Homosexuality in Armenia

Geographical location of Armenia

In Armenia, homosexuality is taboo in parts of society.

legality

Homosexual acts have been legal in Armenia since 2003. Anti-discrimination laws protecting sexual orientation do not exist in Armenia.

Recognition of same-sex couples

There is no recognition of same-sex marriages, nor are registered partnerships allowed.

Social situation

A LGBT Association of there on a small scale in the capital Yerevan . LGBT organizations like Pinkarmenia or Menq / WFCE campaign for the rights of homosexual people in Armenia.

In a 2011 study, 97% of the Armenians surveyed stated that they reject homosexuality.

Due to the rather difficult situation , according to a study by the Armenian LGBT organization PINK Armenia , the majority of the LGBT community wants to emigrate permanently in order to be able to lead a more open life abroad. As a result, around 6,000 people emigrated between 2011 and 2013, and asylum applications would then often be made in the destination country.

On April 8, 2019, public hearings on the “National Agenda for Human Rights - UN Monitoring” took place in the Armenian National Assembly . Among the invited representatives of civil society institutions was Lilit Martirosjan, a transgender woman and chairwoman of the LGBTIQ organization “Party of the Right”. When, for the first time in the history of the Armenian Parliament, she was given the opportunity to speak in the stands and report on the problems of the oppressed LGBT community in Armenia, she was chaired by the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, the Party Chair of Blooming Armenia Naira Sohrabyan , verbally attacked and expelled from the plenary hall. Martirosjan's appearance sparked outrage among MPs, some of whom welcomed Sohrabjan's behavior.