Georgia: Happy belated bday, Me!!

The first and only LGBT magazine in the South Caucasus celebrated its birthday in September. Happy belated bday, Me!! Keep up the great work you are doing.
***

Me magazine celebrated its 3rd birthday with the publication of its 12th quarterly issue. This occasion was marked by the Georgian LGBT NGO -Inclusive Foundation - in Kvariati, Georgia on 12 September. The issue features music singles by Me and My Monkey band with a specially composed track “With Me” that was performed live at the birthday party along with other original songs by the band. The Forest – duo of electronic music artists, Dj-ed at the event to entertain around 150 guests coming from Georgia as well as guests from ten other countries.

Me magazine’s anniversary issue is available at the following link.

And the tracks from the bonus CD (free and legal for download) - here.

Rare report in Azeri media about local lesbian couple (in Russian)

Общество

Азербайджанская однополая семья растит семимесячную дочь04 ноября 2009 15:12

В Азербайджане появилась одна из первых однополых семей, которая вот уже два года и три месяца существует и растит семимесячную дочь.

Ребенок с радостью воспринимает обеих мам и, как все дети, убегает при виде посторонних. Случай сам по себе уникален для Азербайджана, так как до сих пор никто из геев либо лесбиянок, сожительствуя, не ухаживал за «общим» чадом.

Корреспондент 1news.az побывал в гостях у этой уникальной семьи и увидел весь уклад жизни своими глазами.

Айнур (22 года) и Юля (29 лет) (имена условные) поведали собственную историю знакомства, чему посредничал общий друг.

Когда беременную Юлю бросил муж, женщина осталась без поддержки и близких рядом с отчимом. «Это был какой- то момент, подтолкнувший меня на этот шаг», - рассказывала Юля.

Айнур к тому времени уже имела четырехлетний опыт общения с девушкой, с которой рассталась по собственной инициативе. В отличие от Юли, у нее больше родственников, но они все отказались от дочери.

Вскоре после того, как женщины определились со своими отношениями, накололи имена друг друга на своих руках, Айнур переселилась жить к своей подруге. Она стала работать вместо мужчины на стройке и в ресторанах официанткой, ведь надо было прокормить беременную Юлю. С приближением родов они обе стали искать больницу, где можно было бы безопаснее и дешевле организовать роды.

«На руках у меня было только 300 манатов. С этими деньгами мы не знали куда идти, ведь кроме родов Юле еще надо было питаться. Общими усилиями мы вышли на одну правозащитницу. Она, в свою очередь, через собственные каналы договорилась об организации бесплатных родов в Центре акушерства и гинекологии»,- добавила Айнур.

После родов, им до сих пор помогают чем могут их друзья. Айнур не имеет постоянной работы. Ее никто не воспринимает всерьез, да еще и проблема с документами. Даже попытка называться мужским имением порой не дает своего результата. Диплом бухгалтера остался лежать в ящичке комода, да и по специальности Айнур работала недолго.

Сейчас она вместе с Юлей намерена уехать в Россию, где на однополые пары обращают меньше внимания.

Со слов хозяек, раньше в Сабаильском районе соседи избегали их, но сейчас стали чаще захаживать в гости, чему стал свидетелем и сам сотрудник 1news.az. Они чаще приходят, чтобы убежать от собственных наболевших проблем, забывая о нравах, где воспитывается грудной ребенок.

Между тем, чтобы прокомментировать данную ситуацию и судьбу ребенка, воспитываемого двумя женщинами, редакция обратилась к психологу Даянату Рзаеву.

По его словам, гомосексуальность родителей в 50 % может повлиять на формирование ребенка, в зависимости от того, в какое русло в процессе воспитания она будет направлена. В определенной форме ребенок всегда принимает модель поведения своих родителей и в этом случае в качестве подражания выступают две мамы нетрадиционной ориентации. Однако немаловажен и генетический фактор. Воспитание тоже имеет свое особое место.

«Только чтобы огородить ребенка от возможного влияния на нее роли родителей нельзя отбирать у них девочку. Вполне возможно, что именно эти родители очень хорошие мамы, ведь женский гомосексуализм бывает семейным», - заключил психолог.

В свою очередь, директор Клиники прав ребенка Назир Гулиев считает, что так как в местном законодательстве нет понятия однополая семья, вторая женщина (в этом случае Айнур) не является биологическим родителем – она постороннее лицо ребенку. Однако даже у постороннего лица есть право на воспитание ребенка при согласии на то биологических родителей. Под понятием постороннего лица можно назвать нянек, преподавателей и воспитателей.

Если поведение одного из них вредит воспитательному процессу, родитель имеет право обратиться в соответствующие органы.

Также по поводу однополой семьи высказалась глава Общества прав женщин Новелла Джафароглы. Она считает, что в Азербайджане ментальность не позволяет жить однополой семьей и это считается аморальным.

«В случае, если однополые семьи все-таки будут преследоваться, правозащитники смогут вступиться за них. Однако среди восточных стран очень мало найдется государств, которые смогут привыкнуть к однополым семьям», - отметила правозащитница.

З. Ибрагимхалилова

*1news.az

Video: 'Male striptease in the Russian army barracks' ;)

Via Towleroad, I came across this YouTube video, which was reportedly made in the Russian army barracks. According to the video description, "What real men do when they are in the army? Dance for each other." Lovely ;)

Yerevan diaries: No ‘pure’ girls

When in Yerevan, I had a meeting with a group of my high school male friends whom I have not seen for ages. Not that I particularly wanted this meeting, as I always knew that there is an ocean between us in terms of our mentality and everything. But hey, for old times’ sake, I thought, well, will go for it. We talked about this and that, and then the inevitable topic of girls.

My school mates sounded genuinely upset, as if the world turned upside down for them. They said it’s now impossible to find ‘pure’ girls in Yerevan to date and marry. And no, it’s not just virginity they were referring to. The whole ‘world order’ has changed for them. They complained of not being able to find girls who would prefer sitting at home with their mother instead of working. When I asked what is wrong with women working especially as they seemed to be OK with girls getting university education (they actually preferred that! - of course, they would - it’s a matter of ‘honour’ or ‘reputation’ for them to have a university educated wife). Well, the answer was - “I can’t and do not want to change myself. I grew up following my father’s example. My mother had a university degree education, but she did not work, rather preferring to be a housewife, and I, like my father, want to be sure that whenever I turn up home, my wife is waiting for me”... and similar things.

What was a catastrophe for them (no ‘pure’ girls in Yerevan) was actually a very positive sign for me. Yes, things are changing in Yerevan, and I loved those small signs of progress.

Tweet of the Day: Yerevan airport taxi driver asks about gay marriages in Europe

Usually airport taxi drivers ask why someone would stay in #Armenia. Today's wanted to know if gay marriage existed in #Europe. #LGBT
*@onewmphoto

My optimistic reaction to this:

You know what they say. Taxi drivers are good sources of proxy indicators to get a 'vox populi' perspective of what's going on in any particular country. The mere asking such a question by a Yerevan airport taxi driver may be a proxy indicator that things are changing in our country, after all, even if to a very little extent, even if it's "some seeds", for whatever reason he asked...

Turkey: latest LGBT news/links

1. Gay refugees flee persecution but remain at risk (WorldFocus)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) refugees are among the most vulnerable refugee groups in the world today, according to Neil Grungras, the executive director of Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM).[...]

ORAM is currently providing legal representation to LGBT refugees in Turkey. The vast majority of them are Iranians who have fled execution or other severe punishment in Iran and Turkey happens to be their “country of first asylum.”

Worldfocus producer Gizem Yarbil interviews Neil Grungras about ORAM’s refugee clients in Turkey. A refugee and immigration advocate with more than 20 years of experience, he has worked extensively on behalf of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. [...]

Our clients in Turkey are predominantly sexual minorities - lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender individuals from Iran. The abuses they face almost always emanate from the Iranian authorities. These include harassment, arrest, interrogation, torture, beatings, and execution.

It is estimated that 4000 LGBTs have been executed in Iran since 1978. While no one can be certain of the exact figure, LGBTs live in constant fear of discovery or outing there.[...]

While the Turkish government does not persecute LGBTs, conditions in Turkey for these individuals are extremely harsh. Like other refugees there, our clients are typically not permitted to work, and have no access to normal health care, social assistance or housing. LGBTs in Turkey are also targeted with violence by local populations, and the authorities are often unable to extend them protection. Several of our clients in Turkey have been beaten and many have been threatened with violence. In some towns, the situation is so severe that some refugees fear venturing outside in daylight. During the past year, many of our clients have reported threats and actual violence against them. A few clients were beaten so seriously that they required hospitalization.

We recently detailed these and other abuses in our co-publication with Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Turkey titled Unsafe Haven: The Security Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Asylum Seekers in Turkey.[...]

2. Soul-Searching in Turkey After a Gay Man Is Killed (NY Times)
More about this case - see one of my earlier posts

3. Acvists target Turkish law (Pink Paper)

The Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association in Ankara, Turkey, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have teamed up to demand that Turkey's "Law of Misdemeanors" be rewritten to protect transgender people's rights to free expression, association and movement.

"In recent months," the groups said, "the harassment of transgender and transsexual persons in Turkey has intensified as police abuse the country's Law of Misdemeanors to legitimise daily fines, extortion, eviction, detention and police brutality. The law gives security forces tremendous leeway to punish any noise, disobedience and disturbance, with virtually no oversight in how the law is applied or recourse to those who are penalised."[...]

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

Video: World AIDS Day march in Yerevan, Armenia

More about the events - here.

*video - A1+
**see Picture of the Day - here

YES to SEX... NO to AIDS - party at Aftershock Republic for a worthwhile cause to mark World AIDS Day in Yerevan on 1 December

Participate in World AIDS Day events in Yerevan and finish the day in style and for a very worthwhile cause. Party at Aftershock Republic. Say "Yes" to Sex, and "No" to AIDS. Many surprises will be awaiting you there. Even more - the entrance is only 500 AMD, which will be donated to PINK Armenia.

For details of the event - see its Facebook page.

“Stop the Counter” events to mark World AIDS Day 2009 in Yerevan, Armenia

This year, group of Armenian NGOs united to mark World AIDS Day with a broad range of actions. Other individuals and organisations stage World AIDS Day related events too.

Organisers held a press conference today which has been widely reported by Armenian online media. As Tert.am rightly pointed out, the “Armenian public continues to cling to HIV/AIDS stereotypes”.

The other participant in today’s press conference, Mamikon Hovsepyan of PINK Armenia (Public Information and Need of Knowledge), turned his attention to those issues which affect gay and lesbian individuals, as well as substance abusers. “Because of discrimination and intolerance, they cannot go see a doctor or seek treatment.”

According to Hovsepyan, there is a widely held belief in Armenia that the danger of contracting the HIV virus stems mostly from gay and lesbian people; though, in reality, the virus is most often spread among heterosexual people. In Armenia, people’s rights continue to be violated, while the accessibility of treatment continues to remain a dream, concluded Hovsepyan.

Here is the schedule of main events planned for 1 December 2009 in Yerevan. I hope this collaboration will continue throughout the year, and we will see more actions planned in regions.

[Earlier, within the framework of “Stop the Counter” action, PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum organised trainings on 26-28 November to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.]

Public Information and Need of Knowledge, Armenian Student Forum, Real World - Real People, Positive People Armenian Network non-governmental organization are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day aiming to raise society's awareness and consciousness about the spread of HIV and stigma & discrimination against people living with HIV. (via PINK Armenia)
***
1 December 2009

16:00 Stop the Couner March starting from the park near to Yerevan State Conservatory and ending at Cinema Moscow. (for more details, in Armenian - see Aysor)

16.00 march > from Komitas statue (in front of Yerevan State Conservatory)
17.30 human ribbon > Republic Square
18.00 stop the counter > Aznavour Square (in front of the Cinema Moscow)

19:00 Cinema Moscow: “Who never leaved” film screening,

19:30 Cinema Moscow: “The Famous Armenian Cultural Figures against AIDS” exhibition opening, 22:00 KAMI club, afterparty with DJ Vakcinology. (for more about the exhibition and club party - see Hetq Online)

Important!!

If there is one party you should go on 1 December in Yerevan, it's party at AFTERSHOCK REPUBLIC. Surprises, information, worthwhile cause. Enter the club (only 500 AMD) and this all goes as a donation for PINK Armenia!!! Read here for more.


This events are supported by UNAIDS.

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.

Dita Von Teese on her Armenian roots at a book signing event in London

I met Dita at Waterstone's bookstore in central London. She is a famous American burlesque artist, model and actress. She was in London for a book signing event for her newly published book Dita Stripteese. She looked stunning and elegant.

I managed to have a very brief chat with her. As you may remember from one of my earlier posts, tweetting during Eurovision 2009, Dita Von Teese revealed that she is part Armenian:

"At eurovision, The Armenians are killing me with their hair and especially the fierce cateye liner! LOVE! I am part Armenian, in fact." *twitter.com/DitaVonTeese

I then looked over various sources but could not find any info to clarify this further. So I used this opportunity to ask Dita directly about her Armenian roots.

She said to me that unfortunately she does not know much about her Armenian roots. She said that it's from her grandmother's side saying that her grandmother was "adopted Armenian".

Long queues outside the Waterstone's bookstore on Piccadilly, London.

Book signing, Waterstone's bookstore, Piccadilly, London.

...And here is more info about her truly a "playful and beautifully packaged book" - Dita Stripteese. Happy to have it signed by Dita :)

Police in Georgia targets Batumi-based newspaper journalist using KGB-style gay blackmail

Civil.ge reports: The Batumi-based weekly newspaper, Batumelebi, said law enforcement officers attempted to “blackmail” and “intimidate” its journalist, including through use of “stigma persisting in Georgia” towards homosexuality.

It said in a statement on Thursday, that on November 25 head of the newspaper’s journalistic investigations unit, Tedo Jorbenadze, was summoned by Interior Ministry’s Special Operations Department’s (SOD) local division in Adjara Autonomous Republic to talk about “some personal matters” and “about his sexual partner.”

Before going to the SOD’s Adjara headquarters in Batumi, Jorbenadze informed about the summoning newspaper’s director and editor-in-chief, Mzia Amaglobeli and Eter Turadze, respectively, who decided to accompany colleague at a meeting with the law enforcement officers. However, according to the statement, the editor and director were not allowed to attend a conversation between Jorbenadze and the officers.

The Batumelebi said that during the meeting Tedo Jorbenadze was shown what seemed to be cropped black-and-white photos of near-naked men also featuring the journalist himself.

“Tedo Japaridze was told [by law enforcement officers] that there was an interest towards the Batumelebi newspaper by special services of foreign countries, in particular Turkey and Russia and they needed his assistance and cooperation,” the Batumelebi said. “After receiving a refusal [from the journalist], Jorbenadze was warned that these photos would have been sent to his ailing father, as well as to his colleagues and disseminated through internet. But Jorbenadze told [the law enforcement officers] that they would not intimidate him with cropped photos and left.”

The newspaper said it intended to request the prosecutor’s office to open investigation into the case, which it described as “Soviet KGB-style method of recruitment.”
***
For Russian version of this report - see Gay Caucasus.
***
It's not the first time that the journalists of this Batumi-based publication face intimidation.

31 July 2008 - Civil.ge - Public Defender Sozar Subari has requested the prosecutor’s office in Batumi to probe into the alleged “intimidation” of journalists at the local weekly newspaper Batumelebi.

The newspaper, published in Batumi, Adjaran Autonomous Republic, said in a statement last week that it had received an e-mail, which said: “you will find him [one of the newspaper’s journalists] dead with the newspaper stuck in his mouth.”

Prior to the anonymous e-mail, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Eter Turadze, and another journalist were, they say, followed by unknown people. They say the surveillance was deliberately noticable, presumably so as to intimidate them.

The Public Defender’s Office said in a statement on July 31 that the incidents should be investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office as it believed they constituted intimidation.

Yeghishe Charents cover of Marriott Armenia magazine (fall 2009 issue, Yerevan)

Love this Yeghishe Charents cover of Marriott Armenia magazine, via Ara Aslanyan.

PINK Armenia: Tolerance (video)

PINK Armenia uploaded this video to mark the International Day for Tolerance (16 November).



Posters in this video say (as per PINK Armenia video description on YouTube):

- I am a sex worker...
- My mother is the best mother in the world
- By denying me, you don't help me to leave drugs
- Being infected with HIV, doesn't stop me being your friend
- Being homosexual is not a choice
- We all are equal, this world is for everybody

First ever gay Arabic book Bareed Mista3jil goes international

Change.org reports that the first ever gay Arabic book Bareed Mista3jil, published in Lebanon, will be touring California in December. "Members of MEEM [activist and support group for Lebanese LBTQ women] have already toured Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Denmark, Belgium, France, and Armenia, making the book's release a truly international event."

Bareed Mista3jil, meaning express mail, isn't just the first queer Lebanese book ever published -- it's also the first queer Arabic book, period, to be published

A compilation of anonymous personal narratives from Lebanese LBTQ women of all social classes and religions, Bareed Mista3jil addresses coming out, religion, family, emigration, abuse, and activism. MEEM, an activist and support group for Lebanese LBTQ women, publicly released the book at the Al Madina Theater in Beirut last May, attracting an audience of 400 people.

MEEM organizer Shant (who declined to give her full name) described the book as a big step for Lebanese LGBTs.

"We can actually talk about our experiences and show that they touch more than just the lesbian community," she said.

Shant reports a lot of positive feedback for the book, which is sold at Virgin Megastores in Lebanon, and MEEM is already planning a fourth reprint to keep up with demand.

It's not surprising that the first queer Arabic book debuted in Beirut, given that Lebanon is known for having a relatively free press (compared with other Arab nations) and a liberal capital city. However, queer activists in Lebanon still have their work cut out for them. Homosexuality is sometimes punished under a law banning "sexual acts against nature," so coming out is not always safe or even possible (hence the anonymity of Bareed Mista3jil's writers).

"Some [queer women] are very out with friends and family and closeted at work; some [are] out at work [but] closeted to families. There isn't the notion of 100 percent out," said Shant.

MEEM is now campaigning to overturn 534, the Lebanese law used to punish homosexuality, and maintains a monthly e-magazine, Bekhsoos.

PINK Armenia and Armenian Students Forum unite forces to raise students awareness on sexual health

I welcome this initiative. They say, “united we stand...” They are right.
***

PINK Armenia (“Public Information and Need of Knowledge”) and Armenian Student Forum are organizing “Stop the Counter” action dedicated to World AIDS Day to raise students/youth awareness about sexual health issues.

Within the framework of this action, the organisers with the help of non-formal education will conduct trainings on issues related to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

PINK Armenia and Armenian Student Forum are looking forward to your active participation.

The trainings will take place at PINK Armenia’s office on 26-28 November and are free of charge: 2 Pushkin, apt. 11 (near Sakharov Square).

For more information, contact:  tel: (010) 58 09 44,
email: armstudforum@gmail.com, info@pinkarmenia.org

Armenia: violence against women (posters, part 2)

For part 1 - see Unzipped

Look at these posters. Difficult, I know. Chilling, I know. ...But do not turn away. Let’s face up these real life stories of violence against women still happening in our society.

These posters will be translated into Armenian, and used throughout the country as part of the campaign by Women’s Resource Centre to stop violence against women.

On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Women’s Resource Center in Yerevan will mobilize community members and other NGOs to protest gender violence. The events planned for November 25th will mark the beginning of 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls, which will include an exhibition and film screening at Kino Moscow in December. This will be the fourth year that the Women’s Resource Center has joined countries around the world in organizing events on November 25th to raise awareness about the issue of gender violence.

*posters by zArt - Araz Artinian

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.

LA, Glendale hate crime report: decrease but problem remains - Armenians, Jews, gays targeted in 2008

Hate crimes decrease
Race motivated most in county, followed by sexual orientation and religion
By Veronica Rocha
November 20, 2009

Glendale News Press

LOS ANGELES — Religious hate crimes, including a tagging incident at Glendale’s St. Peter Armenian Church, increased last year throughout Los Angeles County, according to a county report released Thursday.

Religion was the basis for third-largest group of hate crimes reported in Los Angeles County in 2008, according to the county’s Commission on Human Relations annual report. Hate crimes based on a person’s race or sexual orientation made up the largest and second-largest groups, respectively.

“Hate doesn’t have to lead to more hate,” said Robin Toma, the commission’s executive director.

Hate crimes throughout the county that were motivated by religion increased from 105 in 2007 to 120 in 2008, according to the report.

In the area that includes Glendale, La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge and Burbank, there were 12 hate crimes last year. That was a steep drop from the 31 that occurred in 2007, a 61% decrease, said Marshall Wong, who helped author the commission’s report.

Race-based hate crimes in Glendale dropped from 25 in 2007 to seven last year. Sexual orientation and disability-based hate crimes also decreased, he said.

Hate-related aggravated assaults dropped from 13 in 2007 to zero in 2008, Wong said.

In Glendale, the race most discriminated against were Jews last year, with Armenians not far behind, with four and three hate crimes suffered, respectively.

The greatest percentage of religious hate crimes were vandalism, followed by intimidation. Most religious hate crimes occurred at homes and religious sites.

The only hate crime reported in 2008 in Glendale was tagging that was spray painted onto St. Peter Armenian Church, Sgt. Tim Feeley said.

A 2-foot-by-2-foot crescent and star was spray-painted on a wall outside the church, which police said was meant to intimidate Armenians by invoking the Turkish flag.

The modern Republic of Turkey has refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1918 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Overall, hate crimes decreased in Glendale, from eight in 2007 to one in 2008.

“These types of crimes are so personal,” Feeley said.

The city doesn’t have any known hate groups that target residents based on their race, gender sexual orientation or religion, he said.

Glendale, once a bastion for white supremacy groups like the Ku Klux Klan, has changed dramatically as its population has become more diverse, officials said.

“I think Glendale has become a lot more open than in the past,” Feeley said. “We are far more diverse than we used to be. I think initially there was a reluctance to accept the change that Glendale was going through.”

Many residents, he said, have accepted Glendale’s diverse landscape.

“I think people are getting along a little bit better,” he said. “I think it’s really fortunate when you look at Glendale being the third-largest city in L.A. to only have one hate crime is really significant. It’s a testament to the residents that are getting along.”

Hate crimes against Armenians, blacks, whites, Asians, Middle-Easterners and transgender people decreased in 2008, according to the Commission on Human Relations report.

Hate crimes overall declined from 763 in 2007 to 728 in 2008 in Los Angeles County.

But the annual tally was the second largest since 2002, Toma said.

Hate crimes in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdictions dropped 25%, Sheriff Lee Baca said.

But crimes motivated by hate, especially ones committed by gangs, continue to exist.

“This is always troubling,” Baca said. “We want to have none of this to happen because all people are entitled to exercise who they are under the spirit of the American constitution.”