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!

Societal attitudes towards LGBT people in Armenia - survey: press conference

To download the full survey report (AM) - click here. English version - coming soon (within a week or so).

Blog posts detailing the results of this survey will appear on this blog in the near future.

English language report by Epress.am from today's press conference - Majority of Armenians Would Cut Ties if Found Out Friend, Relative was Gay: New Study.



*video - News.am

Armenia’s 3rd largest city Vanadzor joins Yerevan in RainbowFlash to mark the International Day Against Homophobia - for the first time ever!!

RainbowFlash in Yerevan

*picture by Nazik Armenakian

*picture - via PINK Armenia Facebook page

For the second year in a row, PINK Armenia marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) with a Rainbow Flash.

RainbowFlash events are organized every year. According to the data, 48 cities have participated in the event in 2010, including Yerevan, and in 2011 the number has reached till 50. Countries that participated include; Russia (23 cities in 2010), Germany (21 cities), Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Israel, Czech Republic, Singapore and Armenia. [...] 

On May 17 at 7pm people gathered in Yerevan near the Swan Lake for participating in RainbowFlash 2011. The colorful part began when everybody received our pins with “As I am” message on it. Excited, with happy smiles and high mood, we were distributing between each other the balloons. Not only LGBT people but also some heterosexual men and women were involved. [...] 

So important to have this kind of small, but reinforcing and empowering events that inspire and revive hope. Hope and faith that it is possible to live in a country, where there are posters all around the city warning people to condemn homosexuality, because it makes the nation unclean… hope and faith that change is possible and we may create our own little Armenia; all-inclusive, non-discriminatory, friendly and cheerful regardless any characteristics… 

Rays of love and positive energy were around us that day!

I could see quite a few familiar faces in this video. Love you, guys!



[Read also from my archive: PINK & friends make history in Armenia by marking IDAHO and turning Yerevan sky rainbow]
***

RainbowFlash in Vanadzor

Here is how the event was unfolded, as described by the local activist.

They didn’t have gas for the balloons. Instead, they blew the balloons themselves and put the relevant messages inside. At 4 o'clock they headed towards the “most important street” in Vanadzor. As they reached the main square, they divided and spread all over the square, and started fixing the balloons here and there. In 5 minutes, the square got ‘decorated’ (more or less) with the balloons. People started taking the balloons and destroying them to get the inside messages.

There was one guy from the media who did an interview with the activists.

After an hour or so, you could still see people walking with the balloons via the streets of Vanadzor.

I can only commend the activists in Vanadzor for this action and hope that people will get the messages... eventually

HIV and human rights: HIV/AIDS educational campaign in Gyumri and Vanadzor 4-6 December 2009 supported by OSI Armenia

*press release in Armenian

Բաց Հասարակության ինստիտուտի Հայաստանի մասնաճյուղի նախաձեռնությամբ 2009թ-ի դեկտեմբերի 4-ից մինչև 6-ը Հայաստանի մի շարք մարզերում իրականացվում է ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ-ի դեմ պայքարի համաշխարհային օրվան նվիրված քարոզարշավ:

Քարոզարշավի շրջանակներում նախատեսվում է Գյումրի, Վանաձոր քաղաքներում կազմակերպել կլոր-սեղան քննարկումներ և հեռուստաեթերներ, որոնց ժամանակ հանրությանը կներկայացվեն ներարկային թմրամիջոցներ օգտագործողների, նույնասեռականների, սեռական ծառայություններ մատուցող անձանց, ինչպես նաև կանանց ու երիտասարդների խնդիրները ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ համատեքստում: Կքննարկվի նրանց իրավունքների և հիմնարար ազատությունների լիարժեք իրականացման անհրաժեշտությունը` որպես ՄԻԱՎ/ՁԻԱՀ համաճարակի դեմ գլոբալ պայքարի կարևորագույն բաղադրիչ, քանի որ հանրային առողջության պաշտպանությունը հնարավոր է միայն մարդու բոլոր իրավունքները պաշտպանելու միջոցով:

Քարոզարշավին մասնակցում են խոցելի խմբերի շահերի պաշտպանություն իրականացնող մի շարք կազմակերպություններ, այդ թվում` Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ, Հակաթմրամոլային քաղաքացիական դաշինք, Իրական Աշխարհ, Իրական Մարդիկ, ինչպես նաև Հանրային տեղեկատվություն և գիտելիքի կարիք հասարակական կազմակերպությունները:

Առաջին կլոր-սեղան քննարկումը կիրականացվի դեկտեմբերի 4-ին ժամը 16.00-ին Գյումրի լրագրողների Ասպարեզ ակումբում: Նույն օրը` ժամը 20.00-ին Գյումրիի Ցայգ հեռուստաընկերության ուղիղ եթերով կկայանա հեռուստաքննարկում, որին կմասնակցեն վերը նշված կազմակերպությունների ներկայացուցիչները:

Երկրորդ կլոր-սեղան քննարկումը կիրականացվի Վանաձորում` դեկտեմբերի 5-ին ժամը 15.00-ին, իսկ հեռուստաքննարկումը կկայանա ժամը 19.00-ին Վանաձորի Լոռի հեռուստաընկերության ուղիղ եթերով:

Լրացուցիչ տեղեկավության ստացման համար կարող եք դիմել Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ` Իրավական աջակցություն Լոռու, Շիրակի, Տավուշի մարզերի և Երևանի թմրամիջոց գործածողներին ծրագրի համակարգող Ելենա Սարգսյանին (հեռախոս 374322 4 22 68, hcav@hcav.am)

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office

WTF? A bizarre follow-up to my posts on gay-themed theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia

Remember that gay-themed theatre play MetastaZ I posted about? The one which then received theatrical awards including for “best young director” in an annual theatre award ceremony in Yerevan.

After almost a year I first posted the info & videos, now the “best young director” (award received for that very play) and the main actress feel ‘ashamed’ and ‘outraged’ of publicity after my posts and videos. They asked me (I am not sure what was the exact wording they used) - through other people involved in the play - to delete my posts and videos. I doubt they understand English, otherwise they would have read my posts properly and understand that there were no X-rated comments there, unless you consider as ‘X-rated’ positive and nice things said about the play. Unless you consider as ‘X-rated’ any gay related blog. Bear in mind that the play itself was gay-themed.

I have only one question: WTF is going on?

You write the gay-themed play, you participate in it, you receive prizes for it, and now (after quite a while, I have to say) you are ashamed and outraged of the info being published in gay blogs? You are ashamed and outraged to be seen in a scene (which one of you directed and the other one played in) with a gay kiss? In fact, back then, they were very happy and thankful that the videos were made.

But the most ridiculous thing is the following. One of the reasons why they want the videos to be deleted is the actress’s boyfriend dislike that she is dancing there for everyone to see. I cannot even comment on this. This is beyond me. Why on earth she became an actress, and why on earth he is dating an actress if cannot stand an innocent dance during the play?..

You know what, I do not need your videos. You should ask me to keep them here. From today onwards all three uploaded to YouTube videos are private and will no longer be available to public. (there is no such possibility re one video clip uploaded directly to the blogger, so it will stay) Now it’s your turn, Ms. “best young director” Nune Khechumyan. What about giving up the “best young director” award? Слабо?

And one more thing. Re my blog posts, no one can dictate me of what I should and should not write on my blog. I can comment on any event I feel like it or find appropriate. That’s not your f* business.

Gay-themed play MetastaZ received theatrical awards in Armenia

UPDATE: (11 June 2009) WTF? A bizarre follow-up to my posts on gay-themed theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia
***
Very happy to share this news.

Nune Khechumyan received "Best young director" award for a gay-themed play MetastaZ at the main Armenian annual theatre award ceremony "Artavazd 2009" on 27 March in Yerevan. Also, actor Temur Atchinyan (State Dramatic Theatre named after H. Abelyan of Vanadzor) was named "Best young actor" at the award ceremony. He was among a group of talented actors involved in MetastaZ.

My congratulations!!

For more info about MetastaZ and video clips from the performance, see:

MetastaZ - gay related theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia

*posters - via PINK Armenia

MetastaZ - gay related theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia (video)

UPDATE: (11 June 2009) WTF? A bizarre follow-up to my posts on gay-themed theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia
***
It’s my personal impression that theatre life in Armenia sees its kind of new revival. And it’s not only classical theatre but alternative one too. Experimental theatre has its regular scheduling at the NPAK or other venues. HighFest festival brings to Armenia cutting edge performances from within the country and abroad, e.g. by English playwright Mark Ravenhill.

But this mainly focuses in capital Yerevan. Therefore, it was even more encouraging to read on PINK Armenia about MetastaZ, theatre play in Vanadzor, Armenia’s 3rd city.

In the end of May the State Dramatic Theatre named after H. Abelyan of Vanadzor opened curtains for the premiere of the performance "MetastaZ (Metastasis)" under same play of Hovhannes Tekgyozyan "Metastasis". […]

From the very beginning it was planned as the audience would be a part of the play: there were 30 chairs black and white colored, like chessboard and they were on the stage. […]

A plead of talented actors was evolved in the play, such as Temur Atchinyan, Alla Darbinyan, Edgar Qocharyan, Hamlet Gyulzadyan and also one of the founders of PINK Armenia, Arthur Haroyan. The casting has been done very carefully. Also Hovsep Mesropyan and Vahe Shahverdyan were in all that action, the author of original sound tracks was the same Arthur Haroyan. […]

The most interesting fact is that a performance based on real facts of two homosexuals was played in the third city of Armenia and not Yerevan.The main goal of the director was not the elucidation of the theme of homosexuality and drugs in general, but the torture of the people, having a pain arisen by treachery. The same can overtake each of us like it happened to the heroes of performance "MetastaZ". […]

The most part of public has been shocked and admired from professional acting and director's work of performance, and some others experienced a shock, proceeding from basic reasons and traditional mentality: " How can it be possible, we are Armenians, not homos?" […]

For the first time, below you can see selected video clips from the MetastaZ. Many thanks to PINK Armenia for providing this material. (video clip No.4 was impossible to upload to the YouTube due to its duration – more than 10 mins – therefore, I uploaded it directly to the ‘Blogger’).

MetastaZ (clip No. 1)



MetastaZ (clip No. 2)



MetastaZ (clip No. 3)



MetastaZ (clip No. 4)

[This video removed upon personal request]