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.

Armenian guy quit Patriarchate, came out as gay, seeks asylum in Israel

*via Haarets

The man who would be Israeli

Tobmas Glastian came to Israel to become a priest. But once he came out as gay and left the church, the Interior Ministry refused to grant him a visa to stay here.
By Ilan Lior

Tobmas Glastian wants to be an Israeli. "Everyone calls me Tomas," he says, accepting the mispronunciation with understanding. He has lived here for almost half his life, all his friends are Israeli, and he speaks Hebrew almost at the same level as a native speaker. The truth is that he already feels Israeli in every way - and only the official document is missing.

Glastian, 29, was born in Armenia. He arrived in Israel at the age of 16 to study at the seminar of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, with the intention of becoming a priest. He studied there for three years until one day he decided to escape. He had understood he was a homosexual and wanted to come out of the closet.

Glastian had not told anyone at the seminar about his sexual preference. He knew the church would consider it a terrible sin and would not accept him into its fold. At first, he informed only his parents in Armenia, but their response left him frightened and desperate.

"My parents no longer wanted me. They said they would rather I die than go back home. That shut the door for me; I no longer have a family," he says.

Thus, Glastian was left completely alone at the age of 19. He hastened to leave Jerusalem in favor of Tel Aviv. He was scared to go back to conservative Armenia and, in fact, he admits, he had no reason to go there. Three years later, a long while after his visa to Israel had expired, he was unable to find work and decided to turn to the United Nations and ask for political asylum in Israel. As part of a routine process, he was granted the temporary status of an asylum seeker that has to be renewed every six months.

"They don't even allow me to request permanent residency status," he says, adding that every time he raises the subject, he is told he has to undergo a comprehensive interview once more to get refugee status and only then will he be able to request permanent residency in Israel.

"I don't have a problem with undergoing an interview again," he says. "They have been telling me for two and a half years already that I must go for the interview but they don't make an appointment for me. Every time I ask them, they say: 'Okay, we'll make an appointment and tell you to come,' but nothing moves."

Meanwhile, Glastian heads off to the Interior Ministry's office every six months. "I wait there for three hours; they check here, they investigate there; and in the end, they tell them on the telephone: 'Come on! Sign already.' They treat me there in a humiliating fashion; it's very offensive. Today, without bragging, I consider myself more Israeli than an Israeli. There is not a drop of Armenia in me any longer."

A few months ago, Glastian turned to Knesset member Nitzan Horowitz of Meretz and requested his help. Horowitz sent him to attorney Dr Yuval Livnat from Tel Aviv University's Human Rights Clinic who deals with the rights of refugees, in the hope he would help to get matters solved. Judging by past experience, Livnat is not optimistic - on the contrary.

No homosexual has so far been recognized as a refugee in Israel. According to the UN's Refugee Charter, a refugee is a person who is faced with a real threat of persecution in his homeland on the background of race, religion, nationality, political affiliation or belonging to a certain social group.

"All the countries in the western world have determined that homosexuals and lesbians belonging to a certain social group, and therefore they can be considered refugees," says Livnat. "In the State of Israel, at the present moment, this is not yet so."

Even if Glastian manages to create a precedent and becomes the first homosexual who is recognized as a refugee in Israel, he will still be far from having the permanent-resident status he so desires. Israel has never granted permanent residency to a refugee. "To my great regret, in Israel, even if you are recognized as a refugee, you remain a temporary resident forever," Livnat explains. "As of today, that is the unfortunate lot of all the refugees in Israel."

Despite the difficulties, Glastian speaks admiringly of Israel. He feels this is his country. "I love this country. In my first interview at the UN, they asked me if I would prefer to go to another country and I didn't want to under any circumstances. But from time to time, I have the feeling that maybe I made a mistake and that perhaps it would have been better to go somewhere else where they absorb you immediately and they give you the opportunity to advance in life and not to remain stuck," he says.

"Today, with all my love for Israel, I feel like I am stuck and this hurts me a great deal."

According to the Interior Ministry: "Mr Tobmas Glastian entered Israel in 1998 on a tourist visa. After a number of years, he registered with the UN and submitted a request for political asylum, and it was decided to give him a temporary work permit until a decision was made in his case. His visa is a temporary one that is given for as long as the request is under consideration and it has to be renewed every few months. The visa makes it possible to work in Israel. His request is being examined by the population and migration authority."

Memorial service at Liberal Judaism centre in London to remember victims of anti-gay massacre in Tel Aviv

Was at a memorial ceremony on Wednesday at a Liberal Judaism Centre in London. The ceremony was organised to remember those killed in anti-gay massacre at Tel Aviv LGBT youth centre leaving 2 or 3 people dead (I still cannot get the correct info on numbers) and scores injured.

Never been at a Jewish memorial or religious related gathering before. The atmosphere was pretty relaxing there, although I’ve been told that this is because of Liberal Judaism which is different from (ultra)orthodox one. Amazingly for me, the rabbi was a young man in suit (see picture below, the one in suit and striped tie). What is also remarkable that liberal Jews are very open and accepting towards sexual minorities. There were special prayers there: “Prayer for the Acceptance of Sexual Diversity” and “A Straight’s Prayer for Young Israelis Shot for Being Gay”.


The ceremony included prayers, speeches by representatives of gay rights (esp. youth related) groups, songs by a guitar accompaniment. Btw, the girl who was playing the guitar was pretty cool. As I’ve been told (thanks to tablaqueen) she is the first drag king in Tel Aviv. I would never have guessed.

The booklet with the detailed programme of the memorial service contained the following closing quotes:

“We need to give strength to the child who comes to his parents and says: ‘I am gay,’ or I am lesbian;’ and this day needs to give the strength to everyone in the gay community to live their lives.” Tzipi Livni

”If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” Harvey Milk, murdered American gay rights activist

Sirusho at Tel Aviv's gay club

I posted about Armenia Eurovision 2008 representative Sirusho's plans to perform at Tel Aviv's gay club, along with her fellow Serbian and Israeli Eurovision representatives Jelena and Boaz. Below are two videos from that performance. It's not every day that we see popular Armenian singer performing at gay club. Therefore, I am happily posting these 2 videos, despite the quality of recording is not very good.





Sirusho, Jelena and Boaz recorded a song for peace co-written by the president of Israel Shimon Peres. Below are photos from "Sirusho - Eurovision Song Contest 2008" fan page in Facebook (uploaded by Micha Yesoudo). This song will be released in many countries. No more details are available as of now.

Sirusho to perform at Tel Aviv’s gay party

Esctoday reports that Armenia’s Eurovision 2008 representative Sirusho, along with Serbian and Israeli Eurovision representatives, will perform at a gay party this weekend in one of the leading clubs in Tel Aviv (Israel). Earlier it was revealed that Armenia’s Sirusho, Serbia’s Jelena Tomasevic and Israel’s Boaz Mauda “will be recording a special song about peace together in December. The song will be released in many countries.”

The three entrants of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest: Sirusho from Armenia, Serbia's Jelena Tomasevic and Israeli Boaz Mauda, will be performing together this weekend in Tel Aviv.

Sirusho has recently revealed on Armenian national television, that Serbian Jelena Tomasevic, Israeli Boaz Mauda and herself, who all represented their respective countries in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, are engaged in recording a special song about peace together in December. The song will be released in many countries.

As part of this joint venture, the trio will be performing in Israel this weekend. Their main act will be in the gay Pop Ring party, in one of Tel Aviv's leading clubs, the Theater, this Thursday night. You may find further information about the party in the Pop Ring website (click).

Few months ago, I wrote that Sirusho’s Qele, Qele became hit among Eurovision gay fans and was selected for the Amnesty International’s float at the London Gay Pride 2008. It became an instant club hit in Greece too. In fact, Sirusho is currently working on her new Greek music video Erotas xafnikos (Sudden love) which will be ready early next year.

Last month, Sirusho got engaged with Levon Kocharyan, son of Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharyan.

*photo - by esctoday.com