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

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

Positive representation of gay people on Russian TV - Физика или Химия

Browsing YouTube, I accidentally came across this Russian TV series Физика или Химия [Physics or Chemistry]. It’s a Russian adaptation of original Spanish TV series Física o Química.

I watched only one episode - therefore I cannot reflect the whole series - but was struck by positive, away from cliché, representation of gay people on Russian TV. So many aspects of it were done so good, including the choice of characters, relationships with friends, coming out, parents’ reaction...



This could have been a textbook example of how media should portray LGBT people, especially in countries where homophobia is very high and there is big gap and lack in education on matters of sexuality and gender identity. And what is even more important, that the series are based in a high school setting in Moscow, raising important youth relevant issues.

Unfortunately, there was only 1 season produced and shown on Russian CTC TV channel in 2011, and, of course, considering the subsequent developments in Russia, where homophobia elevated to the state level by the so called gay propaganda laws and other examples of intolerance, you will unlikely to see anything similar in the near future.

It's a big shame that country with such a great intellectual and cultural potential to champion diversity, equality, acceptance within post-Soviet space and beyond, instead turned into an epitome of intolerance and homophobia.

Hypocrisy of Armenian TV personalities exposed: Lulu and Nazeni

It’s been 5 years already that British Council Armenia organises Na/Ne media competition on “issues relating to the gender equality in general” and how “particular publications or stories have resulted or may soon result in positive changes.” According to the British Council Armenia website, all published or broadcast materials should cover “the activities and achievements, problems and challenges of women in political, economic and social spheres. All publications should be presented from the gender equality perspective.” [emphasis mine] British Embassy in Armenia is a co-founder of Na/Ne Media Award.

February 2013. TV personality Lusine Badalyan, more known as Lulu, was a co-host of Na/Ne gender equality media awards ceremony by British Council Armenia. [Lulu worked in homophobic radio Van station, now TV host in Kentron TV station owned by oligarch MP Tsarukyan, head of Prosperous Armenia party]

August 2013. Lulu joins anti-gender equality law hysteria by a series of comments, status updates on Facebook, as well as by inviting and agreeing with homophobic individuals, conspiracy theory fans, who are among those who provoke anti-gender equality and homophobic hysteria on- and off-line.

In a series of TV programmes she hosts, Lulu repeatedly agrees with such people, including members of so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian structure that spreads hatred online and in Armenian media towards LGBT, as well as targets individuals and women’s rights groups for their work on gender equality.

She agrees “completely” with all the conspiracy theories that her guests introduce and claims she will not agree for her children’s teacher to be member of other than Armenian church ‘official’ religion or homosexual. Lulu also complains that “pure Armenians” are the minority in Armenia. She commits to fight against gender equality laws. [example 1; and example 2 with Armenian version of Russia’s Mizulina - there are more examples, these are for illustration purposes]

Lulu also posted a hand-written letter on her FB, as if out of compassion, of a gay person who wanted to be “cured of homosexuality”.

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And here are more examples of hypocrisy, this time by another TV personality, Armenia TV host Nazeni Hovhannisyan, who apparently felt that she could preach morality to others.

“We should not remain SILENT. Watch this - this will only take 10 minutes of your life but perhaps then we will WIN centuries"  - This is a suggestion by Nazeni to her Faceboook followers to watch hateful, filled with conspiracy theories video about gender equality 'destroying Armenian families', full with homophobia and targeting women’s rights groups and individuals. This video was prepared by so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian groups.

A humorous posters appeared on Facebook, exposing Nazeni’s hypocrisy.

#funnysad : “No Cross-Dressing Comedians Please, We're Azerbaijani”

Even in the former Soviet Union cross-dressing for comical purposes, comedy sketches was considered pretty acceptable and widely used.

In independent Azerbaijan, like in other post-Soviet states, including Armenia, cross-dressing is still used by some of the most popular comedians, actors, performers.

RFE/RL report suggests, however, that at least for one Azeri MP & co this is no longer considered as ‘funny’ (regardless of the context) .

Dressing up as women is something of a stock in trade for Azerbaijani comedians Rafael and Cosqun. But the double act has run into trouble over an advertisement for a major mobile-phone operator in which the two men don blond and brunette wigs twinned with white and black dresses. The advertisement for Azercell appeared on billboards across Baku and on television. [...] But not everyone was amused. Parliament member Fazil Mustafa sharply criticized the actors' cross-dressing, labeling it as contradictory to the Azerbaijani mentality, and last month called on the Baku City Executive Office to take down the billboards.

*picture via RFE/RL

If I understood right from this Wikipedia article (AZ), he is a member of parliamentary human rights committee (! - not that I have any illusion re what ‘human rights’ committee in Azeri parliament could possibly represent) and member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE. He is also a member of the “Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe” (no comment, indeed). 

I suppose, as long as cross-dressing appeared as part of parody or comedy sketch shows, it was considered for him & co as something of an ‘entertainment only’, 'safe', something to laugh-off. But seeing this on billboards, up-your-face, or as part of ads entering into daily life (routine!) signalled some kind of ‘threat to masculinity’ and apparently 'national mentality'.

I like the mobile phone company response: “The company has investigated and established that there are no laws that would forbid male actors in women's clothing from promoting a company. The 'Azercell' advertisement contained no embarrassing elements and nothing that would cause psychological stress or spoil people's moral atmosphere."

Truly, a comedy. #funnysad

The ads were since halted and billboards taken down, reports RFE/RL.



*Thanks to O.K. for the link.

Independent news back to mainstream TV in Armenia. BUT... along with homophobic editor

I am glad to see that independent A1+ TV’s flagship news programme is back on air (on its rival ArmNews!). Since its (decade-long) closure, I keep saying that until A1+ is back I won’t believe that things are changing in Armenia.

I know that homophobic editor of Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan (Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame) has been part of A1+ in past and present (online). Now, with the revival of news programme, it’s disappointing to see that the editor who advocates homophobia is part of the project too.

I wrote about A1+ in one of my very first posts after I launched Unzipped blog:

"(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. [...] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in..."

Well, not quite a transformation yet. A small progress - probably.

As long as Aram Abrahamyan is part of the project, these changes will remain illusive for me.

#госдеп2 - Russian TV programme by Ksenia Sobchak on motives of scandalous homophobic law in St Petersburg

Highly recommend watching #госдеп2 Russian TV programme with Ksenia Sobchak [Ксения Собчак] re homophobic law in St Petersburg. My personal favourite - among guests of the programme - was sexologist Sergei Agarkov. He did not speak much, but whatever he said was spot on. Armenian sexologists & co, especially the ones who became media 'stars', as of lately, should take a note of their colleague's answers.

And here is what journalist Olga Bakushinskaya said re motives of such laws and stirring up hatred and homophobia in Russian (and not only!) society: "... потому что людьми которые полны ненависти легче управлять" [...because it’s easier to rule over /manipulate with people who are full of hatred]. Quote of The Day, indeed.

More on this topic:

Gazeta.ru editorial: "Traditional orientation" (RU)

Must watch: Russian TV programme makes mockery of proposed anti-gay "propaganda" law in St Petersburg

How I ‘became’ gay. A very personal reflection ahead of return to Stalinism and Fascism in Russia

Slaq.am - homophobic ‘Internet TV’ trash from Armenia

Slaq.am is an ‘Internet TV’ project from Armenia established by people with direct ties to the ruling Republican party. With its tabloid style reporting, it gained notoriousness for generating ‘scandals’ upon alleged orders from the circles in Armenia’s ruling elite.

Head of Slaq.am and De Facto magazine (editor-in-chief) is Menua Harutyunyan (former head of the ArmNews TV channel), Republican party member hoping to become an MP. He caused an outcry recently by calling environmental protesters at Yerevan park “grant-takers” and supporting police actions against prominent opposition journalist.

It’s not the first time that they resort to routine homophobia but this latest programming is perhaps among the best illustrative of their tactics.

They set the tone with the introduction: “Psychologists consider homosexuality as a disease due to deviations occurred during the early childhood”. Needless to say, that this statement cannot stand any scientific criticism and an illustration of the level of ignorance and unprofessionalism in Slaq.am.

Հոգեբանների կարծիքով համասեռամոլությունը որակվում է որպես հիվանդություն, որը պայմանավորված է վաղ տարիքում տեղի ունեցած շեղումներով: Այս հիվանդությունը, սակայն, բուժել հնարավոր չէ, դրա համար նման մարդկանց պիտի ընդունել այնպիսին, ինչպիսին նրանք կան:
Եվրոպայում համասեռամոլությունն արդեն ընդունվում է որպես սովորական երևույթ, իսկ այսօր Եվրոմիության ազդեցությունը զգալիորեն տարածված է նույնիսկ կարծրատիպային մենտալիտետ ունեցող երկրների վրա: Slaq.am-ը հարցման միջոցով փորձեց պարզել՝ արդյոք Հայաստանը այդ երկրների ցանկին է պատկանում և ինչպե՞ս են վերաբերում համասեռամոլությանը մեր հայրենակիցները:

Then they video ‘survey’ people in the streets of Yerevan re their attitude towards gay people only to headline their video report with... “Homosexuals have no right to live?” [«Համասեռամոլներն ապրելու իրավունք չունե՞ն»]



Not to mention that throughout the report they use unacceptable discriminatory word “hamaseramol” ["համասեռամոլ"] to refer to gay people.

Since I am a nice person and to make their entry into the Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame a bit less painful, I devote them this music video. I am sure they will enjoy and appreciate the message in full.

Must watch: Russian TV programme makes mockery of proposed anti-gay "propaganda" law in St Petersburg

If you know Russian, this programme is an absolute MUST WATCH. It was aired today by NTV Russian TV channel re proposed anti-gay "propaganda" law in St Petersburg.

It's a rare delight. Watch it from the very beginning till the very end. You will not regret it.

It's a must watch in Russia, in Armenia, and in post-Soviet states.

How Turkish TV prevented ‘gay epidemics’ in the country - and how cartoons make fun of it

Cartoon magazines are pretty common and popular in Turkey. They sell well and reportedly have quite progressive role in tackling various taboo or sensitive subjects, making fun of conservative circles or media.

‎"We were about to become "gay", says this cartoon from popular Turkish magazine "Uykusuz" and continues:

“Thank you ATV [National Turkish TV broadcast]" 

ATV beeped (censored) the word "gay" while a character says "I am gay" in a popular Turkish film "Hunting Season".

*Many thanks to FB friend of mine E.Y. for the info provided.

Favourite British TV show Shameless for Manchester Gay Pride

One of my favourite British TV shows (there is now US version too) - Shameless - features in this highly entertaining short film, commissioned by Manchester Pride to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the festival which takes place this August Bank Holiday Weekend (Friday 26 - Monday 29 August 2011).

[and to remind, as I posted before] British Armenian Vicken Couligian appointed new chair of trustees at Manchester Pride

Thanks to Vicken for the link to the video and description (below).



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A SHAMELESS 21ST FOR MANCHESTER PRIDE

A short film featuring some of the cast of the hit TV show Shameless has been commissioned by Manchester Pride to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the festival which takes place this August Bank Holiday Weekend.

The film entitled ‘First Time On Canal Street’ follows a boy venturing out on to the famous street to celebrate his 21st birthday. There, he interacts with some of the area’s famous faces, is seen in iconic bars and gets involved with LGBT groups showing the diversity of what the Village has to offer.

The film opens with Ciaran Griffiths (Mickey Maguire) from Shameless, out with his girlfriend and being ‘eyed up’ from the birthday boy. In turn, Mickey finds it flattering and offers advice on where to go on the famous street. With the added ‘Shameless’ involvement and rugby star Ben Cohen, this film captures the fun and diversity of the area, which we will further bring to life at the 21st Manchester Pride later this summer”.

Other Shameless cast members to feature in the film include: Rebecca Atkinson (Karen Maguire), Aaron McCusker (Jamie Maguire), Nicky Evans (Shane Maguire), Sally Carman (Kelly-Anne Maguire), Quasim Akhtar (Chesney Karib), Elliott Tittensor (Carl Gallagher), Alice Barry (Lillian Tyler), Karen Bryson (Avril Powell) and Emmanuel Oghidaro (Jackson Powell).

Gay scene in Turkish TV series... with a twist

Thanks to @ljmaximus, this video of a gay scene in Turkish TV series, broadcast on pro-government TV channel.

Gay scene in a Turkish TV series - interesting thing - it was broadcast in a channel with pro-AKP stance

I have to say, I expected to see at least kiss but disappointingly there was no ‘action’ there :) But I guess even such an innocent scene is something. In fact, it already provoked accusations of “indecency” from certain circles in Turkey.

It is a scene from Turkish TV series “Day of Sword” which tells the story of “one small guy's war against a giant evil corporation”. The youngest son of the head of corporation is gay and, as per director of the TV series, they do not propagate "indecency" but show thoroughly the character of the evil. I could sense that the 'salt' would be in presentation of the character. In this case, 'gay as part of the evil package' :)

Reportedly, it is the first time such scene was shown on Turkish TV.

Coming out TV film/programme from France with Armenian subtitles: "Ներիր ինձ մայրիկ, ես միասեռական եմ"

I accidentally came across this video while browsing the net. I have no idea who did Armenian translation and which reality show, TV programme or film it is, but thought I would post it here. I am encouraged to see that people will take an initiative and transate such topics into Armenian. I want to see more of this. In fact, I want to see similar programmes on Armenian TV...




"Ռոման թաքնված միասեռական է,
նա որոշում է հայտնել իր գաղտնիքը իր հարազատներին"

Lesbian Armenian Shabby Katchadourian in Britain's Big Brother !!

UPDATE 21 June 2010: As per comments section below, there are doubts that Katchadourian is not Shabby's real surname, so she may not be Armenian. IMDB says she has four alternate names: "Keeley Flanders | Keeley Katchadourian | Shabby Eliot Katchadourian | Shabby Katchadourian" Why would anyone without Armenian roots 'choose' Armenian surname is beyond me. Will update this post further, if get more clarifications.
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I haven’t been following Big Brother for the last few years. Got bored of the concept, and it stopped giving me an entertainment value. The only reason I decided to watch its 2010 launch programme was because it's been announced to be the last ever Big Brother on British TV. So I thought I'd have a glance at housemates. Needless to say, I did not expect seeing any Armenian housemate there. And imagine the expression of my face when they announced that a Londoner Shabby Katchadourian was selected to be one of this year's housemates. Not only she has Armenian roots (surname), but she is also a lesbian Armenian. I put a triple WOW when tweeted about the news.

Btw, she got booed by the crowd when entering the house. No, it's not because of her ethnic roots (I do not think anyone out there was aware of her being Armenian) or sexual orientation. I assume it might have something to do with her background and the very straightforward behaviour. Also, may be people did follow her during the pre-selection period, and she did something weird or whatever. Anyway, she seems pretty cool. Will definitely keep an eye on developments.

Here is how a friend of mine described her: “A rich girl gone hippie - the English eccentric with an added twist - hye!!! :)”
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via Channel 4

Age: 24
Home: London
Job: Filmmaker
Starsign: Taurus
Status: In a relationship

Former child actor turned rebel girl Shabby (real name Keeley) describes herself as 'a walking contradiction with a love of poetry and giant boobs'. A squatter, Shabby lives in a squat in a Victorian house in south London.

Keen to transform people's opinions of squatters, Shabby believes she is a citizen of the world. She can not spend more than six months in one place so has to move on. Despite wanting to portray squatters in a new light (she has a shoot planned with Italian Vogue) she admits she eats food discarded by supermarkets.

Her film career as a child star saw her appear in Black Beauty and lose out to Lindsay Lohan for the lead role in The Parent Trap. She's now returned to filmmaking from the other side of the camera and thinks 'films shouldn't be escapist; they should hold a mirror up to the world and show it what it's really like'.

A country girl in her childhood, she moved to London aged 17. She always knew she was gay and at school all the girls who wanted to experiment with their sexuality used to kiss her to test the waters. Her mum found out she was a lesbian when she was caught Shabby with her first girlfriend.

She dislikes public transport, authority figures and strawberries - her fear of mould means she refuses to eat fruit at all. She hates being told no and has an inner spoilt brat waiting to get out. Oppression and Keira Knightley make her angry and she was once regressed and learnt she was an elf in a former life.

Is A1+ dead? You know, the REAL one, the one which I liked...

This report today (video above, in AM, for written version follow this link) by independent / pro-opposition A1+ TV station which was forced to cease broadcasting for apparent political motives, and currently in an online mode, made me think. May be those who closed down A1+ after all succeeded in their mission?... Is A1+ dead?..

The A1+ I knew was a premier source for alternative news and reports, a tribune for voices you would not normally hear in a mainstream media, devoted to human rights... Or may be, after so many years, I started idealising that TV station, and I needed this reality check to see things more realistically.

When I was reading and watching this report which was supposedly about gays in Armenia, but in reality about sex workers who happened to be gay, transsexual or transvestite, I realised that I can no longer recognise the TV station I was a supporter and fond of.

If this is how the new face of journalism at A1+ will look like, then why would I even bother waiting for their return to TV screens in Armenia?! Optimistic part in me tries to believe that this is just a one-off failure rather than a new trend. But if standards of journalism would be as low as elsewhere, then why bother?

I wanted to see A1+ as the real plus one to Armenian TV media. Otherwise, one more, one less, doesn’t matter.

It’s not the fact that they decided to do a report on sex workers who are gay, transsexual or transvestites (Btw, they mixed up the terms). But an attempt to put an equal mark between sex workers and gays (and not only by A1+). This is what bothers me as totally wrong, uneducated and homophobic. It’s as if they start presenting all women as sex workers just because there are female sex workers.

Also, the general tone of the report was shifted to create a targeted negative attitude towards gays. It was homophobic. Full stop.
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P.S. Thanks to my journalist friend Shushan Harutyunyan who pointed out to this article as unacceptable and homophobic via comments on Twitter.

Via @blansharm: Թող ինձ ներեն իմ կոլեգաները, բայց անէթիկական, հոմոֆոբիկ ու դելետանտական նյութ էր http://bit.ly/br3Yfi #Armenia #homophobia

After that, A1+ changed some of discriminatory Armenian terms to refer to gays into acceptable ones (“համասեռամոլ” into “միասեռական”), but not everywhere, and the report itself stands as it was.

Gay Muslims - UK (Channel 4 documentary)

This documentary - Gay Muslims - was first shown on Channel 4 (UK) in January 2006. Thanks to Gay Armenian Lounge Room for the link.

Tautology: ignorant doctor, demagog priest... booooring

You are so repetitive and predictable. Your type. You try 'crashing' any free-minded person, and then self-satisfy yourself with the illusive 'victory'. You are so out of touch with the realties, common sense and current state of knowledge.

Your speeches and 'arguments', and expression of your face, make me instantly bored ('homosexuality is a disease'; 'sex is an animal act'; 'hormon contained foods consumed by women make their children gay' (copyright for this 'masterpiece' belongs to a doctor (?!) - or shall we say 'doctor' - Georgi Kimich) etc etc). Even writing this and referring to you makes me bored.

Below I am re-posting just few quotes (in Armenian) from today's online edition of Armenian weekly Ankakh about Kentron TV's so called 'debate' on love and sex. They are spot on. The article will appear in this week's print edition too.

"Անհանդուրժող հասարակության համար այն ինչ մերժելի է, անընդունելի `դրա դեմ պայքարելու համար այն պետք է որպես հիվանդություն ներկայացնել, որ ուրիշները վախենան դրանով «հիվանդանալ»: Սովետի ժամանակ շատ այլախոհներ հոգեկան հիվանդ էին ախտորոշվում ու փակվում հոգեբուժարաններում: Տրամաբանությունը նույնն է. եթե մարդ սովետի դեմ է գնացել` ուրեմն հիվանդ է:"

"Իրականում նրանք արևմուտքի դեմ չեն, քանի որ հենց իրենց կրոնն էլ արևմտյան է, այլ այն արևտմյանին, որը խփում է իրենց իշխանությանը: Եթե իրոք հայ քահանաները դեմ են արևտմյանին, ապա այդպես մոլեռանդ քննադատելով արևմտյան գաղափարները, ակամա քննադատում են իրենք իրենց, քանի որ քրիստոնեությունը 1500 տարի առաջ հենց արևմուտքից է եկել Հայաստան:"

"Եզրակացություն. Արևմուտքից գալիս է քրիստոնեությունը ու հայերին դարձնում հոմոֆոբ, արևմուտքից գալիս է նացիոնալիզմը ու հայերին դարձնում նացիոնալիստ-հոմոֆոբ: հիմա էլ արևմուտքից գալիս է լիբերալ-դեմոկրատիան ու արևմուտքի, բայց արդեն հնացած գաղափարներով նացիոնալիստ ու քրիստոնյա դառածները հարձակվում են արևմուտքի վրա, թե քայքայում է ազգը այլասերություն տարածելով: Արևմուտքի հնացած գաղափարները ներկայացնելով բուն ազգային, պայքարում են ժամանակակից արևմտյան գաղափարների դեմ: Եթե ազգը քայքայվում է արևմտյան գաղափարներից, ապա արդեն մի քանի անգամ քայքայված պրծած կլիներ քրիստոնեությամբ ու նացիոնալիզմով:

Մնում է ազգայիններին ու հոգևորականներին իրենց ընտրած ազգային դիրքերից պատասխանել «երբ հայերը միասեռական էին արևմուտքում չգիտեին թե սեքսն ինչ բան ա»: Այսինքն դուրս ա գալիս հակառակը` ով հոմոֆոբ ա` հակահայ ա, ապազգային, որ մերժում ա մեր ազգային արմատները:"

Read Ankakh's article in full here.

Almost like in Armenia (ancient or contemporary), some would say ;)

Hilarious episode of Saturday Night Live, with Gerard Butler.



*thanks to George for the link.

Re: ‘trendy’ topics in Armenian media, blogs and more

There is this recent trend in Armenian media and blogosphere. More and more people started writing, reporting, speaking of gay related issues, women rights, HIV/AIDS, sex etc. hoping to boost their ratings by using these ‘trendy’ topics. [not all, of course, some of them genuinely care of and interested in the issues they raise]

On one hand, it’s good that these topics became part of a more mainstream talk. Even if with mistakes, frequent lapses, discussions will help to eventually grasp the core of the issues and move on to a more civilised and informed level. On the other hand, in majority of cases, those who initiate or engage in discussions have little to no knowledge of what they are talking about, and this results in a frequently disappointing outcome with the spread of misinformation and deepening of intolerance. (just couple of latest examples - here and here)

Another related point I want to make here is that some of those who by their position (head of, say, HIV related agency or NGO) are supposed to tackle the issues as part of their daily routine, do it only from one ‘red day in the calendar’ to another, leaving the other days empty, thus imitating rather than really working on problems and issues. As the World AIDS Day (1 December) is approaching, we may (and do) notice significantly more related press conferences, reports and TV/radio programmes.

Here is PanArmenian.Net recent report from a round table against discrimination of HIV-positive people in Armenia organised for media and interested parties by the national centre for AIDS prevention and some NGOs. PanArmenian did a good job in capturing the essence of the issues discussed there. Now if only people who organised the event do it more regularly throughout the year, and if only Armenian media follow such examples of good reporting and make it a routine practice... After recent ‘incident’ with Aravot daily (see here), I became a bit cautious in praising good examples from Armenian media. They are so inconsistent. One day, they may post a great article, next day - a bigoted one which will destroy all the good job they did a day before.

Рафаел Оганян: Мы боремся за то, чтобы общество перестало клеймить людей, живущих с ВИЧ
20.11.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «Общество выделяет людей, живущих с ВИЧ, и ставит на них клеймо, думая тем самым, что ограждает себя от существующей проблемы. Но при этом люди получают меньше информации о путях передачи ВИЧ, методах его лечения, и становятся более уязвимыми к этой болезни. Поэтому, при проведении мероприятий, мы в первую очередь обращаем внимание на изменение отношения общества к людям, больным вирусом ВИЧ. Мы боремся за то, чтобы общество перестало клеймить и дискриминировать этих людей», - заявил 20 ноября на организованном для заинтересованных общественных организаций и представителей СМИ круглом столе начальник Отдела по пресечению СПИДа Республиканского центра пресечения СПИДа Рафаел Оганян. Круглый стол был посвящен теме “Исключение проявления дискриминации по отношению к людям, живущим с ВИЧ, и их социальная поддержка”. Отношение общества к людям, живущим с ВИЧ, гости раскрыли на одном примере: журналиста, сказавшего, что он болен вирусом ВИЧ, просто высадили из маршрутного такси. “И это не единичный пример. Люди, живущие с ВИЧ, сталкиваются с подобным отношением каждый день: на улице, в кафе или даже в больнице. Случалось даже, что роженицам, больным вирусом, отказывали в медицинской помощи при родах. Дискриминация способствует тому, что, чувствуя на себе клеймо общественного мнения, люди, больные вирусом, замыкаются в себе и не проявляют активной деятельности. А ведь доказано, что именно такие люди наиболее полезны в деле поддержки больных этим вирусом», - подчеркнула представитель общественной организации “Реальный мир – реальные люди” Лусине Паносян. Представитель общественной организации «Армянская сеть позитивных людей» Аргине Степанян представила результаты эксперимента, проведенного организацией весной 2009 года. «Мы провели опрос среди персонала 18 стоматологических клиник, спросив, примут ли они на лечение людей, живущих с ВИЧ. По его результатам, без каких-либо проблем лечить таких пациентов согласились только работники шести клиник. Четыре клиники наотрез отказались принимать этих людей, а представители остальных шести организаций сказали, что, наверное, приняли бы этих пациентов. Но эти слова прозвучали не очень обнадеживающе», - заявила она. В деле изменения общественного мнения о людях, больных вирусом ВИЧ, организаторы круглого стола отвели значительное место СМИ. Однако Рафаел Оганян подчеркнул, что, приступая к освещению проблем ВИЧ и СПИДа, журналисты должны сначала сами глубоко изучить все аспекты этой проблемы, и уже потом представлять ее обществу. Особенно участники остановились на терминологии. В частности, президент НКО «СПИД – профилактика, обучение и лечение» Артак Мушегян подчеркнул: «Терминология болезни очень гибкая, и за ней нужно следить каждый день. За последние несколько лет мы уже перестали называть больных вирусом ВИЧ носителями вируса, сейчас мы четко разделяем ВИЧ и СПИД. И это не весь список изменений. Терминология, употребляемая журналистами, очень важна, так как она тоже является фактором формирования общественного мнения». Каждое третье воскресенье мая признано Днем памяти погибших от ВИЧ людей, а 1 декабря – День борьбы со СПИДом. Гости отметили, что в этот день предстоит много мероприятий, а в частности молодежное шествие по городу. Однако, по их словам, очень важно, чтобы о проблеме ВИЧ и СПИДа говорили не 2 раза в год, а все 365 дней в году. Это способствует изменению отношения общества к людям, больным этим вирусом. “ВИЧ – такая же болезнь, как сахарный диабет: вылечить его невозможно, но существуют лекарства, улучшающие качество жизни больных вирусом. Если воспринимать людей, живущих с ВИЧ также как диабетиков, многих проблем можно было бы избежать»,- отметила Лусине Паносян.

15th anniversary of Friends in London

Was away from London when it was marked. I wish I could drink a coffee at temporarily opened Central Perk cafe (67 Broadwick street, off Carnaby street) recreated based on popular TV series Friends which I got hooked on when I first arrived in London few years ago. Pure entertainment.

Yerevan diaries: Yere1 comedy sketch show on Armenia TV - Homophobic or Not?

Yere1 is a relatively new comedy sketch show on Armenia TV. I first heard and then watched couple of series of Yere1 when in Yerevan in September.

Basically, it’s an Armenian version of highly popular Russian TV show Nasha Russia.

One of the central story-lines there is gay related. Other story-lines from time to time cross that topic too.

However, while Russian main gay character is chosen and presented as one contrary to cliches - overly masculine, with rough habits and taste (similar to what one may consider as a cliche straight man), in Armenian version it’s a cliche - overly feminine - gay man. Therefore, Russian version is frequently funny and tackles and laughed at existing gay or masculine stereotypes pretty OK, while Armenian one is rarely funny and may contribute to existing prejudices.

There are, however, few funny moments in Armenian version too which expose silliness of macho prejudices in our everyday life. What an average Armenian TV viewer will make out of this, is anyone's guess. So far I've heard very opposite opinions re Yere1: from homophobic to gay friendly, from totally stupid to pretty funny. Perhaps, there is a bit of everything there. My main reservation, however, remains the use of unacceptable Armenian equivalent to describe a gay man: “hamaseramol”.