By now, it is not safe to discuss the problems of the LGBT community, Armenian Helsinki Organisation head Nina Karapetyan has said. After the velvet revolution, the taboo on discussing the LGBT topic is being gradually lifted in the country, head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Artur Sakunts thinks. The protection of human rights should be ensured in accordance with the habits, culture, and traditions of society, head of the Against Violation of Law organisation Larisa Alaverdyan says.
The Kavkazsky Uzel [website] has reported that transgender Lilit Martirosyan, who is a representative of the Right Side public organisation, made a speech at the 6 April hearing on human rights in the Armenian Parliament. The fact caused mixed reaction among social network users. On 8 April, a protest rally was held against the transgender's speech outside the Armenian Parliament. [In the ILGA-Europe ratings in 2017, Armenia came 47th, being recognised as one of the most homophobic countries in Europe).
This was the first time a transgender and representative of the LGBT community in general took floor in the Armenian Parliament, Armenian Helsinki Association Head Nina Karapetyan told Kavkazsky Uzel.
As she put it, the change of power in the country had allowed representatives of the LGBT community to openly discuss their problems.
"Had this happened at the meeting of the Human Rights Committee of the previous parliament, LGBT representatives would have run a serious risk having come to a meeting… This time, there was no room for MPs, as the hall was mainly full of civil sector representatives," Karapetyan said.
However, she doubts that the new authorities are ready to lift the taboo from the LGBT topic.
"Society is not ready to adequately perceive the situation with LGBTs. At today's (8 April) meeting between those opposed to LGBT and Deputy Speaker Alen Simonyan, you got the impression that the deputy speaker was trying to cut corners. And it became clear that the new authorities were not ready to discuss the topic," she said.
However, as she put it, in different segments of society, they are ready to discuss the LGBT topic, albeit not openly.
"Very many people even sympathise with them. However, they are not ready for discussions. They fear aggression on the part of those opposed to LGBTs. By now, it is not safe to discuss this," she emphasised.
"Prior to navigating a draft through parliament, we need to prepare society. Otherwise, there might be dire consequences for LGBT representatives proper," Karapetyan explained.
She also emphasised that the statistics of the crimes committed against the LGBT community was not fully reflected, as the police did not always file their complaints about crime.
"The police cannot have official statistical data. What mattered most in the transgender's speech was the data about violence [283 cases of violence against LGBTs registered before 2018). However, this went unnoticed against the background of the scandal," Karapetyan said.
Taboo on PGBT problems gradually lifted under new authorities
The head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly and right activist Artur Sakunts finds it difficult to assess the statistics voiced by the transgender.
"This is nevertheless closed society. And they do not only fear to discuss their problems, but they also fear to emerge before society. And this was the first time a transgender had spoken about LGBT problems from the rostrum of parliament," he told Kavkazsky Uzel.
In his opinion, Armenian society is more tolerant than they try to present it.
"Under the new authorities, the LGBT problem has become a point of discussion. The issue is related to the problem of recognisability and awareness. The taboo is gradually being lifted. The quality of power has changed in term of rights protection. A normal process has begun and in it, there remain no tabooed topics," Sakunts said.
Introduction of human rights blueprint should consolidate society
The implementation of the human rights blueprint should take place in accordance with habits, culture and historic traditions, so as not to damage the blueprint proper, head of the Against Violation of Law organisation and first Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan told Kavkazsky Uzel.
In her opinion, the introduction of the human rights conception should consolidate society, rather than divide it.
In parliament proper, they forgot the problem during the (9 April) meeting, switching to interpersonal relations with [MP] Naira Zohrabyan [of the Prosperous Armenia party faction, whose commission had approved the list of invitations to public organisations, but who denied sending one to the Right Side NGO]. The problem proper was shot out. An approach of the kind is inefficient, as it might damage the general concept of human rights," Alaverdyan emphasised.
She said that Armenian society was a traditional society and that this was not a sign of being underdeveloped.
"A return to non-traditional sexual relations should not be considered as progress. This is a return to pre-Christian times… In Armenia, an overwhelming majority identifies themselves with traditional values, which are generally called national," Alaverdyan emphasised.
However, she is sure that society should struggle against violence, irrespective of who the victim is.
"However, for some reason, emphasis is placed on sexual preferences… Struggle against violence should be more radical, without dividing according to features," Alaverdyan concluded.
By now, Kavkazsky Uzel does not have Lilit Martirosyan's comments. After the scandal, which was raised over her speech from the parliament rostrum, the transgender blocked her telephone, social network account, and email. The website of the Right Side organisation, which she is the head of, is also blocked.