Gay And Lesbian Armenian Society

Please join California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Insurance Diversity Task Force Chair Mark Morales for a LGBTQ+ virtual town hall on insurance issues and available resources for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. With many businesses experiencing tremendous economic loss, it is imperative for you to have up to date information on services and resources. The special guest panelist include Julie Clowes, U.S. Small Business Administration and Marquita Thomas, Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Link: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_4gFMT70KT-m9uKrD5saLmg

Here’s your reminder to join us tomorrow! RSVP now! Repost: "After last month's successful virtual support group led by Lara Mekhitarian, LMFT, we decided to make this a monthly event. Link is in bio. Please RSVP and we will send you the link. In addition, if there are any questions you would like Lara to address, please email [email protected]. All questions will be kept confidential and addressed anonymously."

We are launching a creative writing workshop to explore lived experiences and memories as a way of finding and celebrating your strength. You will engage in a set of interactive writing exercises, based on brief readings (in English) by queer Armenian writers and writers of other intersectional queer identities. An opportunity will be given to read or share your story in this safe, sympathetic community. Suggestions will be given to continue writing as a regular healing pract...ice. All levels welcome: no writing experience necessary. The workshop will be conducted in English; participants are welcome to write in English, Armenian or both. Workshop led by Nancy Agabian - writer, teacher, and literary organizer, working in the spaces between race, ethnicity, cultural identity, feminism and queer identity. She is the author of Me as her again: True Stories of an Armenian Daughter (Aunt Lute Books, 2008), a memoir that was honored as a Lambda Literary Award finalist for LGBT Nonfiction and shortlisted for a William Saroyan International Writing Prize, and Princess Freak (Beyond Baroque Books, 2000), a collection of poetry and performance texts. She teaches creative writing at universities and art centers, most recently at NYU and The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in SoHo. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-as-a-way-of-healing-te

It’s Inauguration day! It’s been a rollercoaster of a 4 year term. We are so glad to welcome President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We hope that the rights of minority groups will be upheld and that we can continue to progress forward as a nation. We hope to see these officials stand up for Armenia and LGBTQ+ rights. We hope to see unity and peace. What are you hoping to see in the Biden/Harris term?

On January 19, 2021, the City of West Hollywood unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the Independent Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The Armenian community sees you WeHo! As LGBTQ+ Armenians, thank you.

This holiday season, Equality Armenia is, once again, raffling off a lovely sailboat cruise for two from the Los Angeles Harbor. All proceeds raised from this r...affle will be used for Equality Armenia’s general operations, so that we may continue posting informative content relevant to the Armenian and LGBTQ communities. British yacht designer Bill Crealock’s famous model, the Pacific Seacraft, is a gracious sailboat ready to take you and your friend, date or significant other (max 2 people, plus crew) on a private, 3-hour sunset cruise from the Los Angeles Harbor. The gentle sail includes champagne, refreshments, and incredible views. Bring your cameras! This is a perfect birthday/anniversary gift, an engagement/wedding proposal (surprise or not) opportunity or just an extraordinary day with a loved one out on friendly waters. Raffle tickets will be sold as follows: 1 ticket for $25 5 tickets for $100 13 tickets for $250 27 tickets for $500 55 tickets for $1,000 For each ticket purchased, the name of the purchaser will be entered into a digital raffle generator and a name will be drawn at random at the end of the raffle, on January 6, 2021 at 12 noon. Winner selection process will be posted on January 6, 2021 on all our social media sites. The winner will be contacted via email. The more tickets you purchase, the higher are the chances of your name being pulled. May the odds be ever in your favor! Raffle tickets may be bought now through our secured PayPal account at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/equalityarmenia (link in bio). *Fine Print* The cruise must be reserved at least one month before the sail date. The cruise date must be selected within 6 months of winning the raffle. Sailing on the selected date depends on weather conditions, natural events and governmental regulations and ordinances. If sailing on the selected date is not possible, due to reasons other than the winner's cancellation, then another date will be selected within a month. If the vessel is unavailable, another one of equal value will be booked. Participants must wear flat rubber bottom shoes and be able to climb sets of narrow stairs unassisted. Winner and companion must present IDs when setting up reservations and when boarding.

Join us this Saturday.

January 19, 2007 was the day that Hrant Dink was assassinated. Today is that anniversary of his death and we continue to mourn his loss as he was a powerful voice that advocated for TurkishArmenian reconciliation and human/minority rights in Turkey. As was said then, and we will continue to chant now, We are all Hrant Dink, we are all Armenian.

What is the wider importance of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh? Former Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder explains that there’s a possibility of an escalation of this conflict that could lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day. We are remembering this legendary activist and thinking of how far we still need to go in terms of racial justice in the U.S. Here are some famous quotes we keep close to our hearts: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.... The time is always right to do what is right. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others? What are some of your favorite quotes?

The Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers met with Mike Pompeo today about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan tells me the civilians are dying and blames Azerbaijan but is he pushing for unification with Armenia?

Azerbaijan has repeatedly used widely banned cluster munitions in residential areas in Nagorno-Karabakh. New on-the-ground investigation by Human Rights Watch shows, "flagrant disregard for the safety of civilians".

For our Spanish-speaking friends.

Due to technical difficulties, yesterday’s Our Gay History in 50 States Facebook Live session on the crisis in Armenia was unable to go live. You can catch the full discussion here with Dr. Armen Samuel Karamanian from Australia.

Be sure to watch! AGBU Young Professionals special edition of YP live Peace for Armenians - Understanding the War in Artsakh in a few hours. The steam will in...clude experts of human-rights, diplomacy, history, humanitarian relief, and social media who will be discussing the different facets of the current conflict. Where: Streaming on Agbu YP Date: 10/18/20 Time: 12pm PST | 3PM EST | 11PM AMT #RecognizeArtsakh #PeaceforArtsakh #PeaceforArmenia

Tune into a special Facebook Live session hosted by Our Gay History in 50 States on the crisis in Armenia with special guest Dr. Armen Samuel Karamanian from Australia. GALAS has facilitated this interview and will be coordinating more with #LGBTQ media partners to raise awareness on the humanitarian crisis in Armenia and Artsakh When: Saturday, October 17... 12:00 PM CST 10:00 AM PST 1:00 PM EST #peaceforarmenians #artsakhstrong #armenia #armenian #gay50states #artsakh

#RecognizeArtsakh

Armenians united worldwide

Read and share this article explains Karabakh’s right to independence under international law.

LA City Hall dawning the colors of the Armenian flag this evening as student protesters stage a peaceful demonstration to bring attention to the conflict in #Artsakh , #Armenia... from #Air7HD ABC7