Dear AGLA NY members and friends,

Please welcome Alex Sarkesian and Michael Yagliyan as the new Co-Presidents of AGLANY!

Alex and Michael have both been active and dedicated members of AGLA NY for the past few years and I am delighted they have both volunteered to lead the organization as it continues to grow and strengthen in the coming year.

If you are interested in getting more involved and helping Alex and Michael in the coming year as active members of our organization, please email Alex and Mike through this form and let them know.

I would like to thank everyone for their support and help over the past two years that I have had the honor of serving as AGLA NY President.

We are planning some great events this year in addition to our participation in the 2011 NYC pride parade and our annual Armenian Christmas party, so be sure you are on our mailing list to get all the updates.

Ianyan magazine has posted the first article in a series about what it means to be LGBT and Armenian.

Written by Liana Aghajanian the first installment focuses on Stigma and explores issues of  homophobia, religion,  & HIV/AIDS in the Armenian diaspora as well as Armenia.

In the article, AGLA NY member Alex Sarkesian talks about his experience of Homophobia within the Armenian Church.

“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.”

Click here to read the entire article at ianyanmag.com

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)

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. 

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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 

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