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Why are y’all like this? Xi eq es pes?
*a thread about hypocrisy and hatred within the Armenian community*
Buckle in and read thru to the end before y’all freak out.
*a thread about hypocrisy and hatred within the Armenian community*
Buckle in and read thru to the end before y’all freak out.
First off, y’all honestly just expose your own queerphobia. I think it surprises a lot of people bc I’m Armo asf, but I will never stop calling out hatred like this.
The most common argument to support this behavior is either:
1) BuT I’m a ChRiStiaN or
2) There are other, more important things to focus on in Armenia now.
Both are invalid.
Let’s start by addressing the second point first since it’s secular in nature.
1) BuT I’m a ChRiStiaN or
2) There are other, more important things to focus on in Armenia now.
Both are invalid.
Let’s start by addressing the second point first since it’s secular in nature.
Yes, Armenia has many problems right now.
No, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put in an effort to make Armenia a safe place for ALL Armenians to live, especially now when so many Armenians would love to move back, but for a fear of being beaten bc of their sexuality or gender.
No, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put in an effort to make Armenia a safe place for ALL Armenians to live, especially now when so many Armenians would love to move back, but for a fear of being beaten bc of their sexuality or gender.
Similar to how we always tell otars that it’s possible to give a damn about multiple causes concurrently, we need to practice what we preach and focus on solving multiple issues simultaneously. This is not only possible, but entirely probable since nothing exists in a vacuum.
Many of the injustices plaguing Armenia right now, be it corruption, oppression, lack of economic stimulation, etc, are all closely interrelated and to pretend otherwise is both extremely ignorant and outright dangerous. Anyone who can’t see that, isn’t as angelic as they claim.
Lastly, let’s turn to the first point, the one about Christianity and how it factors into the hatred and shunning that many queer Armenians experience.
I’m going to start by saying I’m an Armenian Apostolic Christian. And guess what? I’m also a bisexual Armenian man.
I’m going to start by saying I’m an Armenian Apostolic Christian. And guess what? I’m also a bisexual Armenian man.
Many LGBTQ Armos feel like they need to expressly compartmentalize their two existences (as an Armenian and as a queer person) precisely bc of the hatred they experience from their fellow Armenians.
Myself included. It took a long time for me to de-compartmentalize the two.
Myself included. It took a long time for me to de-compartmentalize the two.
I hated myself for a long time just bc I was told to. But I learned to love and respect myself first and foremost.
Firstly, one of the most vital aspects of Christianity is that you ought to love and treat others with kindness and respect, even if their paths differ from yours.
Firstly, one of the most vital aspects of Christianity is that you ought to love and treat others with kindness and respect, even if their paths differ from yours.
Secondly, it’s worth noting that Armenians existed as pagans with our own unique pantheon, and our own gods and goddesses, for longer than Christianity has even been a thing.
Point being that, yes while Christianity is an important part of the Armenian identity now...
Point being that, yes while Christianity is an important part of the Armenian identity now...
...that doesn’t mean that it always has been, nor that it always will continue to be.
As such, you must accept that there are Armenians who have different religious beliefs than you, if any at all.
As such, you must accept that there are Armenians who have different religious beliefs than you, if any at all.
Neither you, nor Christianity, is the ultimate gatekeeper or arbiter of what it means to be Armenian.
Read that again.
One more time, bc it really is that important.
Read that again.
One more time, bc it really is that important.
Also, even if you are a devout Christian, you still don’t get to be a gatekeeper of Christianity bc faith means different things to different followers.
In fact, many Christian churches and priests realize this and accept queer folks...
In fact, many Christian churches and priests realize this and accept queer folks...
...Bc they know that it is not their place to pass judgment or hate someone for merely existing. If you are as devout as you say, then you’d realize we are all God’s children. None of you is special enough to dictate God’s will or word so stop trying.
Returning to that first point about using Christianity as an excuse to justify your hatred, hypocrisy and intolerance: fucking stop.
It merely makes Christians look bad. If you’re queerphobic, sexist, or racist, it’s bc you were raised with prejudice not bc of Christianity.
It merely makes Christians look bad. If you’re queerphobic, sexist, or racist, it’s bc you were raised with prejudice not bc of Christianity.
The thing is, we are all raised with biases and prejudice. That’s normal. The difference is most people grow up and unlearn that bullshit prejudice.
Thus, continuing to spew hatred is choosing to bury your head in the sand. Stop hating Armenians who are different from you. Stop.
Thus, continuing to spew hatred is choosing to bury your head in the sand. Stop hating Armenians who are different from you. Stop.
So, what have we learned today, boys and girls?
1. Improving the quality of life of all Armenian citizens is paramount.
2. Making efforts to help disenfranchised groups of Armenians is not “prioritizing” them over you. Shut up.
1. Improving the quality of life of all Armenian citizens is paramount.
2. Making efforts to help disenfranchised groups of Armenians is not “prioritizing” them over you. Shut up.
3. Stop using religion to justify your hypocrisy and hatred.
4. You can’t define what makes someone Armenian so don’t bother.
5. Instead, focus on uplifting one another and stop falling for bullshit attempts to divide us from within.
4. You can’t define what makes someone Armenian so don’t bother.
5. Instead, focus on uplifting one another and stop falling for bullshit attempts to divide us from within.
6. Many queer Armenians are infinitely more hayrenaser than some of y’all will ever be and to write them off as an unimportant part of our community is fucking stupid and regressive.
7. We need to make Armenian society more accepting, bc it’s downright embarrassing that many Armenians (not just queer Armos, also multi-racial Armos, etc) feel ostracized by their peers and actually get accepted by other groups instead...
...it’s goddamn upsetting that so many of us get hate from our own but love from others. That needs to stop and we need to really take a long look in the mirror about our values and what we actually stand for.
8. I love you all, even if you think my existence is vile
8. I love you all, even if you think my existence is vile
Okay, there we go. I don’t expect this will magically make everything right in our community, but we need self-checks like this to jumpstart important conversations and analyses regarding the treatment of our own.
Lav nayeq irar eli, ho etqan djhvar chi jhogh jan.
Lav nayeq irar eli, ho etqan djhvar chi jhogh jan.
