Support Pink's work in the regions

Pink Armenia's community centers in the regions continue to provide tremendous support and need-based services to LGBT+ people. These centers have long been safe and empowering spaces for the community and offer an educational environment for skills development. 

We conducted about 60 events in spring and summer aimed at empowering the LGBT+ community and allies in the regions, building their capacity, and increasing their legal awareness and overall well-being. These events included entertainment, informative meetings, workshops, and training sessions.

During this period, our offices in the regions received about 390 visits, with 24 new beneficiaries among the visitors. Visitors participated in training courses to enhance their English language skills and increase their competitiveness in the labor market. Various photography, media literacy, and digital security workshops were held to support their capacity development. 

The events also covered themes such as art and activism, feminism, discussions about queer culture, life difficulties, and self-awareness. We conducted important discussions during movie screenings and events commemorating significant days.

Another imporatant meeting was organized in the regional community center with the parents' organization to discuss where they also presented the manual called "Understanding My Child."

Over the past four months, our peer counselors and social workers worked with 35 beneficiaries in the regions, and psychologists provided 177 counselings. The cases handled by social workers included domestic violence and family conflicts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The lawyer provided 40 counseling on issues such as domestic violence, discrimination during military service, personal data privacy, workplace and medical institution discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, rights and responsibilities in judicial processes.

During the last four months, we had about 400 visits to our community centers outside of Yerevan. Among the visitors, there were 20 new beneficiaries. 

We have organized 55 events,including entertainment and informative events. The events' main themes were art and activism, discussions about life and emotions, discussions with a lawyer, movie screenings, events commemorating significant days, and different workshops. 

During this period, our peer counselors in the regions worked with 19 beneficiaries, social workers provided 31and psychologists provided 74 counselings. Beneficiaries discussed their family issues and domestic violence. They also tackled the topics of stress, adolescent difficulties, bullying in school, coming out processes, the influence of war, and other related matters. 

Our lawyer provided 40 counselings on domestic violence and sexual abuse, personal data privacy, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, responsibilities in judicial processes, etc. 

Pink's community centers in the regions serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people to receive free professional support, including counseling of psychologists, lawyers, and social workers, as well as participate in educational, informational, recreational, outreach and other events. 

In the regions from August to November 2022, we provided nine legal professional counselings, dozens of peer counselings by the community officer, and referrals to a social worker were also made. Regarding psychological support, about 50 psychological counselings were provided to the beneficiaries, most of which were on issues of domestic violence, anxiety, and acceptance, also addressing the issues of identity, expression and social attitude. 

The legal counselings were mainly related to obtaining a residence permit, exercising civil and criminal procedural rights and fulfilling obligations, and expected support in case of temporary inability to work. Beneficiaries also applied to legal counseling on the protection of sensitive personal information, and cases of hate speech based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Peer counselings were mainly connected to domestic violence, bullying, and other concerns; ultimately, these cases were referred to the social worker

Besides professional support, many community activities and events were held from August to November, such as events on self-care and art, on Coming Out Day and other significant days, as well as film screenings, group discussions with social workers and lawyers, game evenings, exhibition and art collage-making activities were carried out to enlighten the perception of queer art.

Pink Armenia continues to organize various events, workshops and camps within the framework of the community empowerment program in the regions. The main goal of these activities is to unite the representatives and allies of the regional community. During the events, specialists try to create a safe space where people can openly discuss the issues that concern them and share their experiences.  

Since 2019, Pink established an office in one of Armenia’s regions, which continues to provide various services and where educational and entertainment events are organized for the LGBT+ community and allies until this very day. Over the past four months, from April to July, the regional office has implemented more than 15 events to empower the LGBT+ community and allies, build their capacity, and increase their legal awareness and overall wellbeing.  

During the events, the participants shared their concerns about the discriminatory treatment of LGBT+ people in the regions while trying to find solutions to fight against discrimination and increase the atmosphere of tolerance in the regions. Our lawyer presented the topic of human rights and the necessary skills to exercise those rights.

The regional office continued to provide a full range of services to the LGBT+ community and its allies. During the recent months, 33 beneficiaries were supported by our social worker, psychologists, lawyer, and peer-to-peer counseling.

To protect the rights of LGBT+ people, Pink implemented regular activities in several regions. Two thematic workshops and one camp were organized throughout April-July. We had 12-15 participants in the respective workshops and 13 participants in the camp.

Within the framework of these meetings, the participants discussed issues related to sexuality, gender stereotypes, gender roles, coming out, self-acceptance, internalized homophobia, and the specifics of the services provided.

Our work on raising awareness about sexuality and creating safe spaces for LGBT+ people in the regions is only possible due to your generous donations and trust. We started to establish a second regional office in Armenia where we are going to provide professional counselings, thereby creating another safe space for the LGBT+ community.

Pink Armenia’s office in the region continues to conduct events and activities, as well as provide full package of services to LGBTQ community.

Around 20 events were conducted during the last 4 months in our regional office, all aiming to empower, strengthen and build the capacity of LGBTQ community members as well as create a safe space in the region. The events were themed around the topics of sexuality, gender, feminism, equality, personal boundaries, human rights etc. We have conducted different events for LGBTQ community and allies including film screenings, forum theaters, discussions, workshops, seminars, etc.

Since December our psychologist, social worker, lawyer and peer counselors have assisted 25 beneficiaries and provided more than 60 counselings.

In January the annual planning of Pink Armenia took place, where the regional office was able to discuss the activities and strategic directions, took a lookback on the activities conducted in the last year and developed an action plan for 2022.

Despite the challenges and threats received from the society our regional office continued to gain new achievements. We strengthened the safety of the community center in the region and worked on capacity building and empowering our community.

“Having such a safe place helps us to feel better, accept ourselves, open-up about what’s important for us and to speak up. While participating in different events I managed to build trust and connections with others and with the staff,” as one of our beneficiary's states.

We want to convey our gratitude and highlight that all of this is possible due to your generous donations and the support to of our work in regions of Armenia.