
Gartal and the AGLA NY present: An Evening of Literary Pride
May 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Gartal and the AGLA NY present:
“An Evening of Literary Pride”
June 20th, 2009
6 PM
LGBT Community Services Center – Room 410
208 W. 13th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011
212 620-7310 / http://www.gaycenter.org
Subways: ACE, 1239 to 14th Street
Suggested Donation $5
RSVP and get more information on the Facebook Event Page
Readings by:
David Ciminello
Amy Ouzoonian
Aaron Poochigian
Margarita Shalina
Hrag Vartanian
More about the writers after the jump.
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Presentation on Homophobia in Armenia
March 11, 2009 · 2 Comments
We’ve posted a video from last month’s presentation on Homophobia in Armenia and already within hours the homophobes have started to lash out against the video. Please visit the video on YouTube and post comments of support for greater awareness about issues of homophobia in Armenia and the global Armenian community.
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Tagged: armenia, armenian, gay, homophobia, lgbt
Lesbian Armenians Participate in Women’s Month 2009 in Yerevan
March 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Via Unzipped:
The Women’s Resource Center in cooperation with other NGOs is launching the activites for the Month dedicated to women’s issues in Armenia.
While all the events sound great, there is one event in particular of interest to AGLA members & friends:
MARCH 12
FILM and DISCUSSION on lesbian women @ 5pm – Zarubyan 34
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Open Letter Against Homophobia, Hate & Intolerance in the Armenian Media
March 3, 2009 · 1 Comment
Recently the Women-Oriented Women’s (WOW) Collective (Queering Yerevan) in Armenia published an Open Letter against homophobia, hate and intolerance spread by the Armenian media and in statements made by some representatives of civil society and politicians in response to Armenia’s endorsement of the UN gay rights statement.
Even though the general absence of any desire to ask fundamental questions about homosexuality, male homosexuality in Armenia has been consistently described as a threat to national security, a result of accepting European decadent values or a pathology and disease, while homosexual women have been denied of existence all together or condemned in not fitting into the image of a “proper” Armenian woman.
Some of the most recent publications which disseminate hatred towards homosexuals and can potentially become a source of violence, include the article “Armenian lesbians are becoming more active” in Aravot daily (Jan. 22, 2009, http://new.aravot.am/am/articles/culture/54469/view); an interview with the rising star of the Republican Party Edward Shahmazanov in the same newspaper, in which the prominent politician claims that he is anti-gay; and the following statement by the head of the “Sustainable Human Development” agency in Armenia Karine Danielyan: “It’s been always considered that 4-5% of humanity has such pathologies…these should be regarded as a disease.”
Read the entire Letter at: http://queeringyerevan.blogspot.com/2009/01/open-letter-against-intolerance.html
(via: http://gayarmenia.blogspot.com/2009/01/open-letter.html)
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Friday Meeting and Presentation by Lala Aslikyan
January 14, 2009 · 1 Comment
Reminder: There will be an AGLA NY Meeting this Friday January 16th at 8PM at the LGBT Center on 13th St, Btw 7th & 8th Ave.
Come find out what we have planned for 2009, meet fellow LGBT Armenians, and get involved and help organize upcoming events. Help make 2009 the best year yet for AGLA NY!
During the second half of our meeting on Friday, we have arranged for a special presentation by Lala Aslikyan from Armenia about the current state of LGBT rights violations and homophobia in Armenia.
Following the meeting and presentation, please join us for drinks and further discussion at XES Lounge at 157 West 24th Street (near 7th Ave)
View & RSVP on the Facebook Event Page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53117082781
Below please find information on the scheduled presentation at 8:30pm.
—————————
Brutality of Homophobia in Armenia
Presented by Lala Aslikyan, Huys NGO
Friday Jan 16th, 8:30PM
LGTB Center (Room 104)
208 W 13th St (Btw 7th & 8th Aves)
New York, NY
Lala Aslikyan is a psychologist and a political scientist, human rights advocate. She is a member of “Huys” (“Hope”) NGO in Armenia, dealing with human rights protection and advocacy. Since 2004 she has initiated and organized several public forums, demonstrations, public actions aimed at the protection of human rights, free media and implementation of basic democratic principles in Armenia. Particularly, she was involved in the successful advocacy campaign related to a large number of murders in the Armenian army. She was actively engaged in the protests on March 1 and in following events, which put her in dangerous position while dealing with police and army forces used against people and journalists in Yerevan.
She works as Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in the community project, financed by USAID, Armenia.
Prior to her visit to NY Lala had several meetings in Armenia to prepare a brief presentation on LGBT rights violations in Armenia for the LGBT community in NY. During her 10 minute talk she will give a picture of the LGBT situation in Armenia, highlighting specific problems and the character of violence and harassment based on homophobia in Armenia. She will also bring concrete examples of cases of rape, chasing and murder based on homophobia widespread in the Armenian army.
For any additional information and further communication please contact
lalakap2000@yahoo.com; +37493447643, Yerevan, H. Emin 82, apt. 29
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Annual Armenian Christmas Party – Sat Jan 10th
December 16, 2008 · 1 Comment
Join us on Saturday Jan 10, 2009 for our
Annual AGLA NY Armenian Christmas Party
89 St James Pl
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(view map)
7PM, Pot Luck Dinner
(Please bring a dish and whatever you would like to drink)
Please RSVP to let us know if you can make via our Contact Page at
http://aglany.org/contact/
You can also view & RSVP on the Facebook Event Page
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Our First Friday Night Meeting
November 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Please join us and meet fellow LGBT Armenian Americans and help us plan and discuss future projects/events for the coming year. The AGLA NY meeting is this Friday November 14 at 8PM at the Center.
AGLA NY Meeting
Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8pm
LGBT Community Center
208 W. 13th Street, NY, NY
For all those that are interested, we typically go out to eat or for drinks afterwards and we look forward to seeing you on Friday!

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Prop 8 Protests in NYC
November 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment
This past week has been full of highs and lows for LGBT Armenian Americans. While President-Elect Barack Obama became the first US President to ever use “gay” in his acceptance speech, in California the bigoted Proposition 8 passed (52 to 48%) and threatens to destroy over 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place before the election.
It is particularly disheartening that the heavily Armenian populated counties of Fresno and Los Angeles both voted to pass Prop 8 which seeks to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.
As a sign of solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters in California and recognizing that LGBT rights are universal rights, AGLA NY will be participating in at least 2 Prop 8 protests in NYC this week: one in front of the Mormon Temple on the UWS this Wednesday; and the second at City Hall on Saturday.
Please join us as we make our voices heard to those who would challenge the rights of LGBT people to marry.
WEDNESDAY’S PROTEST
Prop 8 Protest in New York at Mormon Temple
Wed Nov 12 6:30-8pm
25 Columbus Ave at 65th Street
More info at the Facebook event page here.
SATURDAY’S PROTEST
National Day of Protest against Propositon 8 at New York City Hall
Sat Nov 15 1:30pm
More info at the Join the Impact website and RSVP at the Facebook event page here.
For those interested in meeting up with AGLA NY members for the protests please contact us.
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Agabian Launches New Book at LGBT Center
November 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment

We want to thank Nancy Agabian for her wonderful reading last month. Featuring her new book Me as her again, the event at the LGBT Center attracted 30 people.
For more information about her work please check out Hrag Vartanian’s blog for an interview with Nancy Agabian where they discuss writing & identity.
Here’s an excerpt from her book and feel free to purchase a copy via Amazon.
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