Equality Armenia (EqAr) ( hy, Հավասարություն Հայաստան, translit=Havasarut’yun Hayastan) is a

non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

which advocates for

marriage equality Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same Legal sex and gender, sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being ...

in Armenia. Equality Armenia was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

History

Equality Armenia was founded on 2 December 2017 and its current Director is Armen Abelyan. The organization seeks to achieve marriage equality in Armenia, as well as, advancing both LGBT rights and

human rights Human rights are Morality, moral principles or Social norm, normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for ce ...

, and combating

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...

in the country. During an interview on 28 November 2017, EqAr Director Abelyan stated, "Marriage equality is within reach in Armenia and that concerted effort in the

Diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...

is crucial." On 28 February 2018, Equality Armenia hosted a charity event in

Pasadena Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. Its ...

to raise funds for

Pink Armenia Pink Armenia ( hy, Փինք Հայաստան, translit=P’ink’ Hayastan) is the first LGBTQIA+ rights non-governmental organization in Armenia. Pink Armenia was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Yerevan. Its mission is to serve and suppor ...

, an organization based in Armenia focusing on the advancement of

LGBT rights Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, , 33 ...

. On 29 March 2019, Equality Armenia held its first annual Leadership Council in

Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia * Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre *Glendale, Queensland, ...

. The forum brought together lgbtq activists, government officials, and community leaders to discuss advancing LGBTQ equality in Armenia. Various Los Angeles Councilmembers, Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharpetian, delegates from the

Armenian National Committee of America The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) ( hy, Ամերիկայի Հայ դատի յանձնախումբ) an Armenian American grassroots organization. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and it has regional offices in Glendale, Ca ...

GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society (formerly Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society) is one of the first LGBTQIA+ rights non-governmental organizations founded by Armenian Americans. GALAS was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in West Hollywood, Californ ...

, and

Equality California Equality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California. It is the largest statewide LGBT organization in the United States and the largest member of the Equality Federation ...

spoke at the event. EqAr Director Abelyan stated, "The future of the LGBTQ community is woven with the future of Armenia. It always has been. Armenia has a window of opportunity to become a leader in the region."

Partnerships

Equality Armenia has developed partnerships with other LGBT rights organizations including

and

Right Side NGO Right Side NGO ( hy, Իրավունքի Կողմ) is the first transgender rights organization in Armenia and the first trans-led organization in the South Caucasus region. Right Side NGO was founded in 2016 as a non-governmental organization an ...

References

{{Armenia topics International LGBT organizations International LGBT political advocacy groups Organizations established in 2017 LGBT rights in Armenia LGBT in Armenia LGBT in California LGBT political advocacy groups in the United States 2017 establishments in California

History

Partnerships

See also

References