Armenian Haunting - Armenian Genocide themed film featuring LGBTQ character (interview with writer/director Art Arutyunyan)

Writer and director Art Arutyunyan, known to readers of this blog for his gay-themed animated film Adamantine, have written and directed a film that touches on the theme of the Armenian Genocide - 'Armenian Haunting', and it features an LGBTQ character. It is planned for release in March 2018.

“ On the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a young Armenian-American journalist's relatives mysteriously die one by one. Faced with the resistance of her secretive family, she must uncover the truth, but has to rely on the supernatural." (from the official synopsis)

The film combines the historic elements surrounding the Armenian Genocide and the genre of horror and supernatural.

The cast includes actors Vaneh Assadourian, Jay Dersahagian, Aneela Qureshi, Kyle Patrick Darling and Tamara Grigorian.

LGBTQ character Garo, played by Kyle Patrick Darling, is the main character Maro's best friend. Garo is gender fluid and posseses clairvoyant powers which he hides from people around him. Here are images with Garo in the scene.

Art Arutyunyan: “We are not going anywhere, and we will become a stronger voice in Armenian culture” 

- interview with Unzipped: Gay Armenia -

- In your ‘mini-bio’ on IMDb, it was mentioned that you were born and raised in Uzbekistan, then moved to LA to pursue a career in fashion. Could you tell me a little bit more about yourself, your family, your Armenian roots? And your move from being a fashion designer to film director/writer.

Both my parents were born in Armenia and moved to Uzbekistan in 1960-s, where they met. I was born in a small town, which didn't even have a name, but just a number: "Number-6". When I was 5 we moved to the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, then a very diverse city with large Armenian, Korean, Jewish and other Russian-speaking communities. So, I was surrounded by a multitude of cultures. All of my friends and I went to Russian-language schools and colleges. As a child, I traveled to Armenia every summer as both of my parents still had a lot of relatives back home.

I was in High school when USSR collapsed. I got my Bachelors degree in Economics at Tashkent State University, then moved to Los Angeles to study fashion and found a job in the garment industry fairly quickly. The rest of my family followed one by one. I designed clothing for Forever 21, Nordstrom, Target, Kohl's, Macy's, and that was my specialty: affordable fashion. However, there was a point where my love for film kept pulling me away.

While I was still designing, I wrote and produced my very first short film with my now business partner, Armand Petri. And so our partnership began, and now we have "Together Magic Film Group" that consists of 3 divisions: "Reel Nightmare" - horror, supernatural, paranormal; "Together Magic Films" - LGBTQ themed; "Winning Streak" - dramas, comedies and other general public genres.

- Your quote from the same ‘mini-bio’: "It is important for me to develop scripts and concepts that I respond to on an emotional level rather than intellectual”. The topic of the Armenian Genocide must have been quite an emotional for you too. Do you remember any personal stories that your parents or grandparents perhaps told you?

The theme of Armenian Genocide has always been a part of my conversations with my father, who's a very passionate Armenian, perhaps the most passionate. I must admit, I didn't feel connected to the subject up until maybe a couple of years ago, when I was looking for a theme to write about. I started talking to my father about it again, and the stories just poured out of him, and his passion has definitely inspired me. I recorded our conversations and started doing more research.

Even though this is a historic event, I wanted to write about it in more dramatic terms, where the Armenian Genocide is a backdrop to a character, where it puts him or her through the tragedies. So, as of now I have written 2 scripts on the subject: "Armenian Haunting", a paranormal mystery and "Anoush", a drama that follows a young Armenian girl Anoush as she fights for survival in the 1915 Turkey. "Armenian Haunting" is set to be released this year, while "Anoush" is in need of financing. Ideally, I would like to shoot "Anoush" in Armenia with local crew and cast, of course, in Armenian language.

- Any news item, article, let alone the film about the Armenian Genocide are being treated with sensitivity among Armenians both in Armenia and Diaspora. Are you afraid of the reaction you may receive?

"Armenian Haunting" is at its core a paranormal mystery film. On the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, young Armenian American, Maro, finds herself in the midst of a mysterious plague that kills her family one by one. I wanted to make an entertaining and educational film that, hopefully, keeps the audiences interested and at the same time teaches them about the Genocide. I treat the subject with respect, but I do realize that there is a risk of getting unwanted reaction. I am a firm believer that Armenians everywhere deserve to have this story told in as many ways a possible. Same as the theme of Holocaust. Armenian Genocide needs to be told in different ways: dramas, horror, documentaries, historical series on PBS, you name it. It needs to become a strong cultural theme and soon! 

- I always wanted to see a film that will depict a same-sex relationship, love set against the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide. I understand your film’s storyline is different but how important for you to have an LGBTQ character in such film?

In "Armenian Haunting", the LGBTQ character, Garo is important not only as he provides Maro with important information, but also as a voice of frustration of the Armenian LGBTQ community. We are frustrated because we are not accepted and understood by our own people. In the film, Garo points out that Maro's family suffers from "Armenicus Mysogynisticus". It is absolutely important for me to represent LGBTQ characters in all kinds of different ways, including Armenian LGBTQ persons. It holds a special place in my heart.

- Do you plan to showcase it in Armenia? As you may be aware, last year the Golden Apricot international film festival based in Yerevan censored 2 Armenian LGBT-themed films. But I believe we should keep challenging it. Do you plan to submit it there? Or any other international and Diaspora film festivals?

"Armenian Haunting" will have Armenian subtitles and I hope to reach Armenians all over the world. And I agree with you, we need to challenge Armenian culture's attitude toward LGBTQ community. We are not going anywhere, and we will become a stronger voice in Armenian culture.

I am not thinking about festivals yet, but it definitely will be on my radar with "Armenian Haunting".

- In an email exchange you were very fond of the actors in the film. How did you know or chose them? I would imagine an indie film like the Armenian Haunting would have a small budget.

"Armenian Haunting" has a minuscule budget, so I had to make sure my script was in good shape before I approached actors. My main goal was to cast as many Armenian actors as possible, due to the subject matter. The lead actress in the film is an absolute gem, Vaneh Assadourian. I felt so lucky to have her on the set every day of the shoot. Vaneh brought that special quality and Armenian flavor to the role of Maro. 

- What is next in your pipeline? Any Armenian LGBTQ-themed storyline?

We are releasing a drama set in Louisiana, "Are You From Dixie?" this year, as well. It was written by my business partner, Armand Petri and I had an honor of directing it. And I am looking for financing for "Anoush" that features an important gay character. 
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Look forward to watching the film, and will definitely keep an eye on Anoush and more works by Art Arutyunyan.

Few more stills from the Armenian Haunting film.

Help PINK Armenia to open LGBT centres outside capital Yerevan - in Vanadzor and Gyumri

Great cause for new year donation to support establishing LGBT community centres in 2 major cities outside Armenia capital Yerevan - Vanadzor and Gyumri.

33K USD will help to establish the centres and to cover running costs for a year. The costs include logistics, rent, refreshments in the centres, services of professional psychologists and lawyers.

PINK will then apply to other programs to sustain the centres beyond the first year. If successful, this could serve as a basis to expand community centres in more places in Armenia.

Donate today and become a part of the change!

Censorship in Armenia: Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan marred by censorship of Armenian LGBT-themed films

This was going to be a very different, positive post, about screening of two Armenian LGBT-themed films at the Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan.

I was pleased to see as part of the Golden Apricot’s (albeit non-competition) programme “Armenians: Internal and External Views” the schedule of 13 July for a feature film Apricot Groves (dir. Pouria Heidary) and groundbreaking documentary film Listen To Me (produced by PINK Armenia).

Here is what I tweeted only a few days ago (4 July) :

Nice. #Armenia #LGBT related feature film Apricot Groves and @pinkarmenia documentary Listen To Me @GAIFFYerevan Int'l Film Fest #Yerevan

On paper there is no censorship in Armenia. In reality this is how it works.

There are so called ‘FB warriors’ or ‘concerned citizens’ and associated trolls on Armenian sector of FB who upon pushing the button by their rulers start an 'outcry' campaign against (frequently but not exclusively) LGBT related issues. You know, full with typical amorality, family/traditional values, ’gay propaganda’ and similar bullshit, with frequent calls to attack, burn, kill LGBT Armenians and human rights activists. This is subsequently presented as a ‘pressure by society’ and voila.

“We want to inform you that ARMENIANS: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VIEWS non-competition program is completely cancelled. We apologize for any inconveniences.” (Тhis is what Golden Apricot sent to the filmmakers, whose films were included in the program)

Here is what happened. The Union of Cinematographers in Armenia that was to provide a space for the screening of the films, demanded to remove two Armenian LGBT-themed films from the programme due to an ‘outcry in society’ (= some FB users). According to the director of Golden Apricot Harutyun Khachatryan, they also mentioned… they are in mourning (Rouben Gevorgyants, the ex-director of the Union, passed away on 23 June), and they are not going to screen any movie.

Կինոմիության նոր ղեկավարները՝ նայելով «Ոսկե Ծիրան» կինոփառատոնի ինֆորմացիոն ծրագիրը, որում ԼԳԲՏ համայնքի մասին պատմող երկու ֆիլմ կար, և տեսնելով հասարակական աղմուկը, նշեցին, որ իրենք չեն կարող այն ցուցադրել: Այս մասին այսօր կայացած մամուլի ասուլիսին ժամանակ ասաց «Ոսկե Ծիրան» միջազգային կինոփառատոնի հիմնադիր և գլխավոր տնօրեն Հարություն Խաչատրյանը:
«Մեր գործընկերներից մեկը Կինոմիությունն է, որոնցից մենք դահլիճ չենք վարձում, այլ իրենք այդ ինֆորմացիոն ծրագիրը ցուցադրում են Կինոյի տանը: Մենք պայմանավորվել էինք Ռուբեն Գևորգյանցի հետ, ով վերջերս մահացավ: Ծրագիրը պետք է ցուցադրվեր և հանկարծ պարզվեց, որ բավականին մեծ աղմուկ կա ծրագրի շուրջ հասարակության կողմից: Նոր ղեկավարներն էլ հայտնեցին, որ իրենք այսպիսի սգի չեն կարող նման ծրագիր ցուցադրել»,- ասաց Խաչատրյանը՝ հավելելով, որ իրենք չէին կարող Կինոմիությանը ստիպել, քանի որ դահլիճը չէին վարձում:

As Arsinee Khandjian and Atom Egoyan indicated in their statement, “We have never heard of a program of new films being cancelled to commemorate a cineaste's death as a sign of mourning and respect! This claim seems, therefore, quite preposterous!”

Instead of fighting this decision and finding an alternative venue, “Golden Apricot” has decided to withdraw the whole programme, which included around 40 films covering not only LGBT issues, but also different social issues, the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh conflict etc. 

I was told from reliable sources that a well respected venue in downtown Yerevan offered to host the programme but Harutyun Khachatryan declined saying the decision was already made, too late to make changes, blah blah. Excuses.

Pressures to censor works of art, films, freedom of expression can come from different places, be that Soviet style union of cinematographers, president office, Facebook users and so on, but for a festival of Golden Apricot calibre to effectively succumb to that censorship and endorse it, is shameful and scandalous.

Festival that censors films doesn't deserve respect. It deserves boycott.

I hope participants, guests, partners and sponsors of the festival will protest. There can be absolutely no excuses and no justification for censorship whatsoever. No ‘apology’ can be accepted too, only the full restoration of the censored programme.

There is petition in this regard “Stop censorship in Armenia” that you can sign following this link.

The “Golden Apricot” should immediately restore the screening of all films regardless of the format. Otherwise the “Golden Apricot” International Festival should accept that they are the ones who are legitimizing the censorship and changes in the Festival. […]
We are not accepting the apology of the “Golden Apricot” against the censorship: if we do so, that would mean that we are endorsing this and future censorships. We are calling upon the organizers of the “Golden Apricot” to protect the films selected by them, instead of an apology, as well as to restore the whole program and screen all films in another place and to publicly condemn the actions of the Union of Cinematography of Armenia. Only by restoring the program the festival can keep and protect its’ former reputation. 

Says Pouria Heidary, director of Apricot Groves, one of two censored Armenian LGBT themed films:

"We made this film under the supervision of NATIONAL CINEMA CENTER OF ARMENIA a governmental institute that was responsible for cinema co-production with all the foreign countries that want to make a film in Armenia. they took our money and promised to support us. now nobody from that organization answers us, none of your cinemas screen our film and Golden Apricot film festival which is the biggest cinema and cultural event of Armenia does not screen our film which we put our love, our time and our art on it with the massage of love,friendship ,care and love of two neighbor countries. We wonder why these are happening???!!!!! 

My film has been screened in more than 43 festivals 3 of them were A grade film festivals 4 of them were Oscar qualify Film Festival 1 of them were BAFTA qualify film festival, we screened in biggest LGBT film festival in the world we have been the first Armenian film that ever screened in 2 countries in Africa, we won 5 awards under name of Armenia, we showed beautiful Armenia to world and made them hear your language more any other film in the past 15 years and in return all we get is hate.!!!" 

In their statement, Arsinee Khandjian and Atom Egoyan stressed that they are “very concerned about the censorship”:

"Atom Egoyan was President of the Festival for almost ten years and it’s dismaying to see a festival that we both proudly advocated for within the international film community in the name of films and filmmakers that spoke of such urgent human rights issues can be suppressed, especially when these ideas need to be discussed and brought to light."

History in making: first LGBT-themed scrolling billboards in Armenia capital Yerevan

UPDATE 27 May 2017: Yerevan city hall, i.e. ruling Republican party mayor, ordered removal of LGBT-themed posters from scroller billboards, citing that they were not "authorised" by them. Aside from questionable legality of this claim, by ordering removal of these posters, Yerevan mayor blatantly endorsed discrimination against LGBT people. On the same day, so called "Europe Day" was celebrated in the Armenian capital. Truly, a city hall of shame.

The fact that these social ad posters were on display for 2 days is an achievement in itself by LGBT activists in Armenia. Queering of public spaces continues.
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Thursday, 25 May 2017

Armenia consistently ranks towards the very bottom of European gay rights league tables. Still, despite all the challenges, local LGBT activists keep on queering the public spaces. The process that moved to yet another level today.

The sight of LGBT-themed social ad posters across three scrollers in downtown Yerevan, around Opera and Swan Lake, is absolutely awesome. They are supposed to stay there for 1 month.

So well done, PINK Armenia. Truly, a history in making.

The messages on posters say:

1.Դու ուզու՞մ ես, որ բոլորը երջանիկ լինեն, ուրեմն մաղթիր մեզ երջանկություն։ [‘Do you want everyone to be happy? Then wish us happiness’]

2.Դուք հանդիպում եք նրանց ամեն օր։ [‘You meet them every day’]

3.Տրանս անձինք մեր հասարակության մասն են։ [‘Trans people are part of our society’]

Related videos were circulated by PINK Armenia as part of IDAHOT week*: 

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*Videos and posters have been produced by Action Studio and Deem Communication, in cooperation with Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO (PINK) and the Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office, through the EU-funded project “Solidarity Network for LGBTI Individuals in Armenia and Georgia”.

Parliamentary election in Armenia #armvote17 and LGBT rights

I have no much hopes left for elections in Armenia under current circumstances.

I know that at the end it will be the ruling Republican party and related to them & ex-president Kocharyan Prosperous Armenia party that will have a majority share in the next parliament.

I know that this election will not be clean and fair. Yet another “step forward” blah-blah…

I do not have a favourite party or political alliance to endorse. But the following list is my definite DO NOT VOTE for:

• Republican party of Armenia 
• Tsarukyan alliance (Prosperous Armenia) 
• ARF Dashnaktsutyun 
• Armenian Renaissance (‘re-branding’ of Orinats Yerkir by disgraced Artur Baghdasaryan)
• Communist party. The only political party that explicitly included anti-LGBT statement within their election programme (կուսակցությունը պատրաստվում է «պայքարել համասեռամոլության, տրանսգենդերների» դեմ)։

This is the first election in Armenia when political parties or their reps are being questioned by civil society activists and some media outlets on their attitude towards LGBT rights as part of election campaign.

Of course, we are not there yet when LGBT Armenians would be perceived as powerful force that could influence the election results. For this we need free and fair election system in place, and much more vocal and open presence of LGBT people in the country. However, this is a step in the right direction.

4 political parties/alliances (out of 9 participating in this parliamentary election) replied to the pre-election survey of the “Partnership for Open Society” initiative: Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian (ORO) alliance; Yelq (“Way Out”) alliance; Free democrats; and ARF Dashnaktsutyun. They all answered ‘Yes’ to the question on whether LGBT people should have the same rights as other citizens. However, I will never trust that ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Armenia genuinely believes in equal rights of all citizens until and unless they come clean re their high level reps support for DIY firebombers. Instead of reprimanding them, those homophobic reps remained on the highest positions in the party's Armenian branch and even got promoted to the ministerial level within the government as part of their alliance with the ruling Republican party.

Of course, it’s one thing to answer ‘Yes’ to a non-binding general question, it’s another thing to find out the substance of their stance.

lgbtnews.am keeps doing great job in challenging MPs, NGOs and other politicians and civil society representatives in Armenia on LGBT rights.

In the context of upcoming parliamentary election, they questioned so far ORO, Yelq and Congress/PPA alliance reps. The most straightforward answer was presented by ORO rep Hovsep Khurshudyan. To note, Hovsep of Zharangutyun (“Heritage”) party consistently (and not only during election period) supported human rights issues in Armenia, including LGBT rights, although it is not clear whether his views represent views of the alliance or rather some in Zharangutyun party. I have no doubts that head of Zharangutyun party Raffi Hovhannisyan genuinely supports LGBT rights too. I will never forget his appearance in front of gay-friendly DIY bar in Yerevan soon after firebombing. However, I have no idea, for instance, what ex-MoD Seyran Ohanyan’s views are regarding this matter.

Congress/PPA alliance (LTP) rep Arman Musinyan did not clearly answer to the similar question although in general terms voiced firmly against discrimination of all citizens.

Questioned more specifically re LGBT rights Yelq rep Alen Simonyan reiterated the position of their alliance about equal rights and human rights for all but resisted attempts to single out any specific group.

X Factor Armenia judges: homophobes, closets and… drag

Egor Glumov

X Factor Armenia judge. Works as a presenter at homophobic radio station - radio Van. Self-proclaimed “militant homophobe”. To be more precise: “Christian and militant homophobe”, as he describes himself on a bio page for X Factor Armenia judges.

And here is Egor Glumov in drag, celebrating his workplace birthday. Or shall we say ‘celebrating’ himself?

*source of pictures: Tert.am

***

Garik, aka Ekaterin

X Factor Armenia judge. He is the author of lyrics for Armenia Eurovision entry Aram MP3 song Not Alone. But he is more known in Armenia as Ekaterin for his comedy sketches in drag.

When this blog exposed homophobic statements by Aram MP3, followed by Aram’s apology, Garik was all silent in Copenhagen where the song contest took place. As soon as he arrived back in Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport, he suddenly became all vocal, you know the fake macho-style type vocal, with a series of homophobic outbursts. [There is a saying in Armenian re this type of people: Հայաստանից դուրս կուռկուռի ձագ են դառնում]

And in his capacity of X Factor judge, Garik, aka Ekaterin, on the very day when the world marks IDAHOT, shouted that he is fighting too but on the side of homophobes. (watch this video from 1:17)
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Andre

X Factor Armenia judge. Andre was the first representative of Armenia in Eurovision in 2006.

On this video (from 26:40) from one of past seasons of X Factor Armenia he burst into homophobic rant when a participant dedicated his performance to IDAHOT. It’s hardly a secret who Andre really likes being with and which clubs he attends when in US or Europe.
***

To sum up:

You do not have to expose details of your private life. You do not have to be gay rights activist. But you don’t need to be a f*cking homophobic bully on TV or elsewhere. And if you do, there will be people out there to expose your hypocrisy.
***

P.S. I wonder if X Factor license that Shant TV - I assume - holds allows such displays of homophobic hatred.

Australian Armenian same-sex marriage supporter Gladys Berejiklian appointed Premier of Australia’s most populous state

*picture - via FAIRFAX/Huffington Post

Australian Armenian Gladys Berejiklian was appointed Premier of Australia’s most populous New South Wales state (with capital Sydney). What makes this appointment a particularly good news for me is her support for marriage equality and LGBT community.

According to ABC, “She is a private woman who supports same-sex marriage, is compassionate towards the plight of refugees and helped sign off on the Government's signature infrastructure projects.”

Interestingly, Australian media specifically mentions that her support for same-sex marriage is “at odds with her Armenian Orthodox Church”.

In an interview with local media in 2015, Gladys Berejiklian said people had strong views about marriage equality but believed most people on the north shore would support a change in the law.

“I get a sense that as far as my electorate’s concerned that the majority — while I do know there are people who don’t support it and I want to acknowledge they’ve got a right to express those views — I would think the silent majority would support it, I personally do,” she said.

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) and Australians for Equality (A4E) today welcomed the support of the new NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for marriage equality.

“We congratulate Gladys Berejiklian on becoming Premier of NSW and thank her for her support for marriage equality and the LGBT community,” Australian Marriage Equality Co-Chair, Alex Greenwich said. 

“Premier Berejiklian joins a growing number of Liberal Party leaders who support marriage equality, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgeman.”

From her bio on Wikipedia: “Berejiklian was born in Sydney, the eldest of three daughters born to Armenian immigrant parents, Krikor and Arsha. Her grandparents were orphaned in the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Berejiklian spoke only Armenian until she was five years old, when she began learning English.”

“Berejiklian became the second woman to hold the office of Premier, after Labor's Kristina Keneally, who served in the position from 2009 to 2011, and the first female Liberal Premier in Australia.”

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.

Istanbul Gay Pride: my diary of a powerful LGBT civil rights march

Last year Istanbul Pride was violently dispersed. This year it was banned altogether.

I dedicate this post to all the activists who struggle for human rights in Turkey. In solidarity with LGBT people in Istanbul.

I was lucky enough to be in Istanbul on 29 June 2014, with my Armenian friends. We witnessed and participated in perhaps the biggest and unfortunately the last peaceful Pride event happened there.

It was a great inspirational Pride event, a powerful civil rights march. Very political. Very colourful. Very diverse. Like in previous years, there was an abundance of posters in Armenian too.

There was police presence there too, but in contrast to last two years, police was there to protect, not to attack.

Participants of the march were quite critical against increasingly autocratic Erdogan rule. I witnessed quite a few anti-Erdogan messages, slogans and anti-Erdogan mocking during the march. No surprises that Turkey president Erdogan could not bear such displays of freedom, and started crackdown on Istanbul Pride using the full force of his repressive regime.

Below is my photo story from June 2014. I highly recommend Adrineh’s blog post reflecting the event too: A World of Pride or More Like Hüzün?

[...] I was lucky this year to be in Istanbul for gay pride. It was my first time in the city that is so close to Yerevan and yet so far. My girlfriend and I, along with a couple of our gay Armenian friends, planned a short, four-day visit not only to see the city, but also to be there for the pride march. Because unlike other cities where I’ve been that celebrate Pride (Toronto, Montréal, New York, Reykjavik, Dublin), it wasn’t a parade but a march. And there’s a clear difference between the two.

It reminded me of the origins of Pride, of what was fought for and what was gained. And it reminded me of how far we still have to go. […]

Just thousands and thousands of people of all stripes marching, holding signs in Armenian and Turkish (probably in Kurdish too) and so many rainbow flags. […]

And the music that stayed with me the most was the beat of the drums. Men and woman playing various types of drums at different points in the march. This is the sound of a struggle, and this is how you know that what we saw, what we were swept up in (my gay Armenian friends and I) was a march for human rights. [...]

It is therefore with great sadness I note how quickly and to what a devastating effect the situation with human rights has been deteriorated in Turkey, with each passing day under the Erdogan rule.

And after-party:

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See also Rainbow Istanbul, with Armenian touch