On April 2, 2011, the LAEXTRA section of the Los Angeles Times featured two stories on minority groups fighting for recognition. The first article, “Armenian Church Seeks Recognition,” detailed the Armenian Apostolic Church’s efforts to gain recognition from the Vatican. The second article, “Gays, Lesbians Seek Recognition,” outlined the fight for LGBT rights in California. While the two articles may seem unrelated, the similarities between the two minorities’ struggles for recognition are striking.
Both the Armenian Apostolic Church and the LGBT community are fighting to have their histories and contributions to society acknowledged and respectedArmenians in California are hoping that freeway markers will lead to wider acknowledgement of the massacre of 1.5 million people during the Armenian Genocide. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Armenian Apostolic Church recently blessed a sign which read “Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument Next Exit”, located along the 60 Freeway in Montebello. The sign is seen as a symbol of hope for Armenians in the area, as they continue to seek recognition for the tragedy that occurred more than a century ago.The California Senate has recently proposed a bill, SB 48, to require the teaching of the contributions of gay people in textbooks, prompting a fierce debate among opponents who cite religious beliefs. This has been a remarkable shift for the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian communities, who have not been this close to the LGBT+ community in two thousand years. Nevertheless, the progress made in Los Angeles is remarkable, with both communities enjoying a prosperous coexistence.
In the early 20th century, gay men and lesbians began migrating to Los Angeles in search of human rights and social freedom. This trend accelerated after the Second World War. Today, the Los Angeles area is home to one of the world’s largest Armenian diaspora communities – second only to Moscow, Russia.Both communities have emboldened their state representatives to fight for recognition of their histories. “This is not just another freeway sign,” stated State Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier), who authored legislation to construct the sign. According to Pool “…Calderon described the tower as ‘a beacon that stands in the night’ for human rights.” The Martyr’s Monument freeway marker will direct visitors to the six-legged memorial tower, dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the 1915 massacre of 1.5 million people by the Ottoman Empire, part of which is modern-day Turkey.Ms McGreevy, State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) argued passionately in favor of SB 48, which would require the teaching about the contributions of gay, lesbian and transgendered (folk) throughout history. Leno had earlier invoked the name of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old who committed suicide after facing gay-bullying at school.
There is no doubt that these communities deserve recognition of their human rights, an accurate historical record and full illumination of past events. These are tough goals, but they are worth striving for.
According to Ms McGreevy, State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who authored SB 48, emotionally pleaded: “In light of the ongoing and ever-threatening phenomenon of bullying… and suicides… the teaching about the contributions of gay, lesbian and transgendered (folk) throughout history… students would better understand that we are talking about a civil rights movement.”
Leno had earlier invoked the name of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old who committed suicide after facing gay-bullying at school. There is no doubt that these communities deserve recognition of their human rights, an accurate historical record and full illumination of past events. These are tough goals, but they are worth striving for.
In countries with active Orthodox churches, as in Islamic countries, gay men and lesbians have had to be extremely careful and closeted. In 2002, when Armenia joined the Council of Europe, its criminal code had to be amended to remove references to gay men and criminality. (Lesbian sex was never banned in Armenia.) In the United States, it wasn’t until 2003, when the US Supreme Court struck down anti-sodomy laws in Lawrence vs Texas, that homosexual acts were no longer criminal. Hooray for the courts!
The passion exhibited by Armenians regarding the exclusion of this genocide by political systems and historians is striking. They perceive that this diminishes their stature as a people. If history won’t even recognize this atrocity against the world’s oldest keepers of the Christian faith, then what chance does any other human rights struggle have? Armenians want the historical record to be corrected, changed and enlarged – whatever it takes to acknowledge their humanity.
Homosexuality has long been a topic of debate and discussion. Some people believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality, while others believe that the Bible does not specifically mention homosexuality. Still others believe that the Bible condemns certain homosexual activities, but does not condemn homosexuality as a whole. There are many different interpretations of the Bible, and people hold different opinions on the matter of homosexuality.
The Orthodox Church has recently made a statement on homosexuality. They say that “Representing God’s will towards homosexuals requires firm, patient, compassionate, loving and gentle correction…” This statement shows that the Orthodox Church is willing to move into the 21st century and accept homosexuals. They no longer believe that homosexuals should be killed, as was stated in the Old Testament. Instead, they believe that homosexuals need to be shown compassion and love.
There are three other 21st century markers which show change:
First: Freeway signs. Now used by Armenians but used earlier, by Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA).
Second: The 1998 establishment of Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society (GALAS) to help LGBT ‘Armenians who are looking for friendship, support and a sense of belonging in the community’. GALAS held its fifth annual Armenian LGBT Conference, titled ‘Breaking Through: Legally, Politically, Culturally’, last year at Plummer Park Community Center in West Hollywood.
Third: Armenian/American female Chastity Bono, writer and activist now known as transgendered male Chaz Bono. Her/his mother, the one and only gay icon, the world-famous Cher, is the daughter of an Armenian truck driver and an Arkansas-born mother. Cher was born in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946.
And, so it is!
