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SCANDALOUS BILL BY ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN: ESSENCE AND OPINIONS
by Nana Martirosyan
ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 12, 16:44
In 2008 Armenia endorsed historic UN statement against discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Brief information in
local mass media had no public response unlike the latest initiative
by Ombudsman of Armenia Karen Andreasyan, a bill against discrimination
that was introduced in late May 2013.
Ombudsman's spokesperson Naira Krmirshalyan says the bill is aimed
against all forms of discrimination: social, gender, religious, nation
etc. "It contains no provision on LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals,
transgender). The bill aims to protect equality of citizens," she
says. In addition, Karen Andreasyan personally made a statement
assuring media and public that the bill provides for protection of
the citizens who found them in an extremely vulnerable situation
due to discrimination and illegal actions of government agencies or
employers. The ombudsman said that at early stage of drafting the bill,
he met with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and informed him
of the idea, goal and the preliminary text of the bill.
In the meanwhile, Khachik Stamboltsyan, a member of the Public Chamber
of Armenia, political figure, is sure that the bill protects the
rights of sexual minorities and is aimed against the state, because
Armenia is in a poor demographic situation and such bill may provoke
'open perversion.' "What if they decide to legalize same-sex marriages
or, which is even worse, allow such families adopt a child?"
the devotee former statesman says.
Head of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor Office, human rights
defender Arthur Sakunts, in turn, believes that the bill aims
to prevent the existing forms of discrimination in the country
and meets the Constitution of Armenia. He thinks that the given
initiative cannot repeat the incidents of July 2012 when a group of
conservators dispersed the youth rally for diversity and tolerance
in the city center.
"I don't think that such incident may repeat. However, the authorities
obviously welcome sexual discrimination and the burnt D.I.Y. Club -
known as a meeting point of LGBT - is the best evidence of that,"
he says. Sakunts welcomes the Ombudsman's initiative, but he thinks
it necessary for the authorities to explain the essence of the bill
to the public to avoid misunderstandings.
Recently, the General Court of Center and Nork Marash Communities
convicted Arame and Hambik Khabazyans for burning the club belonging
to Armine Oganezova (Tsomak) and imposed a 3,227,563 drams fine
on them. Tsomak, in turn, left the country due to state and public
pressure. The situation with D.I.Y. Club is not the only scandalous
story connected with sexual minorities. Last August, Head of the
EU Delegation to Armenia Trajan Hristea criticized the Armenian
Government for failing to ensure demonstration of a Serbian film
on the rights of sexual minorities 'Parada' in Yerevan. Probably,
the Government would be happy to fulfill that 'strong request' of
the EU but for the conservator activists opposing LGBT.
On May 25 Areg Center of Pan-Armenian Problems initiated the third in
succession discussions on the issues connected with growing propaganda
for legalizing sexual minorities and implementing the so-called 'family
for all' project. After detailed and comprehensive analysis of the
given phenomenon 'that endangers the real centuries-old moral values
and traditions of a family life' the participants in the discussions
urged the leaders of the world Christianity and other religions to
combine efforts to prevent the upcoming 'disaster'.
Considering the 'homosexuality' that gathers pace in the world,
Armenia has proved to be not the only country to face such problems.
Action of protest against legalizing same-sex marriages was
held in Brazil on June 6. Earlier, organizers of gay parades and
representatives of religious organizations clashed in Georgia and
Ukraine. Unlike us, Europe is more 'tolerant' to sexual minorities and
despite any protests, members of the House of Lords passed a bill on
same-sex marriages on June 5. Afterwards, President of France Francois
Hollande signed a law on same-sex marriages. Such marriages are legal
in Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark along with permission to
adopt a child by same-sex families. However, the Russian State Duma
proved less tolerant and will pass an amendment banning adoption of
a child by a same-sex couple at the end of the spring session (July 6).
Fortunately, Armenia does not study such issues yet, but negative
sentiments in public are high anyway. Even today the citizens of
Yerevan avoid walking in the city park known as the park of LGBT in
the evenings as it may be dangerous. What will happen if such laws are
adopted in the country? It is noteworthy that the so-called 'blue'
sources told ArmInfo that no gay parades are planned in Armenia in
the current year.
Given the comments of the Armenian youth in social media over the
latest initiative by the Ombudsman, two questions arise as to whether
homosexuality is perversion or a mental disease and why do western
media so actively propagate it? As a rule, there is no any exact
answer to these questions.
One of the most common opinions is that the planet is overpopulated
and wars, revolutions, diseases are funded to unload it. The shadow
of 'The Secret World Government' is noticed in the propaganda of
homosexuality. The supporters of the given idea say this government
intends to create a society on the principle of "Golden Billion" that
will involve members of 'Top Guilds' and representatives of the most
'merited and developed' nations. Other nations (Africans, Asians,
Russians) are doomed to heavy production, recovery of minerals,
services infrastructure. There is another common opinion that
homosexuality is part of the life and will exist irrespective of
anything. Many social media users say that it is the personal affair
of everyone whether to condemn or tolerate it.
by Nana Martirosyan
ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 12, 16:44
In 2008 Armenia endorsed historic UN statement against discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Brief information in
local mass media had no public response unlike the latest initiative
by Ombudsman of Armenia Karen Andreasyan, a bill against discrimination
that was introduced in late May 2013.
Ombudsman's spokesperson Naira Krmirshalyan says the bill is aimed
against all forms of discrimination: social, gender, religious, nation
etc. "It contains no provision on LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals,
transgender). The bill aims to protect equality of citizens," she
says. In addition, Karen Andreasyan personally made a statement
assuring media and public that the bill provides for protection of
the citizens who found them in an extremely vulnerable situation
due to discrimination and illegal actions of government agencies or
employers. The ombudsman said that at early stage of drafting the bill,
he met with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and informed him
of the idea, goal and the preliminary text of the bill.
In the meanwhile, Khachik Stamboltsyan, a member of the Public Chamber
of Armenia, political figure, is sure that the bill protects the
rights of sexual minorities and is aimed against the state, because
Armenia is in a poor demographic situation and such bill may provoke
'open perversion.' "What if they decide to legalize same-sex marriages
or, which is even worse, allow such families adopt a child?"
the devotee former statesman says.
Head of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor Office, human rights
defender Arthur Sakunts, in turn, believes that the bill aims
to prevent the existing forms of discrimination in the country
and meets the Constitution of Armenia. He thinks that the given
initiative cannot repeat the incidents of July 2012 when a group of
conservators dispersed the youth rally for diversity and tolerance
in the city center.
"I don't think that such incident may repeat. However, the authorities
obviously welcome sexual discrimination and the burnt D.I.Y. Club -
known as a meeting point of LGBT - is the best evidence of that,"
he says. Sakunts welcomes the Ombudsman's initiative, but he thinks
it necessary for the authorities to explain the essence of the bill
to the public to avoid misunderstandings.
Recently, the General Court of Center and Nork Marash Communities
convicted Arame and Hambik Khabazyans for burning the club belonging
to Armine Oganezova (Tsomak) and imposed a 3,227,563 drams fine
on them. Tsomak, in turn, left the country due to state and public
pressure. The situation with D.I.Y. Club is not the only scandalous
story connected with sexual minorities. Last August, Head of the
EU Delegation to Armenia Trajan Hristea criticized the Armenian
Government for failing to ensure demonstration of a Serbian film
on the rights of sexual minorities 'Parada' in Yerevan. Probably,
the Government would be happy to fulfill that 'strong request' of
the EU but for the conservator activists opposing LGBT.
On May 25 Areg Center of Pan-Armenian Problems initiated the third in
succession discussions on the issues connected with growing propaganda
for legalizing sexual minorities and implementing the so-called 'family
for all' project. After detailed and comprehensive analysis of the
given phenomenon 'that endangers the real centuries-old moral values
and traditions of a family life' the participants in the discussions
urged the leaders of the world Christianity and other religions to
combine efforts to prevent the upcoming 'disaster'.
Considering the 'homosexuality' that gathers pace in the world,
Armenia has proved to be not the only country to face such problems.
Action of protest against legalizing same-sex marriages was
held in Brazil on June 6. Earlier, organizers of gay parades and
representatives of religious organizations clashed in Georgia and
Ukraine. Unlike us, Europe is more 'tolerant' to sexual minorities and
despite any protests, members of the House of Lords passed a bill on
same-sex marriages on June 5. Afterwards, President of France Francois
Hollande signed a law on same-sex marriages. Such marriages are legal
in Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark along with permission to
adopt a child by same-sex families. However, the Russian State Duma
proved less tolerant and will pass an amendment banning adoption of
a child by a same-sex couple at the end of the spring session (July 6).
Fortunately, Armenia does not study such issues yet, but negative
sentiments in public are high anyway. Even today the citizens of
Yerevan avoid walking in the city park known as the park of LGBT in
the evenings as it may be dangerous. What will happen if such laws are
adopted in the country? It is noteworthy that the so-called 'blue'
sources told ArmInfo that no gay parades are planned in Armenia in
the current year.
Given the comments of the Armenian youth in social media over the
latest initiative by the Ombudsman, two questions arise as to whether
homosexuality is perversion or a mental disease and why do western
media so actively propagate it? As a rule, there is no any exact
answer to these questions.
One of the most common opinions is that the planet is overpopulated
and wars, revolutions, diseases are funded to unload it. The shadow
of 'The Secret World Government' is noticed in the propaganda of
homosexuality. The supporters of the given idea say this government
intends to create a society on the principle of "Golden Billion" that
will involve members of 'Top Guilds' and representatives of the most
'merited and developed' nations. Other nations (Africans, Asians,
Russians) are doomed to heavy production, recovery of minerals,
services infrastructure. There is another common opinion that
homosexuality is part of the life and will exist irrespective of
anything. Many social media users say that it is the personal affair
of everyone whether to condemn or tolerate it.