Attack against gay friendly DIY bar and disruption of diversity march feature in the UK Foreign Office "travel advice to Armenia"

For the first time, updated "travel advice to Armenia" by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  features attack against gay friendly DIY bar in Yerevan and disruption of diversity march by neo-nazi groups and elements.

In May 2012 a gay-friendly bar in downtown Yerevan was attacked and a diversity march in central Yerevan was disrupted by nationalist groups. See Local Laws and Customs.

Under the Local Laws and Customs, British Foreign Office continues:

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2003 but is still viewed with disapproval by many Armenians. Local LGBT groups occasionally suffer from verbal and physical harassment. Although same sex couples are often seen holding hands and kissing in public, this is common in Armenian culture, and is not necessarily an indicator of sexual orientation. You should be discreet.

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

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

*source of picture - Tert.am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yerevan Diaries (+ more): cult of the erect penis

Downtown Yerevan. The very heart of it. You are in for a treat. Well, depending on your taste and preferences. Still, whatever they are, this could be interesting from historical perspectives too. A statue of soldier with the erect penis.

No, it's not that Cascade soldier welcoming you to Yerevan.

As a friend of mine rightly pointed out: “The Cascade guy doesn't have a penis; it's rather a penny”. The soldier I am talking about has a pretty big one. And you may see it as soon as you enter the National History Museum (Republic square). Up your face! Well, as long as you pay attention to the art work on tickets you are issued. Many people don’t. I do! ;)

But this is just a piece of paper, you may say. Enter the museum, and you are in for a real treat. Statues of soldiers with the erect penises. [Also, this is even more interesting, statues of intersex people (they are described in the museum as “statues of men and women”)... If/when more info on intersex statues become available, I will make a separate post]

But before you enter the hall with the statues, you get a ‘real size’ - sort of :) - experience with the Armenian phallic cult. Quite a few exhibits of stone representations of the phallus excavated from various parts in Armenia are on a prominent display at the National History Museum.

I posted about the Armenian phallic cult two years ago. I’d suggest re-reading that post.

There were times. Some say these were “golden ages” ;)

*source

I was reminded of my post when read Areg’s travel diaries via Turkey (highly recommend!). This one, in particular.

Day 15: Cocks (quotation and two pics below - via One Hell of a Ride)

***

[...] I swear to God, even though the hotel itself is crap, it is completely worth to get the experience of getting a man you met two minutes ago to ask you if you are gonna see the cocks, and then quickly clarify that he actually means the penises.

“Which penises?” I inquired

“The ones in the Love Valley!” he made a circle on a particular area of the map with pen and wrote “L. V.” — “Love Valley!”

“What are these… penises?”

“They are strange rock formations. Everyone loves to see them! Some of them here” — he marked another part of the map — “have three heads!” [...]

And finally, it all opened for me! I found the cocks! A valley full of phallic symbols — all natural — all carved by nature itself! [...]

I looked around and realized that I was literally surrounded by all sorts of them!

Thin and thick! 

Some surrounded with trees… and bushes! [...]

And so ended the day that shall always remain a day of cocks to me. Amen!

Oh, and you did not read this if you are under 18, did you?

UNAIDS: Armenia lifts travel ban for people living with HIV

Excellent news!
***

Armenia lifts travel ban for people living with HIV

UNAIDS

GENEVA, 15 July 2011—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) commends the decision by the Government of Armenia to lift its travel restrictions for people living with HIV. The reforms—which took effect yesterday—align the country’s legislation with international public health standards.

Restrictions that limit an individual’s movement based solely on HIV-positive status are discriminatory and violate human rights. There is no evidence that such restrictions protect public health or prevent HIV transmission. Furthermore, HIV-related travel restrictions have no economic justification, as people living with HIV can lead long and productive working lives.

“I welcome Armenia’s decision to lift its HIV-related travel restrictions,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “I urge other countries to follow Armenia’s example and take the necessary steps to remove punitive laws and practices as a matter of priority,” he added.

With the removal of Armenia’s travel restrictions, UNAIDS counts 48 countries, territories, and areas that continue to impose some form of restriction on the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV based on HIV status. Five countries deny visas even for short-term stays and 22 countries deport individuals once their HIV-positive status is discovered.

L-day: «Համբուրի´ր ինձ, ես լեսբիանահայ եմ»

*via MediaLab.am

[...] Թրուին Հայաստանում մնաց երկու ամիս և, հետևելով իր հիմնական նախասիրություններին` միասեռականություն, արվեստ, հետզհետե ծանոթացավ կին և մեծ մասամբ քուիր (queer) արվեստագետների գործունեությանը:

«Ես լեսբուհի եմ ու ակտիվ եմ եղել կանանց և քուիր կանանց խմբերում դեռ 80-ականների սկզբից»,- ասում է Թրուին:

«Քուիր» եզրը Արևմուտքում կիրառվում է սեռական փոքրամասնությունների և գենդերային ինքնությունների առնչությամբ, այն սկսել է շրջանառվել նաև Հայաստանում: Օրինակ` իրենց քուիր են բնորոշում Querring Yerevan բլոգի արվեստագետները:

«Արևմուտքի շատ քուիրների համար պայքարն արդեն անցած փուլ է,- ասում է Թրուին,- մենք կարող ենք ամուսնանալ օրենքով, երեխաներ որդեգրել ու մեծացնել, ու ոչ մեկն աչքերը չի չռի, եթե ասես, որ պաշտոնական բիզնես-ընթրիքին բերելու ես քո ընկերուհուն»:

Այսպես Թրուիի մտքով անցավ գրել Հայաստանի քուիրների մասին: Ժամանակի ընթացքում «Հայկական ռապսոդիա» հոդվածը վերածվեց մշակութային հետազոտության:

«Մտադիր չէի համալսարանական մակարդակի գործ անել: Նպատակս էր ներկայացնել երկիրը ու ցուցադրել, թե ինչ ընտիր արվեստ են անում Հայաստանի մի քանի քուիր արվեստագետները, ուշադրություն հրավիրել նրանց աշխատանքի վրա, հետաքրքրացնել մարդկանց»,- ասում է Թրուին:

Նա չի տխրում, որ այդ արվեստագետներից ոմանք «տնկում են իրենց քթերը» և քննադատում Թրուիի ոչ պրոֆեսիոնալ մոտեցումները:

Անկախ ամեն ինչից` Թրուիի հետազոտությունը մի շատ յուրօրինակ Հայաստանի մասին է, անծանոթ նախևառաջ Հայաստանին:

Նա ցույց է տալիս մի այլ երկիր, որտեղ կանայք քաղաքականապես գիտակից են և առաջ են մղում ժամանակը:

Նոյեմբերի 17-ին Բելգիայի Գենտ քաղաքի L-day-ի (Lesbian day/week-լեսբիական օր/շաբաթ) շրջանակներում նա ներկայացրեց այդ հետազոտությունը` դասախոսություն-միջոցառում կազմակերպելով Հայաստանի և հայ քուիր կանանց/արվեստագետների մասին:

Միջոցառման ժամանակ մեծ ոգևորություն էր առաջացրել «Համբուրի´ր ինձ, ես լեսբիանահայ եմ» գրությամբ վերնաշապիկը, նաև երաժիշտ-արվեստագետ Ծոմակ Օգայի առցանց պերֆորմանսը:

L-day-ը նա համարում է մեծ ազգային միջոցառում: Այս տարի այնտեղ առաջին անգամ ցուցադրվում էին նաև կին արվեստագետների գործեր: Թրուին չորս լուսանկար էր տպել Հայաստանի քուիր արվեստագետների գործերից ու ցուցադրել օրվա ընթացքում:

«Կարծեմ` համակարգողներ չկային»,- տխրում է նա` գլխի չընկնելով, որ ինքն է այդ համակարգողը, քանի որ իր հետազոտության մեջ ներկայացնում է ութ արվեստագետների` Սոնա Աբգարյանին, Արփի Ադամյանին, Լուսինե Թալալյանին, Լուսինե Վայաչյանին, Սվետլանա Անտոնյանին, Մելինե Տեր-Մինասյանին, Շուշան Ավագյանին, Ծոմակ Օգային:

Թրուին Երևանում գտավ կանանց իրավունքների խնդրով ակտիվորեն զբաղվող մի խումբ արվեստագետների ու գնահատեց դա «ստաժավորի» դիրքերից:

Հաջորդ տարի նա Հայաստան կգա արդեն մոտոցիկլով` կտրելով 4416 կիլոմետր:

Քանի որ Թրուի-«հեքիաթասացը» ցանկանում է այցելել նաև Վրաստան և Ադրբեջան, հավանաբար նա կամբողջացնի տարածաշրջանի քուիր պատկերը:

Կարին Գրիգորյան

Yerevan diaries: Welcome to Yerevan ;)

Yerevan, Cascade, site of soon to be opened Cafesjian Centre for the Arts (Yerevan MoMA)

Yerevan diaries: Cocktails

 Still, New York is THE place to try quality cocktails. Even in London you may have hard time spotting decent cocktail venues.

 

In Yerevan, it's even worse. I would suggest trying pure drinks. Some people would disagree with me, but over the last few years, I failed to find any venue in Yerevan which provides with quality cocktails. The last example was at a "7 Kadr" new cafe-bar behind the cinema Moscow in downtown Yerevan. Nice design. Slow service. Decent food. Not too expensive. As to the cocktails... I started with the classical ones – Apple Martini and Cosmopolitan. They were anything but... I quit, and ordered mineral water instead.

 

Yerevan diaries: NPAK - The Way It Is

NPAK - modern arts centre in Yerevan, is one of my all-time favourite places. The latest exhibit/installation there was called "The Way It Is". I instantly spotted my dear friend Lucie's work (last picture, right). Love it.

Yerevan diaries: HighFest opening ceremony (disappointing!)

Disappointed with the HighFest (International Performing Arts Theatre Festival in Yerevan, Armenia) opening ceremony. Children/teenagers made an effort, of course. However... Lasted 15 mins instead of 1hr. Nothing cutting edge.

Yerevan diaries: Woman and Politics free attachment to Aravot daily today

Produced with the assistance of Oxfam Armenian branch. Have not read it yet so cannot comment on content but like the idea.

Yerevan diaries: Beauty salon with services for men too

Here is the list of services for men:

 

Business care

Slender body

Male pedicure

Sports manicure

 

I am particularly curious re "business care" and "sports manicure" :)

Yerevan diaries: Theatre poster

Yerevan diaries: HighFest - 7th International Performing Arts Festival, 1-8 Oct 09

Yerevan diaries: Inside the toilet :)

Spotted inside the toilet at a popular venue in downtown Yerevan :) You have to know Russian to get it.

Yerevan diaries: Alla Pugacheva in Yerevan - 2 days to go...

Can't wait :)

Yerevan diaries: French Terrace cafe

Sadly, one of my favourite places to hang out in Yerevan during summer/early autumn, French Terrace cafe (gay venue), no longer exists, due to the demolition project in downtown Yerevan (picture 1). It was situated right in front of the former Meline's gay bar, across the Arami Street, and was part of the French restaurant called simply "Le Restaurant Français".  However, there is now a terrace cafe area right outside the French restaurant, covered by green leaves (picture 2). Recommended by locals. 

Yerevan diaries: Opera

Getting a massage in a bath house in Tbilisi, Georgia

"I'm stark naked and lying face down while a man in shorts attacks me in a manner that, under normal circumstances, I would regard as outright physical assault. But, just before I scream in pain, the masseur stops to dump a huge bucket of hot water over me on my marble slap. It's my first evening in Tbilisi, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, and I'm finding out how the local guys like to relax - in the beautiful tiled surroundings of one of the city's ancient bath houses, wreathed in the smell of sulphur from one of the hot springs beneath the city."

(Extract from Maxton Walker's report in The Guardian where he writes about the devastating impact of Russia-Georgia war on tourism in Georgia)

*photo - by Maxton Walker, via The Guardian

Gay bars in Tbilisi and Yerevan (opinion)

Peace Corps volunteer John (based in Armenia) travelled to Tbilisi for a vacation and now shares his experiences on his Peace Out blog ("A volunteer's life from the Armenian closet"). Interesting observation and comparisons of gay bars in Tbilisi and Yerevan:

"I also managed to make it to the gay bar with a couple other people and had a great time there. I just discovered a gay friendly bar in Yerevan, but this one in Tbilisi was more open about it and so was a great ton of fun. I tell you, there is no more welcoming environment for a boy than a gay bar in a small country. All the Georgian homos were so happy to see us there, buying us drinks and chatting like there was no tomorrow."

Gay icon Cher on her Armenian roots

I remember her first (and the only so far) visit to Yerevan in 1993, few years after the devastating earthquake. She was having a meeting with students at the Yerevan State University, and I was there with a close friend of mine, who was a huge fan of Cher (I like her too). She looked stunning, we were very excited to be able to ask questions, and hang out with her for a while. My friend brought with him an article with Cher's picture on it from a local Azg daily, and he got it signed by Cher. He felt very happy...

Below are extracts from a TV interview to be aired this coming week, via the Armenian Reporter, where Cher speaks of her Armenian heritage, recalls her visit to Yerevan, and revealed her fondness for Armenian food. A real treat for Cher fans, especially her Armenian fans. I hope we will see her again in Yerevan, this time not only for a short visit, but for her concert too.
*** *Cher with Lusine Shahbazyan in an exclusive and intimate interview, which will air for the first time this week on US-Armenia TV. Arman

The year was 1993. Cher boarded "one of those big airplanes that has no seating," a DC-8 cargo ship, to Armenia. "It was such a rickety old plane and they had bolted these little seats in the back for us and given us a canister of oxygen." Because of the wartime power shortage, they had to get to Yerevan before dark, "and we hit the runway as the sun went down."

Cher recalls her trip to Armenia and discusses her Armenian heritage with Lusine Shahbazyan in an intimate and exclusive interview that will air for the first time this week on US-Armenia TV. [...]

The modern-day legend remembers entering a random coffee shop in Yerevan. "All the men were in there," she says. "Some of the men were playing chess, but they didn't have any coffee and they didn't have any tea. But they were just in there. They were playing their chess. They were talking. They were all dressed properly, maybe a little bit of tatters, but so dignified. And it was the first time I thought, I'm an Armenian, I'm proud."

Prompted by Lusine, Cher also speaks of her father, Garabed Sarkisian. He was an immigrant whose parents had survived the Armenian Genocide. He was a farmer, sometimes a truck driver, and a man Cher calls "charismatic, a little shady like a bad boy."

"I don't really look like anyone in my family, except my great grandmother and my father," says Cher, whose parents divorced when she was two. She didn't see her father again until she was 11. "When I was young, every once in a while, my mother would look at me with the strangest look on her face; and then when I saw my father, I realized why. Because we made the same faces, and I'd never seen him. And when I saw him, I realized why."

"I liked him a lot," she says, "but he'd been in prison."

Sarma and kufta
After her parent's reunion, the family would often visit her father's relatives in Fresno. "All of my relatives were living there, in Fresno. A huge family, and my great grandmother never learned to speak English. My grandmother spoke English, but she called women ‘he.' She got [English] a little bit, but she didn't get it great. But they were great. They were really happy to see me, and my grandmother taught me how to make sarma, kufta, and all kinds of things. I really enjoy and love the food. Armenian food is brilliant." [...]