Armenian human rights defenders declare society's unwillingness to discuss LGBT issues

It is still not safe to discuss the problems of the LGBT community, notes Nina Karapetyants, the head of the Helsinki Association of Armenia. After the "velvet revolution," the country is slowly removing a taboo on discussion of the LGBT issues, believes Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 6, at the human rights hearings at the Armenian Parliament, transgender woman Lilit Martirosyan, the chair of the public organization "Party of Law" made a speech, which caused a mixed reaction among social network users. On April 8, in front of the Armenian parliament building, people held an action against a speech delivered by Lilit Martirosyan.

It was the first case when a transgender person and as a whole a member of the LGBT community delivered a speech from the parliamentary tribune, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by human rights defender Nina Karapetyants, the head of the Helsinki Association of Armenia.

According to the human rights defender, the change of power in the country gave a member of the LGBT community a chance to openly declare their problems.

However, Nina Karapetyants doubts that the new authorities are willing to remove the taboo from the LGBT issues.

"The society is not ready to adequately perceive the situation with the LGBT community. Many people even sympathize, but are not ready to discuss the topic. They are afraid of aggression from opponents of the LGBT community. At present, it is still not safe to talk about that," Nina Karapetyants noted.

According to human rights defender Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office, the Armenian society is more tolerant than some people try to represent it.

"Under the new power, the problem of LGBT people has become a subject of discussion. The issue includes a problem of recognition and knowledge. Although there is still a trend in the society: what is unknown is dangerous. However, the taboo is being slowly removed," believes Arthur Sakunts.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 9, 2019 at 05:29 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.