AGLA France (Association des Gays et Lesbiennes Arméniens de France) (English: Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians of France, Armenian: Ֆրանսահայ Միասեռականների Ասոցիացիա) was a Paris-based advocacy group working to fight widespread homophobia in Armenia[1] and among Armenians in France[2] from 2001 to 2007.
Founded in December 2001 by gay refugees from Armenia, the group aimed at pressuring the Armenian government to remove its law against gay men, article 116 of the Armenian penal code.
Actions
AGLA France members' sit in demonstration against hate crimes, Paris, circa February 2004
AGLA France at the Gay and Lesbian Pride march, Paris. Banner reads "Armenia must abolish the anti-gay law", circa June 2002
In May 2003 AGLA France launched "ThePink", the first LGBT online magazine in the Armenian language.[citation needed] By promoting public awareness on such issues as homophobia, coming out and HIV/STI prevention, AGLA sought to prepare the ground for the movement in favor of LGBT rights in Armenia.
In August 2003, President Robert Kocharyan ratified Armenia's new penal code which removes the former anti-gay article 116.[3]
In late 2004, Armen Avetisyan, leader of Armenian Aryan Union (AAU), an ultra-nationalist Armenian political party, announced that some senior Armenian officials were gay. That prompted heated debates in parliament that were broadcast over the public TV channel. Some members of Armenian Parliament stated that any member found to be gay should resign.[4]
AGLA France organized a protest[5] to denounce the AAU's homophobic campaign and the denigration of gays by Armenian lawmakers and media outlets. AGLA France also picketed in front of the Armenian embassy in Paris. The association also wrote an open letter to the President of Armenia that was published a few days later in the newspaper "Haykakan Zhamanak".
In 2005, AGLA France invited two young men from Armenia to participate in ILGA-Europe's annual conference which was held in Paris. A year later Menq/WFCE,[6] the first gay-operated NGO to fight HIV/AIDS, was registered in Yerevan.
In 2006, two members of AGLA France celebrated an informal wedding ceremony[7] in the Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church). An article published in the newspaper 168 Zham (168 Hours) about this improvised marriage provoked a scandal and indignation at local conservative media outlets and among politicians and religious officials.[8][9]
^United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Report by Canadian Government: The situation of homosexuals and lesbians in Armenia". Unhcr.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^"Hay et homo: d'une reconnaissance à l'autre" 2008-11-12 at the Wayback Machine, "France Arménie" magazine, n° 241 (March 2004), p.35 (in French)
^"Armenia Decriminalizes Sex Between Men". Sodomylaws.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^"Bigots on Baghramian?: Parliament Members Continue Gay Debate". Glapn.org. 2004-11-06. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^"Rassemblement devant l'ambassade d'Arménie (in French)". Inter-lgbt.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^"Menq/WFCE official website". Wfce.am. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^. Armenianow.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^. GayRussia.ru. Archived from the original on 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^. ILGA-Europe. 2001-12-01. Archived from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
External links
AGLA NY - Gay and Lesbian Armenians of New York (USA)
GALAS - Gay And Lesbian Armenian Society, Los Angeles (USA)
February 11, 2023
agla, france, association, gays, lesbiennes, arméniens, france, english, association, lesbian, armenians, france, armenian, Ֆրանսահայ, Միասեռականների, Ասոցիացիա, paris, based, advocacy, group, working, fight, widespread, homophobia, armenia, among, armenians, . AGLA France Association des Gays et Lesbiennes Armeniens de France English Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians of France Armenian Ֆրանսահայ Միասեռականների Ասոցիացիա was a Paris based advocacy group working to fight widespread homophobia in Armenia 1 and among Armenians in France 2 from 2001 to 2007 LGBT Advocacy GroupFounded2001FounderMicha MeroujeanDissolved2007TypeAssociation Loi 1901FocusAdvocacy for LGBT Rights in ArmeniaLocationFranceMethodNetworking Campaigning Advocacy Outreach Community Media TV Radio and InternetMembers40Key people Websitewww agla info Contents 1 Origins 2 Actions 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External linksOrigins EditFounded in December 2001 by gay refugees from Armenia the group aimed at pressuring the Armenian government to remove its law against gay men article 116 of the Armenian penal code Actions Edit AGLA France members sit in demonstration against hate crimes Paris circa February 2004 AGLA France at the Gay and Lesbian Pride march Paris Banner reads Armenia must abolish the anti gay law circa June 2002 In May 2003 AGLA France launched ThePink the first LGBT online magazine in the Armenian language citation needed By promoting public awareness on such issues as homophobia coming out and HIV STI prevention AGLA sought to prepare the ground for the movement in favor of LGBT rights in Armenia In August 2003 President Robert Kocharyan ratified Armenia s new penal code which removes the former anti gay article 116 3 In late 2004 Armen Avetisyan leader of Armenian Aryan Union AAU an ultra nationalist Armenian political party announced that some senior Armenian officials were gay That prompted heated debates in parliament that were broadcast over the public TV channel Some members of Armenian Parliament stated that any member found to be gay should resign 4 AGLA France organized a protest 5 to denounce the AAU s homophobic campaign and the denigration of gays by Armenian lawmakers and media outlets AGLA France also picketed in front of the Armenian embassy in Paris The association also wrote an open letter to the President of Armenia that was published a few days later in the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak In 2005 AGLA France invited two young men from Armenia to participate in ILGA Europe s annual conference which was held in Paris A year later Menq WFCE 6 the first gay operated NGO to fight HIV AIDS was registered in Yerevan In 2006 two members of AGLA France celebrated an informal wedding ceremony 7 in the Etchmiadzin Cathedral Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church An article published in the newspaper 168 Zham 168 Hours about this improvised marriage provoked a scandal and indignation at local conservative media outlets and among politicians and religious officials 8 9 AGLA France ceased its activities in 2007 See also Edit LGBT portalLGBT rights in Armenia Human rights in Armenia LGBT rights in Asia LGBT rights in FranceNotes Edit United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Report by Canadian Government The situation of homosexuals and lesbians in Armenia Unhcr org Retrieved 2014 06 29 Hay et homo d une reconnaissance a l autre Archived 2008 11 12 at the Wayback Machine France Armenie magazine n 241 March 2004 p 35 in French Armenia Decriminalizes Sex Between Men Sodomylaws org Retrieved 2014 06 29 Bigots on Baghramian Parliament Members Continue Gay Debate Glapn org 2004 11 06 Retrieved 2014 06 29 Rassemblement devant l ambassade d Armenie in French Inter lgbt org Retrieved 2014 06 29 Menq WFCE official website Wfce am Retrieved 2014 06 29 Love and Loyalty Marriage in secret in an environment of fear Armenianow com Archived from the original on 2011 09 27 Retrieved 2014 06 29 First symbolical Gay wedding in Armenia GayRussia ru Archived from the original on 2007 12 02 Retrieved 2014 06 29 First symbolical Gay wedding in Armenia ILGA Europe 2001 12 01 Archived from the original on 2009 10 30 Retrieved 2014 06 29 External links EditILGA Europe s country information on Armenia AGLA NY Gay and Lesbian Armenians of New York USA GALAS Gay And Lesbian Armenian Society Los Angeles USA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AGLA France amp oldid 1104125310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
