Armenian human rights activist Lilit Poghosyan is chosen as the face for the EU anti-discrimination poster

Do you know your rights?

53% of Europeans don’t know they’re protected from discrimination in the workplace. [Eurobarometer survey on discrimination in the European Union – Perceptions, experiences and attitudes (July 2008)]

Laws exist throughout the EU to protect everyone against discrimination based on race or ethnic origin, age, disability, religion or belief, or sexual orientation in the workplace.

*This poster has been produced as part of the EU-wide “For Diversity. Against Discrimination” information campaign. Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the campaign aims to raise awareness of discrimination and the EU laws which exist to combat it, and to promote the benefits of diversity.

What is even more pleasing for me regarding this poster is that Lilit Poghosyan is a good friend of mine. Well done, Lilit jan! I am proud of you and of being your friend.

Lilit joined Europe’s main gay rights group - ILGA-Europe (as Programmes & Policy Officer) in October 2008.

Lilit is responsible for the Advocacy Project which aims to strengthen the advocacy capacities and competences of project partners. She also monitors the developments in the field of human rights of LGBT people in Western Balkans and Turkey and channels the information on human rights violations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity to relevant EU institutions in order to ensure that LGBT people enjoy equal rights and protection in candidate and potential candidate countries for the accession to the EU.

Lilit holds a degree in Psychology and Education and has completed her MSc in Human Rights at London School of Economics in 2005. She has eight years work experience in field of sexual, reproductive and mental health of which around six years in Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) field projects in Armenia, Kashmir/Pakistan, Zambia and Uganda.

Turkey: Sex Workers Protest for More Rights

Sex workers in Istanbul and Ankara have protested on occasion of International Sex Workers' Rights Day (3 March). They demand acceptance of their work as an occupation and the right to organise.

Bıanet
4 March 2009
Emine ÖZCAN

“Unfortunately, we cannot celebrate International Sex Workers Day, because we are always faced with violence. The police is also practising and reinforcing this violence.”

Representing around 20 sex workers who had gathered in front of Istanbul’s Galatasaray Highschool in Beyoğlu, Eylem Çağdaş read a statement.

Call for constitutional rights

She said, “We want neither discrimination nor privilege. We only want to make use of the constitutional rights we were all given at birth. Respecting sex work is not a favour, it is a constitutional responsibility.”

The protesters carried red umbrellas, an internationally used symbol on the day. The day originated in 2001 when over 25 000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organisers wanted to celebrate the lives of sex workers as well as highlight sex workers' determination and strength. Sex worker groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March as International Sex Workers' Rights Day.

One protester, Derya, told bianet: “We don’t have anywhere to work, so we are forced to walk the streets. But there we may face death. This week a friend of ours was savagely beaten. If I don’t work, how will I get by?”

The statement was signed by the Women’s Door (Kadın Kapısı), Lambdaistanbul LGBTT Solidarity Association, Amargi Women’s Solidarity Cooperative, the Revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party (DSİP), the Global Action Group (KEG) and the Solidarity Network against Sexism.

Protest in Ankara

In Ankara, the day was marked by a group of around 50 people carrying placards and red umbrellas. The protest was organised by the Ankara Red Umbrella Sex Workers’ Initiative.

Some of the placards read, “Health is also a right for sex workers”, “We want a world without bosses and pimps”, “End police violence”, “End the labour hierarchy” and “Sex work is also labour”.

The protesters made the following demands:

- Sex workers’ rights to life, personal freedom and personal safety have to be guaranteed
- Sex work must also be accepted as a profession and certain standards must be set
- Healthy and safe spaces must be provided
- Sex workers must be able to benefit from social security rights just like other citizens
- The right to organise must be safeguarded
- Discriminating laws must be abolished, discrimination and police violence must end

Around 100,000 sex workers

According to data from the initiative, there are 56 brothels in Turkey with around 3,000 women work as registered sex workers there.

In the whole of Turkey, 15,000 women work as registered sex workers. However, many women and men work in this sector unofficially. Refugee and transsexual sex workers are not included in these numbers either.

The initiative estimates that there are up to 100,000 sex workers in Turkey.

In Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir alone, around 30,000 women are waiting in line to get a license to work in a brothel.

This year is the first year that the day has been marked in Turkey. The Red Umbrella Initiative was founded last year and it was then decided to mark the day in 2009. The iniative is working towards becoming a trade union.

Artush and Zaur author Alekper Aliyev started blogging

Alekper Aliyev, editor-in-chief of kultura.az, the author of Artush and Zaur - gay love story between Armenian and Azerbaijani, started blogging (in Russian):

http://alekper-aliyev.livejournal.com/

Welcome to blogosphere!

Surge in numbers of gay Georgian blogs

Apparently, there is surge in numbers of gay bloggers/blogs in Georgia.

Below is a link to just one of such blogs (it contains links to some others too):

Tbilisi Gay Life

Unfortunately, they are all in Georgian, so I won’t be able to directly review them.

Artush and Zaur book discussion to be held in Baku on 11 March

Nigar Kocharli, owner of the Ali and Nino bookstore chain in Baku, the only one which sells Artush and Zaur - gay love story between Armenian and Azerbaijani - says that despite threats she plans hosting a book discussion event with the readers and the author Alekper Aliyev on 11 March 2009.

“There are no gays in Armenia” (from Armenian news agency to Azeri author)

Remember that infamous statement of ‘no gays in Iran’ by Iranian president Ahmadinejad which made him a laughing stock worldwide. Very different level here, but truly THE Quote of The Day. (Quote of The Year, or even century(ies)?..)

Here we go:

“It’s impossible, there are no gays in Armenia.”

И вот мне из [ереванского агентства новостей] Panarmenian коллеги написали: "Это невозможно, в Армении геев нет".

From Panarmenian.net Armenian news agency to Azeri writer Alekper Aliyev, the author of Artush and Zaur (gay love story between Armenian and Azerbaijani)

*source: Interview with the author by BBC's Mark Grigoryan (in Russian)

(via Mark Grigoryan’s blog)

I wonder who were the authors of this nonsense from Panarmenian.net?

Women's Month in Armenia - 2009

It is soon Women's Day in Armenia and this year women are asking for more than flowers and chocolate, they are asking for equal rights, equal opportunities and a life without violence.

The Women's Resource Center in cooperation with other NGOs is launching the activites for the Month dedicated to women's issues in Armenia.

Events:

MARCH 7
Photo exhibition -- Armenian women; Yesterday, today, tomorrow / time :10am @ Sayat Nova 4
FILM -- "Finding Zabel Yesayan" / time: 2 and 5pm @ Sayat Nova 4 (by invitations)

MARCH 8
"Burying the Red Apple" Ceremony @ 3pm from Zarubyan 34

MARCH 12
FILM and DISCUSSION on lesbian women @ 5pm - Zarubyan 34

MARCH 20
CLean up of Armenian women writers' tombstones at the Pantheon @ 11am

APRIL 2 - APRIL 12
ART EXHIBITION -- "ALL and NOW" / ART 4 - ARVARSTAN
curator: Eva Khachatryan

APRIL 6
Round Table discussion on "Abortion in Armenia"

Sexual orientation: a practical guide for the National Health Service (NHS) in England

This document gives practical advice to enable NHS organisations in England to address their responsibilities relating to sexual orientation and employment or healthcare delivery. (Department of Health - publications)

Produced by the Department of Health (DH), it aims at helping NHS organisations to comply with recent equality legislation, understand the role of sexual orientation in the context of healthcare, and integrate this knowledge into single equality schemes (SES). Other guides in this series cover disability, gender, religion or belief, and trans people. Age Concern are producing a companion guide to age equality. The Race for Health programme provides extensive guidance and support for the NHS on issues of race.
***

Recently, a number of legal measures have required people to be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation.

• In 2001, the age of consent was equalised at 16 for all

• In 2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations made it unlawful to discriminate against a person in employment and training on the grounds of sexual orientation

• Since November 2004, the Civil Partnership Act has given same‑sex partners clear legal rights, similar to those previously only available to married couples

• Since April 2007, the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007 has prohibited discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Young male lizards use 'transvestite trickery'

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Young male lizards in South Africa imitate females to fool aggressive older males into leaving them alone, in an example of transvestism in the natural world, researchers have found.

The lizards not only avoid fights but gain access to females under the nose of their more macho rivals, the South African and Australian researchers discovered.

They found that young male Augrabies flat lizards (pictured) delayed displaying the extravagant coloration of sexually-mature males until they were able to defend themselves adequately.

*thanks to O.K. for the link

**photo - AFP/HO/File/Martin Whiting

Online TV interview with editors of Georgian LGBT Me magazine

Blog.teentv.ge is a teenagers’ TV programme (in Georgian) transmitted via Internet. They focus on alternative subcultures and try to fill in that gap through their programming.

Teen TV was initially broadcasted on Public TV. Once they prepared a plot about how several priests came to the Halloween celebration (it was sponsored by a city hall; and they closed one pedestrian street when they encountered a clergy violent protest - the DJ was beaten up by priest). However, this did not get aired, and in protest they left the public channel. Teen TV will soon be hosted by Rustavi 2, a leading (private) channel. Till then, it is only available via blogging which is reportedly very popular.

Their most recent programme was devoted to Georgian LGBT magazine - Me. Below is a video which includes interviews with the editors of the magazine and passer-bys (in Georgian). Also - a brief summary transcript in English. (Many thanks to Paata for translation and the info provided!)



"One can find a large number of publications in press booths. However, the vast majority of these are addressed to the same type of readership (mainstream). Where can one find an alternative read? The choice is not that diverse. After viewing our story one may ask a question: why would WE cover the issue? Yet we think that this topic is equally interesting to EVERYONE."

In this TV report, co-editors of the Me magazine Eka and Paata speak of the motivation behind the publication and its aims. They mention that Me magazine is the first attempt to assemble a publication about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in Georgia. [in fact, in the whole South Caucasus] The idea of it came early in 2006, slightly ahead of the registration of the organization – Inclusive Foundation, LGBT NGO in Georgia. It aims not only at LGBT community, but also a wider society. Incompetent media spreading misinformation and widespread homophobia were all behind the motivation to start this publication to address information needs and increase awareness of the population. Since then there have been increased attention and discussions in Georgia of this previously tabooed topic (with active involvement of the church). Magazine is distributed free of charge.

Reporter then mentions that like with any other new, previously tabooed subject matters, the publication of the LGBT magazine is expected to be met negatively and critically by the public. But the very fact that this publication has seen the daylight and makes influences is a positive sign.

They also interviewed few passer-bys.

1st interviewee: No, I do not know about this publication.
Reporter: would you read it?
1st interviewee: Yes, perhaps yes. I think would be interesting to.

2nd interviewee [in Russian]: No, I would not have an interest. And I think that this type of publications shall not be out, and especially youth shall not entertain themselves with it.

3rd interviewee: No, I haven’t heard of it.
Reporter: Would you read it?
3rd interviewee: No, I doubt it, because this issue is of no concern to me.

4th interviewee: No I have not encountered this publication.
Reporter: What is your opinion?
4th interviewee: Hmm, I don’t know… I think that it is nothing to welcome really, in my opinion…
Reporter: Would you read it though?
4th interviewee: No, I would not be interested in reading it.

5th interviewee: No, have not heard of it.
Reporter: Would you be interested to read it?
5th interviewee: mm, if I would find a particular article interesting, of course, I would read it, yes.

Armenian women burying the "Red Apple" on 8 March

Celebrating International Women's Day in Armenia

Start Time: 07 March 2009 at 3pm
End Time: 07 April 2009 at 5pm
Starting point: Women's Resource Center, 34 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

The Women's Resource Center of Armenia with the cooperation of Utopiana, WOW and other NGOs, intends to mark the 8th of March, by performing a funeral rite and burying the “Red Apple” (to verify women’s virginity for marriage) one of the cultural traditions still popular in most of Armenia which the Center considers demeaning for women and a violation of their human rights and dignity.

Here is what Lara Aharonian of the Women's Resource Center has to say to clarify misconceptions associated with this initiative:

"To clarify certain things and to not mislead anyone:

By burying the red apple, we are not telling anyone to not be a virgin, because we believe that everyone has the right to choose their personal life and sexuality, as a basic human right.

On the contrary we want to express that every woman has the right to choose for herself and not be forced in the name of tradition.

The red apple is an attempt to our private life as women. And what we decide to do with our bodies concerns us and nobody else.

So if we want to stay virgin, it is our right and completely respected and if we don't that it is also our choice.

We want to bury the traditions that makes us feel less than a human and that makes us choose against our will.

So in order to not offend anyone, I wanted to add this comment."

OTL blog provides with the details of the staged 'funeral procession':

"The funeral rite will be stylized as Armenian. We will lead Mr. Apple, someone dressed in a 3D apple outfit, with chains, carrying flowers and a tombstone while a woman-priest (a teacher from the women’s center will dress up as one) will chant a modified reading of “funeral biblical scripts” replaced by verses about the end of the Apple. We will end the walk in a “lover’s park” in front of Congress Hotel where we will rip the Red Apple apart and bury the pieces in the ground. As a final celebration we will pour cement onto the spot and inscribe “Here lays the Red Apple” (“…..-2009). A party in the park will follow."

And here is the link to the intreview with RFE/RL Maxliberty programme about the 'funeral' (in Armenian).

Finding Zabel Yesayan (documentary)

Date: 7 March 2009
Time: 5 - 6 pm
Location: Tumanyan Muppet Theater
Street: 4 Sayat Nova
Town/City: Yerevan, Armenia

The Women's Resource Center and Utopiana will present the screening of the documentary film "Finding Zabel Yesayan" by Talin Suciyan and Lara Aharonian. The 40 min documentary depicts the life of the writer after her move to Soviet Armenia.

By Invitation only, places limited

Lectures on “Georgian sexual revolution”: Lesson 1 – Blow job

Nadia Tsulukidze is Georgian performing artist. (here is link to her blog) She explores many topics like masculinity, women issues etc.

This time she started a series of lectures on “Georgian sexual revolution”. 1st class is about blow job. Hilarious!

"Don’t touch the penis with your teeth!"

Part 1


Part 2


*Thanks to Paata for the info!

I remember...

1 March 08

Gay kiss music video from ex-Libertines Peter Doherty

Kiss of The Day

Via Towleroad, this music video for the new single from ex-Libertines (my favourite band back then) Peter Doherty's debut solo album Grace/Wastelands, called "Last of the English Roses". 'Kiss of The Day' - at the end of the video. Check it out ;)

Gay Azeri artist Babi B now seeks asylum in France

I wrote extensively about the case of gay Azeri artist Babi B. He fled his native Azerbaijan due to homophobia, seeking for asylum in the UK. Despite an international campaign in support of his pledge, Babi's asylum bid in the UK has failed, and he got deported back to Baku. He was then moved to St. Petersburg. However, growing nationalism and intolerance in Russia made his stay there unsafe too.

Recent reports indicate that "Babi is now in France and has tried once again a request for asylum, supported by some close relations and associations."

Below is Babi's latest interview (from France) where he details his story and how it is to be gay in Azerbaijan.

Sex-change operations on the rise in Azerbaijan

1news.az reports on some personal, social, financial and legal challenges Azeri transsexuals face when seeking sex-change surgery. The report contains an interview with the first Azeri surgeon who conducted such operations – 11 so far, mainly Russian citizens, as the surgery is far more expensive there than in Azerbaijan.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that numbers of people who seek sex-change operation in Azerbaijan are on the rise. According to one unofficial statistics, as of now, more than 100 people underwent such operations in Azerbaijan.

'Beckham condoms' in China

The Sun reports: “A Chinese firm is using David Beckham’s name to help sell its condoms. The Beckham contraceptive – not endorsed by him – claims the user will score in the bedroom like David does on the pitch.

The condoms now sell more than any other brand in China which has a population of 1.3billion. But Chinese fans of the LA Galaxy soccer star want them banned. One said: “We do not want Beckham to think the Chinese people are disrespecting him. We love him here.” Beckham’s agent Simon Oliveira said: “It’s not an official brand.”

*source of photo

It’s Bible time for Eva & friends

Our ‘love affair’ with Eva Hakobyan continues. In response to our posts and following the meeting with the head of PINK Armenia, she now reveals the source of her (& co) knowledge on homosexuality. Now we know what kind of books they read and where the entertainment chief of Armenian secular newspaper gets the information and knowledge from on various aspects of social life and on being gay and lesbian. No surprises here. It’s Bible, and one obscure Armenian church related website which no one would have heard of before, well, except Eva & friends, that is.

This photo (below) and this cover story by Newsweek - from me, especially for Eva Hakobyan & friends. Enjoy! ;)


(…at least in a title to her report, below, she uses the most acceptable Armenian version of “Միասեռական” to refer to gays.)

Միասեռականությունն անհարիր է քրիստոնյաներին
Aravot daily, 27 February 2009

Տարածված երեւույթի՝ միասեռականության մասին խոսվում է հաճախ, եւ վերջինիս վերաբերյալ տարբեր կարծիքներ են հայտնում բժիշկներ, հոգեբաններ, քաղաքական գործիչներ եւ այլք:

WWW.qahana.am կայքի «Հարցադարան» էջում, որտեղ կայքի այցելուների կողմից հնչեցված բոլոր հարցերին պատասխանում են հոգեւոր սպասավորները, բարձրացվել էր հարց, թե ինչպիսի՞ն է Հայ առաքելական եկեղեցու տեսակետը միասեռականության հարցում: Մայր աթոռ Ս. Էջմիածնի միաբան Տիգրան սրկ. Բաղումյանն էլ պատասխանել էր, որ ինչպես առաքելահաստատ եւ ուղղափառ մյուս եկեղեցիների, այնպես էլ Հայ առաքելական եկեղեցու տեսակետն այս հարցում բացասական է. «Այն հոգեւոր ախտ է եւ մեղք: Ասածիս ապացույցն է, որ թե՛ արվամոլությունը եւ թե՛ իգամոլությունը որպես մեղք առկա են մեր եկեղեցու ծիսակարգում, ի մասնավորի՝ մեղքերի ընդհանրական խոստովանության բանաձեւում: Աստվածաշունչ մատյանը տղամարդու եւ կնոջ արարման վերաբերյալ ճանաչում եւ ընդունում է մեկ հիմնական սեռային տարբերակում, որ է՝ արուինը եւ էգինը: Քրիստոս նույնպես հաստատում է վերոգրյալ կարծիքը՝ ասելով. «Դուք չե՞ք կարդացել, թե նա, ով սկզբից ստեղծեց, արու եւ էգ արեց նրանց եւ ասաց. դրա համար տղամարդը պիտի թողնի հորը եւ մորը ու գնա իր կնոջ հետեւից եւ երկուսը մեկ մարմին պիտի լինեն: Երկրորդ մասում Հիսուս նկատի ունի Աստծուց մարդուն շնորհված պսակի բնական խորհուրդը, երբ տղամարդը եւ կինն աստվածային օրհնությամբ ամուսնության դաշն են կնքում: Հետեւաբար, արարչագործության ծիրից ներս ցանկացած հոմոսեքսուալ հարաբերություն դառնում է հակաբնական եւ արժանի՝ դատապարտության»:

Ընդհանրապես արվամոլությունը նողկալի երեւույթ եւ մեղք է համարվում ինչպես Հին, այնպես էլ Նոր Կտակարաններում: Ս. Գիրքը շատ հստակ պատվիրում է. «Եթե որեւէ տղամարդ մի այլ տղամարդու հետ պառկի, ինչպես կնոջ հետ, նրանք պղծություն գործած կլինեն: Երկուսն էլ մահվան թող դատապարտվեն: Նոր Կտակարանում կան Պողոս առաքյալի դատողություններն ընդհանրապես սեռական այլասերությունների մասին, որոնցում Տիրոջ աշակերտը խստորեն դատապարտում է արվամոլությունն ու իգամոլությունը: Երեւույթներ, որոնք անհարիր են քրիստոնյաներին եւ մեղքի արդյունք»:

Ե. Հ.

Entertainment chief of popular Armenian daily ‘defends’ her homophobia and ignorance

She got her ‘fame’ for all the wrong reasons.

'Shocking revelation’ by Aravot daily: there are lesbians at odnoklassniki.ru, and they are Armenian

This article, along with other recent publications and statements, was one of the reasons for preparing an Open Letter Against Intolerance.

There was hope that Eva Hakobyan will recognise her mistakes, to put it mildly. Vain hopes, apparently. Head of PINK Armenia now reports that he had a meeting with Eva Hakobyan to discuss the issues.

She could not provide any proof that she used the photos of Armenian lesbians from odnoklassniki.ru social networking site with the permission of those concerned.

Then she went on saying that she “didn’t write her opinion” but rather that of “Armenian society” when stating about “99.9% negative attitude” of heterosexual men towards lesbians (?!).

PINK Armenia: “Then I asked about that 99.9% Armenian men who don't accept lesbians, how she found that percentage? She answered that it was result of simple survey among 100 Armenian men, and here is another question, how she counted 99.9% from 100 replies? This is a simple mathematics!”

This kind of “simple surveys” are becoming increasingly common in Armenian media to ‘justify’ opinion of journalists re various issues covered.

Eva Hakobyan then went a step further, reportedly saying that “homosexuality is a disease”, but that this is her personal opinion and not that of Aravot daily.

I am afraid, Eva, this is not a good enough excuse. Not even close. You are heading an entertainment section of a popular Armenian daily, and you cannot ‘excuse’ spreading ignorance and hate by your “personal opinion”.

Perhaps, it’s a time to file a complaint to the newly appointed internal Ombudsman of Aravot daily Mesrop Harutyunyan.

But this is not all. Another journalist from Aravot daily joined the conversation.

Welcome to the world of Nelly Grigoryan who was insisting that “homosexuality is not only disease but it is sexual perversion.” Any evidence? "Yes I read many books," - she replied.

I have a suspicion that Soviet era Criminal Code is part of her bibliography.