. This is pretty groundbreaking for the whole region and beyond.

Says Ivanishvili: “I promise that we will stand against illegality,” Ivanishvili continued. “At last everyone in our country will be equal before the law regardless of ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.” 

“I promise that no one will be punished for being different, for free opinion and speech,” he said. “We are devoted to our traditions, custom, but accepting and creating new is also part of our tradition. We should be dignified not only in being dedicated to our traditions, but also in respecting others' traditions and custom.” 

“We should always be critical towards xenophobic and homophobic views locked up in pseudo traditionalism, as well as towards thoughtlessly imitating everything that is foreign and new,” Ivanishvili said.

Do not expect anything similar in Armenia on 28th May - the First Republic Day.

I don't want to think how many decades (centuries?) it'll take before an Armenian PM publicly condemns #homophobia on independence day. Sigh
— Sona Dilanyan (@SonaDilanyan) May 26, 2013

***
In related news. There has been reports on increased number of homophobic incidents in Tbilisi following 17 May IDAHO attacks. On the other hand, criminal charges have been filed against some attackers, including at least 2 priests.

Along with homophobic rally, there has been a “No to theocracy” one. Great photostory is available on Civil.ge (selected photos below). Hilarious internet memes, especially “taburetka” related, are in abundance.

*A demonstrator at No to Theocracy rally at the monument to mother tongue holds a banner reading "No to Religious Nationalism". Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge

*A demonstrator at No to Theocracy lies on the ground holding a banner reading: "Why don’t you run over us directly with your SUVs instead of chasing us with stools and nettles" – the banner makes a reference to a recent debates in which some senior Orthodox clerics were criticized for driving luxury cars in the country with large number of socially vulnerable population. Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge

*A demonstrator at No to Theocracy rally holds an image depicting a priest with a stool - one of those numerous cartoons that became Internet memes in Georgia, originating from those videos and photos from the May 17 homophobic violence in downtown Tbilisi, which show an Orthodox priest, father superior at Ioane-Tornike Eristavi Monastery Iotam (Irakli) Basilaia grabbing a stool and chasing gay rights activists. Father Iotam is one of those two clerics which are facing criminal charges in connection to the May 17 developments. Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge

Of course, it will be interesting to see how this will develop. Whether the people and leadership of Georgia will have enough determination to challenge Georgian Orthodox Church’s domination and interference into secular affairs. And whether the rule of law and Constitution, rather than “traditions” and religious dogma will prevail. Good luck, Georgia !!

Part I: Victory for homophobes. Defeat for Georgia

Part II: LGBT activists under attack in Tbilisi: Georgian police and politicians

Part III: Criminal church: Georgian Orthodox Church incited and led anti-gay attacks in Tbilisi

Part III: Criminal church: Georgian Orthodox Church incited and led anti-gay attacks in Tbilisi

“The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, has called for calm after violence that erupted after aggressive anti-gay protesters, led by Orthodox clergy, thwarted a rally by a small group of gay rights activists to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17.”

Really, Patriarch Ilia? So, first you incite violence by your actions and by Georgian Orthodox church priests leading the attack towards gay rights event participants. And then, post factum, you “call for calm” and continue: “We distance from violence,” Patriarch Ilia II said in a televised remarks on Friday evening.”

I do not think so. You can’t so easily “distance from violence”. You and your church are acting so outside the law.

Let’s look at the selection of photos below that truly made me speechless. I want to pretend that these are the images from nightmares, or films, or from completely different era. But these are the images from the heart of “modern Tbilisi”.

*picture by © Onnik Krikorian 2013

And this animated picture clearly shows a Georgian priest, 'servant of God', attacking bus escorting LGBT activists:

*ready to attack... with "taburetka" (source: liberali.ge)

Here are other eyewitness accounts: 17 May, IDAHO: – Georgian society showed its embedded ‘hospitality’ and ‘tolerance’

*Women in front of old Parliament building holding nettle. 

They were told that nettle is not a weapon so they could use them to hit homosexuals. (source)  

*Bringing stinging nettles to a rally to beat any LGBT activists with... (*picture by © Onnik Krikorian 2013)

*Young girl asking everybody to give her a bottle or stone to throw towards activists. 

She was really excited  and happy to be part of the violent demonstration, finally! (source)  

Another eyewitness account: The Day That God Died (read also her blog post a day before: Before the Battle)

Pretty telling title of the New York Times piece: Crowd Led by Priests Attacks Gay Rights Marchers in Georgia

"They wanted to kill all of us,” said Irakli Vacharadze, the head of Identoba, the Tbilisi-based gay rights advocacy group that organized the rally. Nino Bolkvadze, 35, a lawyer for the group who was among the marchers, said that if they had not been close to the buses when the violence began, “we would all have been corpses.”

Civil.ge: Amnesty International has called on the Georgian authorities to investigate the violence and bring to justice those responsible: “It is becoming a dangerous trend in Georgia to condone and leave unpunished the acts of violence against religious and sexual minorities if they are perpetrated by the Orthodox religious clergy or their followers. It is simply unacceptable for the authorities to continue to allow attacks in the name of religion or on the basis of anyone's real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

Giga Bokeria, Secretary of National Security Council criticised those Orthodox clergy, who led anti-gay protesters and said: “Any cleric, who commits violence or calls for violence in a dangerous situation, is committing a crime, according to the Georgian legislation. I hope there will be people in the Church who will say this. But, unfortunately, in today’s developments ‘moral’ initiative was in the hands of those, who preach hatred and commit violence. These people should be punished in accordance to the law.”
***
To sum up: on 17th May 2013, the Georgian Orthodox Church displayed itself like a typical outlaw, like some kind of terrorist group or similar. And to conclude, few more reactions, as posted on Twitter:
‏
@CrazyPsyKO: The Taliban and the Orthodox zealot-priests on the streets of #Tbilisi, #Georgia today have rather more in common than beards.

‏@onewmphoto: After yesterday's shameful homophobic mob rule, Georgia's future will now be determined by whether the Church's obscene power is challenged.

@onewmphoto: One thing's for sure. The Georgian Church has proven itself to be the main obstacle to Georgia's democratization. This needs to be addressed

Part I: Victory for homophobes. Defeat for Georgia

Part II: LGBT activists under attack in Tbilisi: Georgian police and politicians

Part IV: the aftermath of church-led homophobic attacks in Georgia. PM Ivanishvili delivers groundbreaking Independence Day speech

Part II: LGBT activists under attack in Tbilisi: Georgian police and politicians

“Police did a good job”, says Minister of Justice. The reality is they failed to protect the rights of citizens and gave in to the priest lead mob. According to the Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili, the police failed to take “proper measures” to secure holding of a rally by gay rights activists.

“Considering the sheer number of counter demonstrators, their violent actions and the risk to human safety, Transparency International Georgia considers the police's strategy as wholly inadequate.”

A group of six civil society and watchdog organisation said in a joint statement that "the police failed to take measures to prevent violence, that erupted after thousands of Orthodox activists thwarted gay rights rally in downtown Tbilisi, and accused law enforcement officer of being reluctant to secure holding of rally against homophobia."

It says that the police lacked coordination and their actions to protect anti-homophobia rally from attacks of counter demonstrators were often meager.
“Impression was that the Interior Ministry was more focused on safe evacuation of [anti-homophobia rally] participants from the scene, instead of protecting the rally itself. The police did not show enough efforts to provide security of the participants in the process of the rally,” the statement reads.
“Attitude of police towards participants of rally against homophobia and transphobia was especially alarming. Observers confirm that in conversations between each other policemen were referring to the participants of the rally cynically and derogatively and to some extent were sympathizing with counter demonstrators. Such stance was also felt in their actions,” the statement says. 

Earlier, Georgia PM was highly praised (including on this blog) for standing up for the rights of all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation. But head of parliamentary majority (PM’s coalition) was quick to put blame on LGBT activists and their “donors” and effectively sided with the mob: “Earlier today on Rustavi 2 the Leader of Parliamentary Majority, Davit Saganelidze, stated that Identoba and their donors are responsible for the violent developments that erupted today at the the International Day Against Homophobia: "they, who arranged this provocation, who were sitting in the buses calmly and are responsible for what happened".

Here is a video of the mob attack towards bus escorting LGBT activists. Video shows clearly of what was happening towards those who “were sitting in the buses calmly”. Disgusting, nauseous display of hatred in the heart of Tbilisi. Approved by some politicians, as above.
 

Good to see at least some police did their job. Here is a video form inside the yellow bus.
 

Georgia’s serving president Saakashvili condemned acts of anti-gay violence in Tbilisi. And now this issue turned into a matter of political battles between Saakashvili and Ivanishvili camps, blaming each other for “provocations” and violence that happened.

"This is a shameful and alarming day for the whole of Georgia and Georgian society. Violent offenders who attacked and severely beaten people planning to express their protests against violence are enemies of Georgia's freedom and statehood. They are offenders and must be punished," National Security Council Secretary Giga Bokeria said on 17 May. "The key problem is the climate in the country.” He then continued that some of the participants in counter-demonstration and their leaders were the ones who were "detained previously for violence but released later from prisons as political prisoners".

PM Ivanishvili said that those who committed violence will be held responsible. Until I see this happens, including priests who were leading the attacks, I will not believe his words on equality and rights of citizens.

PM Bidzina Ivanishvili has condemned violence, that erupted after anti-gay protesters, led by Orthodox clergy, thwarted a rally against homophobia in downtown Tbilisi, and vowed that perpetrators “will be dealt with according to the law”. PM Ivanishvili’s English-language written statement reads: “The right to gather peacefully and to freely express one's opinion is fundamental to our democracy. Every Georgian citizen benefits fully and equally from this right. Acts of violence, discrimination and restriction of the rights of others will not be tolerated, and any perpetrators of such acts will be dealt with according to the law.”

Part I: Victory for homophobes. Defeat for Georgia

Part III: Criminal church: Georgian Orthodox Church incited and led anti-gay attacks in Tbilisi

Part IV: the aftermath of church-led homophobic attacks in Georgia. PM Ivanishvili delivers groundbreaking Independence Day speech

Part I: Victory for homophobes. Defeat for Georgia

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, marked annually on 17 May, turned into a “National Day FOR Homophobia” in Georgia capital Tbilisi.

Local LGBT rights group planned a silent 30 mins flashmob, in order to draw attention to discrimination and other problems faced by LGBT people in Georgia. Yet, despite promises on PM level to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, they got attacked by homophobic thugs led by Georgian Orthodox church priests (!). By thousands (as per some estimates, up to 20K) of them. And this day will be remembered more as the day when hate occupied Tbilisi, and medieval instincts and rituals rather than rule of law prevailed.

*picture by © Onnik Krikorian 2013

And this happened in a country that is considered a ‘champion of democracy’ in the region, being ahead of neighbouring Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on effectively all indicators. Under the facade of "democracy" - we witnessed Middle Ages in Georgia.

*screenshot - via PublicPost

According to the Ministry of Health, 28 people were injured as a result of violence. “Healthcare Minister, Davit Sergeenko, said that 14 of them, including one journalist, were hospitalized. Injuries are not life-threatening, he said.”

Reflecting the events, Making Connection blog writes: “We Are All Georgian LGBT Rights Activists”.

This, a day after ILGA-Europe published its 2013 Rainbow Europe package reviewing the situation of LGBTI people in Europe, giving Georgia the highest grade among the three South Caucasus countries.
And this, a day after the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, where Finland's entrant Krista Siegfrids sang "Marry Me" and kissed one of her female back-up singers "to make a statement about the lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Finland." (As far as I know, the song contest was broadcast in Georgia.) [...]
Incidentally, tomorrow is also the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in which Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia will be competing. How great would it be if Georgia's entrants, following in the footsteps of Finland's entrant, ended their performance with a "same-sex kiss" or at least made some comment condemning the acts of the violent anti-gay rights protestors today? 

Yes, 17th May 2013 was a victory for homophobes. But it was ultimately the day of defeat for Georgia.

Part II: LGBT activists under attack in Tbilisi: Georgian police and politicians

Part III: Criminal church: Georgian Orthodox Church incited and led anti-gay attacks in Tbilisi

Part IV: the aftermath of church-led homophobic attacks in Georgia. PM Ivanishvili delivers groundbreaking Independence Day speech

Respects: Georgia PM Ivanishvili publicly supports rights of LGBT citizens ahead of IDAHO rally in Tbilisi

Georgia PM Bidzina Ivanishvili is the first and so far the only (effectively) head of state in the South Caucasus who publicly voiced his support for equal rights of all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.

Says Georgia PM Bidzina Ivanishvili, commenting on upcoming rally in downtown Tbilisi by gay rights activists to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on 17th May: “I have said for multiple times previously that sexual minorities are the same citizens as we are… The society will gradually get used to it. I know there is part of the society which fails to accept it. There are law enforcement agencies in our state and we will do everything in order to protect rights of any minority group and that will be the case in this situation too.”

Pretty groundbreaking statement in a region where homophobia is widespread. In a region where officials, e.g. in Armenia, publicly and without consequences support and justify anti-gay attacks.

My respects to PM Ivanishvili. As a friend of mine commented on Facebook: “So while they're passing anti gay laws in Russia... Georgia's moving into the 21st century.”

Civil.ge reports that on the same day a parallel rally is also planned by anti-gay, Orthodox activists.

Asked how the authorities would act in a situation when there are threats against planned gay rights rally, Ivanishvili responded: “We will protect the rights; [planned two parallel] rallies will probably be distanced from each other; I can’t tell you specifics how it will be done, but there are police, which will stand in the middle and will not allow [anyone] to obstruct others.”  

Asked about his opinion on same-sex marriage, Ivanishvili responded that it was not an issue right now in Georgia and there was no need “to put the cart before the horse.
 


Civil.ge reminds that the first-ever march of a small group of rainbow flag-waving gay activists in Georgia, where anti-gay prejudice runs deep, was held last May. But at the time the march ended in a scuffle with an Orthodox group, which blocked activists' way not allowing them to continue procession. [picture above from 2012 IDAHO in Tbilisi - by InterPressNews, via Civil.ge]

In solidarity with LGBT activists in Tbilisi, Georgia

Identoba, LGBT rights organisation in Georgia, is planning to organise a peaceful action on 17th May – International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

IDAHO has a specific local importance for Georgia. In 2012, Tbilisi IDAHO march was attacked by religious fundamentalists. Several activists were verbally and physically assaulted. The government didn't launched an investigation.

In order to draw attention to the problems faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Georgia, LGBT activists, Identoba and other human rights defenders are planning a 30 minute silent flashmob. The flashmob will start on 13.00 in front of the former parliament building in Tbilisi. All participants will be asked to wear a t-shirt with one of the colours of the rainbow. The participants will be holding posters deploying the discrimination experiences by LGBT individuals in the country.  More details about the campaign on: http://identoba.com/idaho

NIV, the novel: Tel Aviv, Karabakh, four lovers, two centuries

Time for a confession. One of my New Year resolutions was to devote enough time to reading books. Unfortunately, due to work, travel and current events, I keep failing on this. True, people say we make New Year resolutions to fail them, but I really-really want to see this one fulfilled. There are so many intriguing books both on my book shelves and my ipad waiting to be read...

Anyway, here is the first book I will be reading, as soon as I find time, that is. This is a debut novel "NIV" by Israeli author Itamar S.N., published towards the end of 2012, and as far as I am told, touches the gay-themed topics with that of the Armenian Genocide, Karabakh, cross-border love and so on.

Consider this post as a kind of ‘info post’. As soon as I read the book (courtesy of the author), will post my reflections too. In the meantime, if you read the book first, please do share your reflections with me.

The novel comprised of two storylines: one contemporary gay Tel Aviv and the other one in around the time of WWI in Karabakh (1914).

As the author told me: “...while the book deals with issues which appear contemporary, it actually explores the timelessness of the human struggle to forge relationships. Two stories unfold in two different times and at two different locations, finally merging as one, with a touch of the supernatural.

One is the story of a young gay artist in today’s Tel Aviv, who falls in love with the agent in he backdrop of a modern society that still sits in judgment and makes it difficult for them to openly express their affections.


The other story takes place in Karabakh on the brink of WWI where a Muslim young man and a Christian young woman try to honor their commitment to each other in the midst of surrounding bloody events that demonize each in the eyes of the other’s family and community.


These four characters are actually two souls in different incarnations, which in a bright moment meet and recognize their parallel struggles. Their meeting results in the closing of their karmic circle, allowing the present day characters to evolve.”

And here is a description by publishers: “Niv, Erez, Katya and Anush are four young lovers who each experience a sexual awakening that threatens the rigid religious values and social attitudes that surround them. These pressures, the concerns of their families and the course of history itself, mean each must fight for the freedom to find their own way in life and the right to love the one they choose.

In this his first novel, Itamar S.N weaves together parallel stories to reveal tragic secrets and hidden truths. From the rural borderlands of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the time of the First World War, to the buzzing, cosmopolitan art scene of 21st century Tel Aviv, NIV is a story that will intrigue, surprise and inspire.”

I am certainly intrigued with the descriptions and with the Table of Content (!):

• Tel Aviv August 2011 
• Karabakh September 1914 
• Tel Aviv September 2011 
• Karabakh December 1914 
• Tel Aviv September 2011 
• Tel Aviv / Baku December 2011 

*The novel is available in Amazon in paper as well as kindle and bookshops (mostly gay) in Europe and the US.

"F*ck gender", "Down with the Patriarch": activist video from Georgia

Absolutely loved this. Great example of multimedia activism tackling issues of gender identity, homophobia, religion, freedom...

We need more of this in the South Caucasus and beyond.

A must see.

"Painting activism", Tbilisi, Georgia
Film by Lasha Kavtaradze and George Gogua, 2012

Gay rights is EU entry criterion, Brussels says to Armenia

A very clear message to Armenia (and not only).

*via EU Observer

BRUSSELS - The European Commission has said in a written note that respect for gay rights is a legal criterion for EU accession.

It cited the 1993 so-called Copenhagen criteria for EU eligibility and article 2 of the EU Treaty, which prohibit discrimination against "minorities."

It also cited articles 10 and 19 of the EU Treaty and article 21 of the European Charter on Fundamental Rights, which explicitly forbid discrimination on grounds of "sexual orientation."

"Rights of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] people thus form an integral part of both the Copenhagen political criteria for accession and the EU legal framework on combatting discrimination. They are closely monitored by the EU commission, which reports annually on the progress made by enlargement countries with regard to the situation of the LGBT community," it said.

The commission note was sent to EUobserver in response to a question born of an interview with an Armenian cleric.

Armenia, a deeply Christian country where church teaching has more authority than in many EU states with Christian roots, is keen to become an EU member.

Homosexuality is not against the law. But according to a recent study by the Brussels-based rights group Ilga-Europe, it scores better only than Moldova and Russia in terms of legal protection of LGBT people in Europe.

Armenian law does not prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. It does not recognise any form of same-sex partnership and has no provision for legally changing one's gender, the study says.

Its legal edifice is reflected in popular feeling.

A small pro-toleration rally in the Armenian capital on 21 May saw police struggle to keep counter-protesters at bay, who yelled slogans referring to gay people as a disease and as a threat to children.

Three priests came to speak to media, one of whom recalled the Biblical story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to justify anti-gay views.

Counter-protesters the same night vandalised one of Yerevan's few gay-friendly bars.

For his part, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, an ecumenical officer at the Armenian catholic church, made no bones about the situation.

"It's not in our culture to accept homosexuals. I mean, we don't reject the person, but we reject the sin and this is our freedom as Armenians. Our culture does not accept this," he told EUobserver in a recent interview in Etchmiadzin, the official seat of the Armenian church.

He said Armenia upholds basic human rights, but gay rights are a "secondary" issue where difference of opinion should be permitted.

"We have our cultural differences which should be respected ... These are questions on which you don't have consensus also in Europe. Europe is not just western Europe. For instance, Poland is a strong Christian country, or Romania or Bulgaria, or Serbia - Armenia is closer to these countries in its understanding," he explained.

EU entrants in some cases negotiate opt-outs from EU laws or transition periods for implementing sensitive parts of the rulebook.

But for Ulrike Lunacek, an openly lesbian Austrian Green MEP who co-chairs a European Parliament gay rights group, this does not mean countries can choose which values they adopt.

"Accession of a country will not be possible if certain LGBTI [the I stands for 'intersex'] rights are not put into law and into practice. Non-discrimination in the field of employment, for instance, has become part of the acquis," she said, citing an EU directive on non-discrimination from 2000.

"Protection of Pride marches has become a recurrent monitoring theme in the commission's progress reports on enlargement countries," she added.

She noted that EU institutions should work with conservative countries on the Union's fringe rather than putting up barriers, however.

"That is what the EU also stands for: co-operation instead of confrontation, openness instead of fear ... And that is another good thing," she said.

Human Rights House Network: 'Actions of extremist protestors in Yerevan constitute criminal behaviour and illegal under Armenia Constitution'

"The actions of the extremist protestors in Yerevan constitute criminal behaviour, which is based on discrimination against sexual minorities. This kind of hate speech, which amounted to threats of violence, is illegal under the Armenian Constitution."

*via Human Rights House Network

Violent reactions against peaceful diversity and LGBT demonstrations 

Peaceful demonstrations celebrating the 10th anniversary of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, and the International Day against Homophobia were met with violence and retaliation.

Friday, 08 June 2012, by HRHF Geneva Office, based on various sources and HRHN partners

The 10th anniversary of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was marked by tension and violence in Armenia. In Belarus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, LGBT rights demonstrations have been met with resistance from authorities and conservative sectors of society. The United Nations 2012 world day of cultural diversity, on 21 May, sought to encourage support for diversity, to foster an intercultural dialogue on inclusion, and to combat isolation and stereotyping.

ARMENIA: DEMONSTRATIONS FOR DIVERSITY ATTACKED

The peaceful march staged in Yerevan on 21 May, organised by Human Rights House Network partners PINK and Women's Resource Centre, to promote and celebrate Armenia’s cultural, ethnic, human and fauna diversity, was met with violence from civilian protestors. The march - which included participants from various social backgrounds; civic activists, refugees living in Armenia, and representatives of NGOs and international organisations - was surrounded by a human chain formed by the civilian protestors, who directed homophobic insults and fascist slogans at the procession.

Prior to the march, misleading information had been spread via social media, claiming that it was in fact a gay parade, provoking the discriminatory actions of the civilian protestors. The extremist protestors attempted to stop the march, threatening violence and intimidating the participants, the homophobic hate speech directed towards the marchers was framed as “patriotic.” Police clashed with the protestors, and managed to stop them from gaining entry to the art exhibition that had been organised for the occasion, however, PINK reports that the situation was not handled well by police, as their presence failed to ensure the safety of the activists.

The actions of the extremist protestors in Yerevan constitute criminal behaviour, which is based on discrimination against sexual minorities. This kind of hate speech, which amounted to threats of violence, is illegal under the Armenian Constitution. 

[Read also: HATE CRIME: DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan under neo-nazi arson attack and Neo-nazi attack Diversity march in Armenia capital Yerevan calling it "gay pride"]

GEORGIA: LGBT RIGHTS DEMONSTRATIONS NEED TO ENJOY PROTECTION BY AUTHORITIES 

In Tbilisi, a peaceful demonstration organised in support of LGBT rights on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, on May 17th, was met with opposition from protestors, most of whom were Orthodox Christians or priests. BBC reports that one priest among the civilian protestors called the march “propaganda [for a] wrong way of life.” These protestors called on the police to put a stop to the march, and when the police refused to do so, the protestors took matters into their own hands, and violence erupted. Police stepped in, and arrests where made on both sides.

Human Rights House Tbilisi member, the Human Rights Centre reported that the police action was unsatisfactory in protecting the LGBT activists and their right to freedom of expression; despite contacting the police in advance about possible threats to their safety during the march, activists’ security was still not guaranteed.

Furthermore, Human Rights Centre reports that when making arrests, the police targeted the LGBT activists, rather than the violent protestors. [...]