Representatives of EU and Germany clarify the purpose of the gay film in Armenia

EU delegation and German Embassy referred to the protest action in Yerevan and intense and controversial debates on the screening of the the film on the topic of gays and lesbians.

EU delegation and German Embassy referred to the protest action in Yerevan and intense and controversial debates on the screening of the the film on the topic of gays and lesbians. As reports Armenpress they have highlighted the importance of being informed about the human rights on the gender identity and sexual orientation. The head of the EU delegation has mentioned that people of non-traditional general orientation are vulnerable in Armenia.

 

“We acknowledge that the idea of screening a film with such content has caused some concern among the public. In response, I would like to point out that the EU aims to disseminate the information and aware the public from the point of the culture through breaking the stereotypes” noted the EU representative.

 

The German Ambassador to Armenia Rainer Morel has added that those who are against the film certainly have the right to express their opinion. But at the same time those who want to watch the film have the same right to do that.

 

The Puppet Theatre was chosen as the most appropriate place for showing the film to an adult audience. The choice was based on the fact that Puppet Theatre holds such events as “Golden Apricot”, different jazz concerts also concerts dedicated to the human rights.

 

Under the public pressure Yerevan Club and Puppet Theatre repudiated holding the film premier, though they had initially agreed to do it.

 

Many protestors attended the press conference and clarified a number of details.

 

The “Parade” is a 2011 Serbian drama film, written and directed by Srđan Dragojević and released on 31 October 2011. The film, which deals with gay rights issues in Serbia, features footage of the 2010 Belgrade gay pride parade. Despite the controversial subject, The Parade reached the number of 350,000 admission tickets sold in Serbian cinemas in first 11 weeks of distribution, 150,000 in Croatia after 8 weeks, 25,000 in Slovenia, 40,000 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 20,000 in Montenegro. The film introduces a group of gay activists, trying to organize a pride parade in Belgrade. Among them Mirko Dedijer (Goran Jevtić), a struggling theater director who mostly makes a living by planning lavish and kitschy wedding ceremonies on the side.

 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Armenia have yet to be claimed and acquired.

 

Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since 2003. However, even though it has been decriminalized, the situation of local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens has not changed substantially.

 

Homosexuality remains a taboo topic in parts of Armenian society. There is, moreover, no legal protection for LGBT persons whose human rights are violated regularly.

 

Many fear violence in their workplace or from their family, and therefore, do not file complaints of human rights violations or of criminal offences.    

 

Source: ARMENPRESS