Unzipped: Gay Armenia - LIST 2008

To mark International Day Against Homophobia (17 May) -exactly one year ago I started my Unzipped: Gay Armenia blog - I launch Unzipped: Gay Armenia LIST 2008, which will be published annually. This LIST recognises individuals, organisations, media, blogs, events and other contributors(tions) to gay rights and equality in Armenia and Diaspora. It also 'names' main homophobic occurrences over the past year, to evolve eventually into Armenian version of Homophobia Hall of Shame. Time period covered by the LIST incorporates one year prior to 17 May (including 16 May). 

This year the LIST was compiled by myself only. For the following years, I will do my best to take into account also readers' and broader Armenian LGBT community views. This LIST by no means claimed to be complete. However, it recognises, to my best knowledge, key developments relating to Armenian LGBT community in Armenia and Diaspora over the past year. New categories will be added in future depending on availability of entries (like Exhibition of the Year, Book of the Year and so on).

1. Person of the Year - International

Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuba's incumbent president Raul Castro. She proves once more that one person can make enormous impact in transforming a society and changing its values.

I wish we have Armenian 'Mariela Castro'!

Castro champions gay rights in Cuba (photo via BBC)

"As head of the government-funded National Centre for Sex Education, she is trying to change people's attitudes towards minority groups in the community.

She is currently attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what would be among the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America."

2. Person of the Year - Armenia/Diaspora

Micha Meroujean, head of former AGLA France, well known gay rights activist, originally from Armenia, currently living in France. He set up Armenian gay rights organisation in France - AGLA France, which recently ceased to exist. However, he continues advocating gay rights and equality in Armenia and Diaspora, supporting local LGBT activists.

He set up Armenian Social Network online - Yesoudo, which I currently consider to be the most gay friendly Armenian social network on the web. He is also a talented film-maker. Last summer he presented his film in Armenia - "The Diary of an Exiled Queer" - first of its kind in Armenian reality where via personal diary and perspectives he touches the issues of gay rights, equality and homophobia in Armenia and Diaspora.

3. Good news of the Year

AGLA NY: Armenian gay rights organisation in New York expands

PINK Armenia - new LGBT related NGO registered in Armenia (December 2007)

4. Bad news of the Year

AGLA France: Armenian gay rights organisation ceased to exist

5.  Homophobe of the Year

Armenian Aryan Order 

(Attention seeking bigots say "Thanks" for withdrawal of Hoagland's nomination as US envoy to Armenia)

6. Article of the Year

Armenia's Animosity Towards Gays (by Shushan Harutyunyan, Hetq Online)

7. Blog posts of the Year

Blogrel  - Critical response to the article "Homosexuals Are Hidden in Armenia" (see also So why "Homosexuals Are Hidden in Armenia"?)

A1plus blog - Արմեն Հարությունյանի պատասխանները “Ա1+”-ի ընթերցողների հարցերին ("Armenian Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan answers to the questions of A1plus blog readers" - see also here)

A1plus blog - Այսօր հոմոֆոբիայի դեմ պայքարի միջազգային օրն է (Today marks International Day Against Homophobia")

Oneworld Multimedia Blog - Homophobia in the South Caucasus

Special mention to Onnik Krikorian - as Regional Editor for Caucasus at Global Voices Online - for constantly linking to Armenia and South Caucasus LGBT related blog posts thus ensuring these issues have wider exposure and audience.

8. New LGBT related blog of the Year

Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York (AGLA NY) blog

9. Homophobic articles of the Year

Here is hoping that these Armenian newspapers will change their attitude and will start publishing articles to be mentioned under the "Article of the Year" category for the next year's LIST 2009.

Aravot daily - ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՈՒՄ ՀԱՄԱՍԵՌԱՄՈԼՆԵՐԸ ԹԱՔՆՎԱԾ ԵՆ (see also So why "Homosexuals Are Hidden in Armenia"?)

Aravot daily -  Չեն սիրում քաղաքական խաղեր, արհամարհում են համասեռամոլներին (see also Aravot newspaper: Routine homophobia on ‘behalf’ of Armenian bloggers)

Chorrord Ishkhanutyun - (no direct link to original article in Armenian; see Opposition "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" newspaper must stop using homophobic references in its attacks on Armenia PM Tigran Sargsyan)

9. LGBT related international reports for Armenia

Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner calls for specific legal provisions in Armenia to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation

Discrimination against gay Armenians: US State Department Human Rights Report 2007

1o. NGO(s) of the Year

These two local NGOs directly work with the LGBT community in Armenia and deserve recognition and support.

We For Civil Equality (WFCE)

PINK Armenia

11. Venue of the Year

Meline's Bar - despite closure and re-opening again, controversial opinions, Meline's remains the first and the only gay bar in Yerevan, a place where LGBT Armenians can be themselves, spend evening/night out, relax and have fun. For other gay-friendly venues, see my Armenia Gay Guide

12. Social networking site of the Year

Yesoudo - Armenian Social Network,  the most gay friendly Armenian social network on the web

13. Film(s) of the Year

The Diary of an Exiled Queer (director Micha Meroujean) - see above, "Person of the Year - Armenia/Diaspora"

East/West - Sex and Politics (director Jochen Hick, Germany, 2008) - an in-depth account of the attempts to mount a Gay Pride parade in Moscow in 2006 and 2007 - prominently features gay Armenian storyline (P.S. I intend to write about this film in a separate post; when ready, I will indicate the link under the comments section below)

Homophobic ad in Yerevan

It’s been a while since Ksjukh posted this ad picture from Yerevan in Yesoudo, so far my favourite Armenian social networking site. It is an ad for a rap party that says "gays and animals are not allowed".

It became one of the most commented pictures in Yesoudo.

Micha: “They didn't need to write anything, they could simply keep the poster as it is and no gay or any self-respecting pet would go there. Rap party called "Hin Djougha"? With a blond bimbo in US-flag bikini on its poster? No kidding! I don't even dare to imagine what kind of rap they're going to perform”

We also discussed a serious nature of it and lack of legal basis and groups or NGO-s to take the case to the court. There is no anti-discrimination law to include homophobia, sexism etc in Armenia. Only racism is currently punishable.

Blogian now re-posted this picture, and along with pointing out homophobic aspect of it, raises the following question:

“What caught my attention most, though, is not the American-flagized blond nor the homophobic message but the name of the party (rap group?) - Hin Jugha (Old Djulfa). This is the historic Armenian place where Azerbaijan destroyed thousands of stone-crosses in December of 2005. What do homophobia, rap and Old Djulfa have to do with each other?”

I suppose, this is a ‘perfect’ combination for attention seeking bigots and loser-‘promoters’. What can be more eye-catching and attention grabbing than semi-naked blond, vulgar homophobia and false patriotism? Imagine, what sort of crowd would be attracted to that party… Even thinking of it made me nauseous.

Back to Yesoudo, the most hilarious comment in relation to this ad came from my Yesoudo friend Chant, a talented young filmmaker.

Chant: Someone should do graffiti 2 males kissing on that ... here's an idea to inspire you by artist Banksy: http://www.thismoment.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/blog/banksy.jpg

Armenian 'YouTube'

(posted in Unzipped on 3 May 2007)

I was pleasantly surprised to come across to this first Armenian Video Sharing Network on the web: yesoudo.com It's very new, still in early stages, but my first impression was that it could be very promising development.

Hrant Dink on Turkey-Armenia, family and gay issues

Here is one of the uploaded videos which caught my eyes. It's a rare interview (in Armenian and French) with Hrant Dink (The Independent named him "Armenian champion in Turkey"), a prominent Turkish-Armenian editor who shot dead on 19 January 2007 in Istanbul for his stance on Armenian genocide and human rights in Turkey. This interview (autumn 2005, Paris) is exceptional, since here, along with Turkey-Armenia relationships, a prominent Armenian spoke out in support of gay rights (an exceptionally rare move in current Armenian reality). When asked, what would be his reaction if his son or daughter came out as gay, Hrant Dink said that he would provide with support:

You should live your life, If you ever have any problems, I will be beside you, I will support you!



I wish I could say "We are all Hrant Dink!"...