All photos (C) Scout Tufankjian

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.

Last year AGLA NY had a great group of marchers and this year we hope to make it even better!

Please invite others who you think may be interested in joining us for the March to this Facebook Event. Supporters, friends and family are welcome to join us as well!

Exact meeting place will be announced closer to the event!

RSVP to the Facebook Event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156015531130368
(or via our contact page)

The March began as an annual civil rights demonstration beginning the year after the Stonewall Riots in 1970. Over the years its purpose has broadened to include recognition of the fight against AIDS and to remember those we have lost to the illness, violence and neglect. It has also evolved to include being a celebration of our lives and our community. For more info on the March visit: http://www.nycpride.org/march.html

Donate to AGLA NY at: http://aglany.donortools.com/

It was great to see old friends and new faces and at our last meeting and we hope to see even more on May 9th at our next general meeting.

We will be holding elections for our new executive board so if you are interested in getting more involved with AGLA NY, please try to attend this meeting. If you are interested but can’t make it, please let us know. In addition to elections for president, vice-president & treasurer, we also need help planning  social, educational, fundraising, and cultural events throughout the year.

We’ll also be putting plans together for our participation in this year’s NYC Pride parade!  The group will be going out for informal drinks or dinner following the meeting and everyone is welcome to join us.

Saturday, June 4, 8pm
Comedy Night — Pan Ann: Air Scare
Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St, New York, NY

Pam Ann is the alter-ego of Australian comedienne Caroline Reid. Reid’s portrayal of the gutsy and glamorous air hostess is unique and wildly hilarious. Performances poke fun at air travel, identifying the individual quirks of some of the biggest international airlines and their stereotypes and mixing it with a generous dose of camp, humor and fabulousness. In the vein of Chelsea Handler, Margaret Cho, and Lenny Bruce, Caroline Reid has developed a cult-like international following. Even Madonna is a fan, describing Pam as “cruelly funny.”

If you would like to attend, please email us and let us know and we’ll send you more details about tickets ($30) and where we’ll be meeting that night.

Sunday June 26th, 12pm
NYC Gay Pride March
Fifth Ave & 36th St

AGLA NY will once again be participating in the NYC Gay Pride Parade!
The parade starts at noon and we’ll be marching down Fifth Ave celebrating Armenian LGBTQ Pride. Please hold the date and make plans to join us.

Donate to AGLA NY
AGLA NY relies on your generous support and yearly membership dues to continue to operate, meet at the center, and offer a space for LGBTQ armenians to meet, share, and grow in the greater new york area.

Please take the time to send in the yearly dues of $30 or any donation that you can.

DONATE ONLINE (it is fast, easy & secure) at  https://aglany.donortools.com

Come join us as we continue planning our activities for 2011 and our participation in this years Gay Pride Parade!

AGLA NY General Meeting
Wednesday, April 13th, 8:00PM

LGTB Center (Room 205)
208 W 13th St (Btw 7th & 8th Aves)
New York, NY
http://www.gaycenter.org/

Please RSVP to let us know if you can make via our Contact Page or on the Facebook Event Page

This year’s party is being hosted by 2 of our wonderful members who will be opening up their home for the occasion!

When: Friday January 21st, 8PM
Where: 104 Green Street, #2, (Greenpoint) Brooklyn, NY 11222 (view map)

Please bring what you would like to drink

Please RSVP on Facebook or email us to let us know if you’re coming!

AGLA NY Pride March 2009

Join AGLA NY as we March in the 2010 NYC Pride March!

Last year AGLA NY had a great group of marchers and this year we hope to make it even better!

Please invite others who you think may be interested in joining us for the March to this Facebook Event. Supporters, friends and family are welcome to join us as well!

Exact meeting place will be announced closer to the event!

RSVP to the Facebook Event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129568397071226
(or via our contact page)

The March began as an annual civil rights demonstration beginning the year after the Stonewall Riots in 1970. Over the years its purpose has broadened to include recognition of the fight against AIDS and to remember those we have lost to the illness, violence and neglect. It has also evolved to include being a celebration of our lives and our community. For more info on the March visit: http://www.nycpride.org/march.html

Donate to AGLA NY at: http://aglany.donortools.com/

We’ll be planning our participation in this years Gay Pride Parade on June 27th! Please come and help us get organized for another amazing year participating in the March

Hope to see you there!

AGLA NY General Meeting
Wednesday, June 9th, 8:00PM

LGTB Center (Room 110)
208 W 13th St (Btw 7th & 8th Aves)
New York, NY
http://www.gaycenter.org/

Please RSVP to let us know if you can make via our Contact Page or on the Facebook Event Page

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

GALAS is hosting their Annual LGBT Conference this weekend in West Hollywood, CA on May 15th.

This year’s theme is Breaking Through: Legally, Politically and Culturally

Guest Speakers include members of  Equality California and Lambda Legal

For more info visit http://www.galasla.org