Being Gay and Armenian: The Stigma
Features, Society — By Liana Aghajanian on May 9, 2010 1:00 am
A man waves a rainbow flag, representing gay pride at the 2008 New York City Pride Parade/Creative Commons/By CarbonNYC
This is the first part of a multi-series report dealing with Armenians and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals.
On a Spring day in 2008, Herbert Hoover High school in Glendale, Calif. planned a “National Day of Silence.” Organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and held in April since 1996, the day was intended to recognize how gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth have been “silenced” by harassment and bullying in schools.
Some time before the event however, Naira Khachatrian, a Glendale parent took to the Armenian Media Group of America Inc. cable channel, for which she pays $500 to $800 for an hour long slot, according to the Los Angeles Times, to tell Armenian parents that the “National Day of Silence” was promoting a homosexual agenda and that children should be kept out of school on that day.
Although organizations like the American Family Association also urged parents to not send their kids to school either, Khachatrian’s op-ed potentially reached 27,000 Armenian viewers in the Los Angeles area. From a single letter to the editor, it was clear how far the effect of her message had reached.
“Don’t be fooled by the Day of Silence, which is a cover-up and in reality is to promote homosexuality, ” wrote Glendale resident Martik Abramian. “We need to have a day of awareness instead of a Day of Silence and teach students about the dangers of homosexual life and its destructive consequences.”
Haig Boyadjian, 33, was president of the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles (GALAS) when Khachatrian spoke out against the Day of Silence.
Outraged at her message, Boyadjian wrote a letter to the editor which was published in the Glendale News-Press highlighting that Khachatrian did not represent all Armenians.
“We want to state unequivocally that the handful of Armenian parents who were vitriolic in their opposition to the Day of Silence do not represent the entire Armenian community,” Boyadjian wrote.
“Homosexuality not only exists, it exists within the Armenian community. The members of gay and lesbian society are the children and grandchildren of the Armenian community. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender and there is nothing wrong with us.”
The logo of the Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society of Los Angeles
This wasn’t the first time Armenian attitudes towards homosexuality had clashed. During the yearly Armenian fund raising telethon, GALAS presented a check to organizers and in turn, received hate messages in the form of voice mails and emails, with one alleging that they take Ararat off the GALAS logo.
Road Blocks and Religion
Although Armenian attitudes towards homosexuality have softened in recent years (Armenia signed a United Nations declaration in 2008 condemning discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Armenians still face discrimination, which sometimes resorts to abuse and violence.
In Armenia itself, homosexuality was decriminalized in 2003, but that hasn’t necessarily shifted attitudes, as journalist Marianna Grigoryan recently wrote in “Armenia: Gays Live with Threats of Abuse, Violence,” which was published on EurasiaNet.org.
The 2009 International Lesbian and Gay Association Europe (ILGA-Europe) and COC Nederland report “Forced Out: LGBT People in Armenia” even says that in Armenia, the word “homosexual” is both used and heard as an insult.
However much removed from Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora, now with growing communities in metropolitan American and European cities, has retained negative attitudes towards homosexuality.
“Homophobia is rampant and deeply entrenched in our culture both in the Diaspora and also in Armenia – and there is not enough attention paid to the development of greater tolerance in Armenian society,” said Jirair Ratevosian, who works on domestic and global AIDS-related policy in Washington D.C. as deputy director of policy at amFAR, the Foundation for Aids Research.
For Boyadjian, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, discrimination against homosexuality prevails in Armenian communities because people tend to think that if they don’t talk about it, it will go away.
“Everything gets brushed under the rug,” he said. “We don’t talk about it and we don’t write about in our media because they don’t exist. In many ways we’re extremely backward, we don’t see just how un-evolved we are, there’s this paranoia of change and evolution and losing identity and culture.”
Seth Eskigian, a web and graphic designer who grew up in Pacific Palisades, an area of Los Angeles without a significant Armenian population, sees the notions of “machismo” as a factor as well as the view that homosexuality threatens family dynamic and structure, he said.
For many Armenians, religion is a big part of that structure, and the position of the Armenian Apostolic Church on homosexuality stays firm: it’s a sin.
Citing Old and New Testament scripture like Leviticus and Romans, the church says that “homosexuals are on the Biblical list of sinners who deserve death; but through the power of a right relationship with Jesus Christ homosexuals, and all sinners can be cleansed of their sins.”
The church also poses the question, “Why would God create an animal that could not continue its own kind?” and state that “homosexuality must die out.”
Alex Sarkesian, 26, who grew up in Detroit and now lives in New York, has experienced that position personally.
“I’ve been to events that were sponsored by the church where they talk about how homosexuality is wrong,” he said. “Even if you’re around, they’re ok with saying how horrible it is to be gay.”
For many, the way scripture has been interpreted has a lot to do with prevailing attitudes against homosexuality.
“Christianity is a very kind and gentle faith, but it’s what people do with it and how they twist it,” said Suren Seropian, 47, who was born in Baghdad and has been living in Los Angeles since 1971.
Eskigian, who lives with his husband, agrees.
“It’s all about interpretation and I think that people need to realize that the Bible is a great guide to our lives certainly as Christians but cannot in its translation today be taken so literally,” he said.
Besides religion, there’s also the “amot” factor. “Amot” is the Armenian equivalent of “shame” or “shameful,” an idea prevalent in family-oriented Armenian culture that reaches beyond the scopes of homosexuality.
“We are intolerant people,” said Boyadjian. “If you want to go dye your hair green for the month of January, because that’s how you want to express yourself, God knows what your father’s reaction is going to be and what’s the Armenian community going to think? You’re walking with green hair, which means you’re a prostitute probably.
Things become substantially harder where social gatherings are involved, where tight-knit Armenian families inquire about relationship statuses and marriage plans.
For Sarine Papazian, 25, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, going to such events stirs up emotions.
“It’s hard for me to fully participate in an event such as an Armenian wedding, when I know that I will never get my turn,” she said. “I will never be showered with gifts because I’m in love and I’m declaring it. It’s painful. It’s very, very painful.”
Boyadjian also dreads them because it makes him feel uneasy.
“A person who thinks they have a right to ask you these personal questions because it’s a cultural mission to marry every body in this tribe of people – you always get them, you have mothers who want to marry off their daughters, that to me is very uncomfortable.”
HIV/AIDS and Discrimination
A member of the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association France holds gay pride posters. 2002. Wikimedia Commons
Beyond the social attitudes prevalent in Armenian culture, the discrimination correlates with health issues, specifically where HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are concerned.
According to UNAIDS, the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, there are 32.9 million people globally who are living with HIV/AIDS. In a 2010 country progress report of Armenia, UNAIDS estimated that there were 2300 people living with HIV/AIDS, while the largest number of HIV cases (149) was registered in 2009.
People living with HIV and AIDS face stigma and discrimination says World Vision, a Christian organization dedicated to strengthening HIV response that has been active in Armenia for 20 years, adding that Armenians do not disclose their HIV status due to fear of negative attitude of general public, which in return contributes to new HIV cases in the country.
A 2006 ILGA-Europe fact-finding mission to Armenia discovered that LGBT people sense fear and discrimination in medical settings, afraid that their sexual orientation may be used against them in some way, thereby foregoing services of treatment offered for HIV/AIDS.
Ratevosian, who has seen the devastating and enormous impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in cities around the world believes that an effective response to HIV/AIDS can be accomplished when governments, the private sector, churches, school and media puts prejudice aside and works to strengthen the response.
“Discrimination and harassment dehumanizes LGBT members of our community, and puts certain sexual minorities at higher risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases,” Ratevosian said. “Injustice in our community taints our moral character – we may not all agree about gay marriage, but we surely can agree all members of our community desire to live a free and dignified life with purpose and in good health.”
Tags: armenian diaspora and homosexuality, armenian homosexuality, bisexual armenians, discrimination, gay and armenia, hiv/aids and armenia, human rights, lesbian, lgbt, transgender
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24 Comments
Love your article – wonder how bad things are in Armenia for LGBT people there – how can we reach out and begin grass roots empowerment there ? Love my dolma with lots of sekhdor and yogurt!
Dear Mossi, here is a fresh survey on public opinion toward LGBT people http://issuu.com/pinkarmenia/docs/lgbtsurveyen and more details you can receive from PINK Armenia (pinkarmenia.org)
Liana, Thank you for a very well-written and unbiased article on GLBT Armenians. The Gay and Lesbian Society of Los Angeles appreciates your hard work and hopes to see more articles like this one presented to your Armenian readers.
Thank you for this article very much, I’m really happy to see that there are Armenians who care about us, being gay in the middle-east and Armenian is very hard, last your I came out to my parents after I saw Oprah’s show about “Gays around the world” that’s when I thought I could come out and everything will be ok, another reason to do that was the fact that I was very
Lonely, sad and because my parents always told me that we are a family, we should always help, love and tolerate each other no mater what, but I guess they didn’t have a clue what’s coming up. So I made the worst and the most stupidest choice by telling them that I’m gay, they were devastated, my father had a nervous brake down, they both wanted me to change not all because of the religion but there were afraid of what would people talk on them or our family, so they said that I have to change, never tell this to another person, my father even tried forcing me to have sex with a prostitute and after that never talked about the subject, but that left a negative felling I was always sad I couldn’t study any more, I was in shame, desperation, self-hatred and I kind’a gave up on life. So in a result I failed that year and the next so I can piss off my parents and know I have to study so I can build my own life in the future away from my family …
My heart is breaking Syria/armenian, You did the right thing for everybody’s sake – it just doesn’t seem that way now. Come to New York if you get tired of waiting for freedom.
Even though I moved to the U.S. at age 12, I experienced severe anguish and attepmted suicide on 3 occasssionsm my experience is similar to yours in spite of the fact that come from Latin/English background. for years I thought i was the only one in the family, only to find out about4 other cousins. Yes Im am Christina and from time to time I have doubts, but having studied the bible i came to know that there are lots of mistranslations that have promoted bigotry an wars up to this day. The Jesus I know would judge me, he would just love me. I just wanted to share my solidarity and understanding
errata: “the Jesus…. would judge me” ought to read “the Jesus I know would not judge me”
Seek out all possible avenues to freedom. Asylum, scholarships, study abroad, contacts in the US or Europe who will help you out. Seek, seek, seek. If nothing else, begin corresponding with other gay Armenians for support. We’re all here to listen, help and comfort.
Love the article. Armenians have a deep respect for the Church, which has kept the Nation together in some very dark times. As a result, when the Church says that homosexuality is wrong, people take it as Gospel truth (pun intended). Unfortunately, the Church can be wrong and it is, in this case.
Also, because of our history, we developed strong social mechanisms to enforce conformity. Being gay is seen as being non-conforming and, in a weird way, is perceived as a threat to the whole community. More education and familiarity will show that GLBT Armenians are Armenian first and GLBT second. We help in the churches, charitable and political organizations, we donate money to worthy Armenian causes. In short, we are active members of our community.
WOW! This is what I’ve been trying to explain to my non-Armenian friends for such a long time. This article is the brilliant truth.
Dont understand u people. If all Armenians were gay our people and nation will end at once. What u want us to do be happy that we have gay armeians and teach our kids how great it is to be a homo
I am Armenian, and understand why Armenia chooses to be like this and have such an attitude to this issue. Armenia is a small nation with only about 3 million living in it and 10 million around the world. Homosexuality, in my opinion, is not something someone is born with, because there is no science to back it up. Why else would God condemn it if there was nothing a person could do about it. It contradicts both science and the Bible. I say that homosexuality is a behavior, people can and should choose to do what they want, Armenia doesn’t talk enough about these things, that is the problem. We have to talk or else our children will assimilate with the rest of the USA (and the world), and have no choice but to listen to the media that says and controls people. Gay marriage is wrong, gay behavior should be the choice of the person. Why else does a man and a woman get married for? To have children and a family, it’s been like this for thousands of years. Homosexuality can be changed, it can; people are so convinced that it’s normal that they have no motivation to change, that is why it seems as if they cannot do anything about it. Armenia is a great country and we are great people, the world itself is a sick place and we are in it, like it or not. And only God can save us now. I am very strongly opposed to intolerance. I believe since homosexuality is a choice it should be looked at as a person’s opinion and own actions, whether we find it uncomfortable or not, we must respect the fact that they chose to do it, and they should respect the fact that we dislike it, as long as they are not harming other people, then it is their own business, then we both go and live our lives the way it seems fit to us, because it might be better for them what they are doing, yet not better for us. This is life, where we experience all things and live life to the fullest. In moderation of course. The only thing I see as a terrible, evil, unforgivable sin (and I am a Christian) is taking someone else’s life, because you deprive them of their chance to live and choose, and that should really be the worst sin. Respect free will, respect each other love no matter what, in any discomfort. Jesus would sit next to the sick, because his love for humanity and humans was so great, he overlooked other people’s imperfections and choices. This is what we as Armenians, as Christians, and as humans (the world and all) as a whole should do and be like.
There is no God ‘Anonymous.’ Therefore, your argument fails.
Speak for yourself.
And I’m not the same Ara below.
Not only is marriage socially constructed, but it is a recent phenomenon. So no, it hasn’t been like this for thousands of years.
Well, what about outing famous gay Armenians? Icons of our culture? —> Vahan Tekeyan! We need more tolerance towards gay Armenians otherwise we will lose them.
Maybe it is not important whether Vahan Tekeyan lived a gay life known as such nowadays or rather adored in a platonic way a proud and intelligent youngster “L.Z.D.” who survived the genocide and who unlike Vahan himself never was a victimized soul. – I don’t know really. Vahan Tekeyan was depressive from 1922 until his death in 1944. Not only due to the losses through genocide and friends but also due to the fact he never again had such a young friend who was his equal and he could adore and support.
Yerevan 2010: Just met a 34 year old gay guy, let’s call him “Artëm” successful businessman travelling all over Asia with two brothers in Moscow and Artëm is caring for his parents in Yerevan as he is based there unlike his brothers in Moscow. Artëm ultimately married a 19-year old innocent girl who knows NOTHING about his homosexual life.
No 1 FREE CHOICE BEHAVIOUR
It was Artëm’s and his parents pressuring attitude (=FREE CHOICE) that will destroy a girl’s life (that is forseeable, did not happen yet as she is ignorant for the moment). But 100 % she will end up sooner or later depressed with a husband who cannot resist men.
No 2 FREE CHOICE BEHAVIOUR
And it was his parents FREE CHOICE (they know about their son’s hidden life) to force Artëm into marriage and destroy his life.
I felt rathter disgusted, then sad, then simply very sad about all the people involved in this REAL LIFE story. Yerevan 2010.
The Armenian people must look to their Church and its wise teachings in all areas of their life. This is the Church that has held together its children for millenia, and has made them a peaceful, innovative, and respectful nation. On the subject of homosexuality, an Armenian’s obediance to Christian teaching ought to remain firm, just as it has since the time of St. Gregory. The Church does not teach that homosexuals should be excluded or dehumanized or branded with “amot”. We are all sinners, and heterosexuals do not occupy a pedestal of superiority. However, the Church stands to its teaching that homosexual behavior is a sin, just like caving in to illicit sexual temptation is a sin for straight people. The argument that the Bible is unclear, or that its meaning has been lost in translation, is simply invalid; read the new testament to see just how clear the Bible is, and learn about how the Bible was translated if you doubt its accuracy. Additionally, apart from its source in Biblical instruction, one can also see church teaching backed up in nature. Frankly, homosexual activity is physically destructive; AIDS and other related diseases have claimed millions of lives.
I’d like to close this comment by reiterating that the true message of the Armenian Church is love, and in a Church-sanctioned lifestyle, gays and straights alike can know joy and happiness that is impossible outside of it. Mere sexual satisfaction is nothing compared to the infinite joy God gives. May He bless all Armenians.
It’s not so much a matter of beleiving the bible has been falsely translated or interpreted, I just don’t beleive everything it says is consistent with the whole of it’s message. Homosexuality is natural throughout most of the animal kingdom, so the statement that it’s “against nature” dosn’t hold up(anything that exists in the universe after all is technically “natural”).
Besides HIV is only transmitted by people who already have it, meaning regarless of what type of sex you do, you are safe if you limit yourself to one or two partners over the course of your life. A hetero who goes to prostitutes is more at risk than a homo who loves just one person.
Go back to your older gods prior to Christianity and name me at least one god that is Gay. We have always promoted being heterosexual even during paganism let alone Christianity. The argument of there is no god is as good as “there is god”. Homosexuality is not by birth, simply because they cannot procreate. Its against all natural laws. Homophobia ? First known use of the noun: 1969. It’s joke. Most of the stories i hear about gays are sad, lost souls, double personality, etc… Should anyone survey gays, it will be very interesting to find out the percentage of gays/lesbians who have been abused, and molested as children, not all but sure majority. It will never be done, because you homosexuals will trip.
Well homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality. Since the beginning of time, homosexuality has existed parallel to heterosexuality. And think about it, if every man procreated with a woman, we would have an exponential overpopulation. Maybe the Universe or God made it that way to regulate the birth of the human race. You NEVER know. Just because the man or woman doesn’t have an attraction to the gender which would procreate with them, doesn’t mean that they can’t still make babies. By that argument, sterile individuals are then unnatural and wrong, married couples who don’t want kids are then considered wrong under your argument. I am Armenian and I am bisexual. I used to believe in what the church taught me, but then realised that it was all B.S. imho, because really there isn’t anything wrong with it. Homosexuals don’t go around hurting or killing people, they are simply living their lives as they are, and for who they are. Whether we became gay or were born this way (science doesn’t yet know the exact answer), and I believe it is possible to be both, through birth or traumatic events that homosexuals exist as homosexuals, though the majority is probably because of natural birth, it’s not like we are harming society or hindering the human race. We are people like any other and should be treated with respect. Just because we don’t do or act as you do, doesn’t mean we are less of a person or group of people. Live and let live. And if you want to base it solely on the Church’s doctrine, that’s called being closed minded because who knows, the Church could be wrong. There are many answers in life, and no one knows the correct one; I mean the Bible was written by human hands, it could be a giant story book, you never know. So let’s all love each other and live in tolerance, peace, diversity, and love, that should be our goal in the end. Peace and Love.
There are gay Armenians. Whether you like it or not, whether it kills the nation or not, this is a fact. I was born gay and will die gay, no matter what the Bible says (or doesn’t say). I was also born Armenian and will die Armenian. I love my country and my people. I am a member of Armenian organizations and I contribute money and time to help my fellow Armenians. I just wish that they would sometimes thinking they know everything. I am happy being gay because this is what God intended for me. And if you’re such a good Christian, let me remind you of what Jesus said: “Before you take out the straw in your brother’s eye, take out the beam in your own”.
Anyway,Ara.If our Lord wanted there to be homosexualism he would creat Adam & Ara not Eva.So think about it.If He wanted to there to be homosexuality he would creat only 1 gender :man.One would give birth the others no.That’s all.
ara dont do like that gay and that fuckin things if i see a gay armenian i will kill him ara bozi txeq turker@ azerner@ xndumen dzer vra ara dzer lav@ qunem delete all this fuckin stuff from web
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