Asian gay Yerevan Armenia
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But by November , the government had granted some of the assailants amnesty, and the authorities decided not to prosecute the rest. The LGBT rights group PINK Armenia challenged the decision not to prosecute the assailants, first in a district court, which found no violation, and then to the Criminal Court of Appeals, which found that the decision was not substantiated.
The court also stated that the investigation failed to address the severe psychological pain suffered by the victims. For years, the Armenian government has failed to effectively investigate anti-LGBT violence in the country, and homophobia remains widespread. A government bill in the works that seeks to address issues of equality has faced criticism because it does not include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for protection from discrimination.
Even two years later, holding perpetrators accountable for this attack would send a strong message that violence against LGBT people in Armenia will not be tolerated. It would be a step in the right direction in the fight against homophobia in the country. Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice.
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender LGBT persons in Armenia may face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, due in part to the lack of laws prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and prevailing negative attitudes about LGBT persons throughout society. Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since Many LGBT Armenians fear being socially outcast by their friends and families, causing them to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity secret.
Homosexuality remains a taboo topic in many parts of Armenian society. Many LGBT people claim to fear violence in their workplace or from their family, and therefore, are said to not file complaints of claimed human rights violations or of criminal offences. On 3 July , the Ministry of Justice stated that same-sex marriages performed abroad would be recognized, [2] though as of no such recognition has taken place and it is unknown if this practice has in truth been implemented.
Between —, Armenia was part of the Soviet Union. Until , the legislation of Armenia followed the corresponding Section from the former Soviet Union Penal Code, which only specifically criminalized anal intercourse between men. Lesbian and non-penetrative gay sex between consenting adults was not explicitly mentioned in the law as being a criminal offence.
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The specific article of the Penal Code was , dating back to , and the maximum penalty was 5 years. The abolition of the anti-gay law along with the death penalty was among Armenia's pre-accession conditions to the Council of Europe in In December , the Azgayin Zhoghov National Assembly approved the new penal code in which the anti-gay article was removed. On 1 August , President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan ratified it, bringing to an end the decades of repression against gay men in Armenia. There were 7 prosecutions in and 4 in under the law according to Amnesty International and 4 in according to the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe.
In , local human rights NGO "Helsinki Association" published via its website the story of a year-old. He was the last condemned under Article The mediatization of his case signed the first gay " coming out " in Armenia.
Please share Local activists say that the incident was the turning point for the movement in Armenia, when LGBT people and their rights went from being unseen and unheard in the country, to subjects of public discussion—albeit a biased and very virulent one for LGBT people on the ground. But homosexaual behavour is clearly against the christian faith. The violent attack received widespread media coverage, [24] and was condemned by human rights groups and the U. The local Yerevan Scope has good maps and some info, otherwise Armeniapedia and World 66 are the best of a distinctly average bunch of online help.
Same-sex marriage and civil unions are not legal in Armenia and the Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples. On 3 July , the Ministry of Justice announced that all marriages performed abroad are valid in Armenia, including marriages between people of the same sex. In late , Father Vazken Movsesian of the Armenian Apostolic Church , a high-ranking member of the clergy, expressed his personal support for same-sex marriage, becoming one of the most high-profile supporters of same-sex marriage in Armenia.
LGBT rights in Armenia
As an Armenian Christian, how can I possibly close my eyes to what's going on in the world? And it's not just in Armenia, just everywhere, this intolerance. In November , the Armenian Government rejected a bill proposed by MP Tigran Urikhanyan to introduce further prohibitions on same-sex marriage. Even though Armenia was one of the first nations in the region to endorse the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity in December , as of , there is no legislation protecting LGBT persons from discrimination.
According to the Helsinki Rights Committee in Armenia, in , an internal defence ministry decree effectively bans gay men from serving in the armed forces.
Long Weekend in Yerevan
In practice, gays are marked as "mentally ill" and sent to a psychiatrist. In the fall of , prompted by the announcement of Armen Avetisyan, founder of AAU Armenian Aryan Union , an extreme right group, that some Armenian top officials were gay, various parliament members initiated heated debates that were broadcast over the public TV channel. Members of Parliament stated that any member found to be gay should resign — an opinion shared by the Presidential Advisor for National Security, Garnik Isagulyan. In May , suspected "Neo-Nazis" launched two arson attacks at a lesbian-owned pub in Armenia's capital, Yerevan.
Armenian News reported that in the second attack on 15 May, a group of young men arrived at the gay DIY Rock Pub around 6pm, where they burned the bar's "No to Fascism" poster and drew the Nazi Swastika on the walls. A mainly Soviet-era city, its architecture is not always photogenic, but does provide a sense of grandeur, whilst the central core possesses some lovely 19th-century edifices. It may not immediately impress, but Yerevan grows on you as you peel away its layers and begin to understand its expressive, passionate people.
Engaging, friendly and very hospitable, Armenians, like their Georgian neighbours, have a reputation for enjoying life — and especially their most famous export, cognac…. The company runs English-language tours which are a lot of fun and very informative, taking you through the whole distilling process, from grape to glass. There are cellars dating back to the 19th century, and barrels with the names of countless famous foreign dignitaries who have visited.
The best part of the trip is of course the tasting at the end, and you get to sample three delicious blends, ranging from 5 to 30 years in age. For a more serious and moving experience, and one which no visitor to Yerevan should miss, go to the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum on a hill above the city, which documents the agony of the genocide of the Armenians during the death throes of the Ottoman Empire. There is no attempt to demonise the Turkish authorities here; just facts and photographs, starkly presented, of the first documented holocaust — which, to this day, is denied by Turkey, and not officially recognized by the U.
For great views of the city, climb the soviet-era Cascade — a vast flight of steps and flower beds at the north of the city centre.
Activists of the PINK Armenia NGO raised the LGBT flag in the centre of Yerevan on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia. Being located on the European/Asian border, Armenia has historically gay and lesbian 'scene'in Armenia has been limited to the capital, Yerevan, although.
From here you can walk through Haghtanak Park to the Statue of Mother Armenia — defiantly facing south to Turkey, sword in hand. Preserving more than 17, Armenian manuscripts and , medieval documents, this is a good place to get a good feel of the history of the country. A few blocks south west is the Opera House — the landmark of this part of the city.
Surrounded by parks, nightclubs, outdoor cafes and shops, this is the perfect place to sit and people-watch.
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For art enthusiasts, a trip to the Sergei Paradjanov Museum should be rewarding. Not your run-of-the-mill artist, Paradjanov spent his life flitting in and out of prison during soviet times, still producing some of the most brilliant, inventive and amusing avant-garde collages, sculptures and films to have come out of this grim period. The Vernissage art market, showcases both local avant-garde and traditional talent.
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A second place you really need to go to understand the Armenian soul is a half-hour taxi drive from the city. Echmiadzin , 20km west, is something akin to the Vatican, or spiritual centre, of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Also, if you go on a Sunday, you get to see an Armenian service in action, a rare treat with lots of men in hoods, swinging thuribles, incense, candles and beautiful chanting.
Lying 60km north of Yerevan, and a few hundred metres higher up, this is the perfect place to escape the intense summer heat. With stunning churches lining its banks, watersports, pristine beaches and plenty of bar life for party-goers, there is something for everyone here. Hiring a car is a good idea, as you can easily escape crowds this way and get to some hidden spots where public transport is not available. Garni Temple , a Hellenic construction dating back to the 8th century, and Geghard Monastery , in a stunning gorge north east of the city, are also well worth seeing.
The main cultural events in Yerevan take place in the Opera House, and autumn to spring sees a host of musicals, operas and ballets taking place. A somewhat over-bearing host to some, she is motherly and sweet according to others — she will certainly make you feel at home.
Another Chance to Address Homophobic Violence in Armenia
Other than the Soviet chic on offer, the only advantage to staying in either of these places is that you get your own room and breakfast and a central location. At the top end, the Golden Tulip is by far the most comfortable option in town, with all the usual mod-cons, and a swimming pool on its roof — a real bonus in the summer heat in a town where getting a swim can be difficult and expensive.
Yerevan is famous for its khorovats grills and, come dusk, you can see the smoke rising over the city as a thousand roadside vendors and restaurants singe their kebabs to a crisp.
However, there is more to food here than barbecues.