Involvement of gay and bisexual men in LGBT activism in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine

BACKGROUND: LGBT activism of gays and bisexual men (hereinafter MSM) has shown to foster community mobilization and to increase advocacy potential of this group. Moreover, MSM cooperating with human rights activists tend to be easier to engage in social programs. The study explored how much MSM in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries engage with NGOs, publically support LGBT rights, and perform other manifestations of LGBT activism.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2017 by Eurasian Coalition on Male Health. The total sample engaged 5775 MSM-respondents from 10 countries. The study suggested a number of actions as manifestations of LGBT activism and asked respondents how often they had been involved in such actions during the last twelve months. LGBT activism index (AI) was calculated for each country, employing a scale from 0 to 16, by assigning one point for a one-time participation in one activity, and two points for each instance of multiple participation.

RESULTS: Signing petitions and helping victims of discrimination or violence have shown to be the most widespread activities in the overall sample. The AI of the studied countries ranged from 0,6 to 2,4. Nine countries could be divided into three groups: those with relatively low activism scores (Russia, Belarus), those with intermediate scores (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine), and those with relatively high scores (Georgia, Armenia, Lithuania/Estonia).

CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that despite significant variance of the AI across countries, the overall involvement of MSM in activism is very low. The lowest involvement was evident in countries with the least favorable legal environment in regards to LGBT issues and freedom of activism (Russia, Belarus). The variance of the AI between the two remaining country-groups points at a probable influence of public opinion on MSM involvement in activism, in addition to the legal factors.

CO-AUTHORS: Shestakovskyi Oleksii; Kasianchuk, Maksym; Djuma Vitaly; Howell, Sean
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Трохи гомоеротики з Національного музею Грузії

Блюдо з профілем Антиноя — грецький юнак (судячи із зображення, майже качок), який був улюбленцем римського імператора Адріана та культовою фіґурою Риму протягом кількох століть:



Торс юнака з бронзи в натуральну величину:



Зевс-Орел викрадає свого коханця Ґанімеда, а той, здається, не дуже й опирається:



Бронзова доба, 4 тисячі років до нас, дитяча іграшка — вершник з цікавю деталькою:



І нарешті фреска на камінні «40 мучеників Севастійських», солдати, яких кинуто в крижане озеро замерзати — на фресці вони не мужні бородаті воїни, а безбороді юнаки, що, як пишуть, має символізувати їх переродження у вірі (але ж ми знаємо, як в античності виховувались хлопці…):


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Сила судьбы

Тбилисский таксист рассказал по дороге в аэропорт. Взяток у нас не берут, с этим строго. Мой знакомый из Еревана попал. Проходил границу, ему что-то пограничник сказал, так он сразу 20 долл на стол, пропусти, мол, брат…

Посадили на потора года. — А сидел тут или в Армении? — Тут, через год, правда, выпустили за хорошее поведение. Нет, вы не подумайте, у нас тюрьмы хорошие, если есть карточка, то в магазине можно что-то дополнительно купить, не то что раньше, когда в камере 6 на 6 сорок человек было, сейчас там только двенадцать, но лучше к ним не попадать! Он и плакал, и просил, обидно за двадцатку год отмотать! Не помогло!
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Factors Influencing Social Distance of Health, Social and Police Workers to LGBT People in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

BACKGROUND: Studies in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia region have demonstrated that negative attitudes toward homosexuality pose serious barriers in obtaining social services. Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) conducted a regional survey on attitudes of gate keepers from police, healthcare and social care towards LGBT aimed at measuring social distance and prevalence of prejudice towards LGBT people as barriers to these services.

MЕTHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Macedonia (2017) in local languages. 712 respondents from healthcare, social care and police were recruited through snowball sampling. Social distance to LGBT was measured by Bogardus’ scale and respondents’ estimation of their social status. Data was analysed with bivariate, cluster, and regression analysis.

RESULTS: 57% respondents were women, median age 38, 77% religious, median work duration 11 years; 45% of medical and 41% of social workers had clients from LGBT. Social and medical workers are less distanced to LGBT than police. 59% social workers, 23% medical workers and 5% police workers accept same-sex marriage. 43% social workers, 10% medical workers and none of police workers accept children adoption by same-sex couples. Several factors influence respondents’ level of social distance and readiness to accept equality: higher age is associated with higher social distance; being medical or social workers is strongly associated with bigger social distance; the more respondents interact with LGBT, the less distance they have and the greater their readiness is to accept equality; belonging to Islam is associated with higher prevalence of prejudice towards LGBT.

CONCLUSIONS: LGBT program implementation Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Macedonia faces high opposition from local social services. Importance of human rights as an integral part of effective health services may be underestimated.

Moskotina R. et al. Study on the Attitudes of Staff of Key Social Services of Five Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia towards LGBT People, Conducted within the Framework of ECOM's Regional Program "Right to Health" / R. Moskotina, N. Dmitruk, O. Trofimenko, Y. Privalov, M. Kasianczuk / The Eurasian Coalition on Male Health. — Tallinn, 2017. — 94 p.
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Майдан у Тбілісі

Ну і моя черга написати свою експертну думку про Грузію, яка — ясен пень — всім цікава. Отже, напруга в грузинському суспільстві протягом останніх принаймні двох років зростала.

Таке було і в Україні перед Майданом. До того ж з часів Революції Троянд минуло більше 10 років, а як ми знаємо знову ж таки на прикладі України — від Майдану до Майдану якраз десятиліття і минає. Отже, події в Тбілісі здаються цілком закономірними. Хотілось би тільки вірити, що оті звіри з півночі не скористаються з нагоди собі взяти щось
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Inadequate MSM and Trans Communities Engagement in HIV Decision-making: Measuring Participation Levels in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Ukraine and Tajikistan

Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) initiated a project in Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries to scale-up responses to growing HIV epidemics among MSM/trans people through advocacy, fundraising and empowered community engagement in policies and service provision. ECOM conducted an assessment of gay/bisexual/trans (GBT) community development; levels of epidemics and services available; recognition of MSM/trans people in national HIV policies; involvement of GBT leaders and MSM/trans service organizations in national HIV program governance; domestic investments in HIV services for MSM/trans people.

Data, according to the study protocol and scoring tools, were collected through literature review and semi-structured interviews with representatives of GBT/MSM groups, service organizations and other national and international stakeholders.

The scoring shows, that the involvement of MSM and trans people in HIV decision-making processes ranges from 29% (Belarus and Tajikistan) to 73% (Ukraine), with the majority of countries falling below 50%. While all the countries indicate MSM as key population in HIV policy documents, services are funded predominantly by the Global Fund. Trans people are recognized as a key population only in Kyrgyzstan; there is absolute lack of data on them across the countries. Constant turnover of GBT leadership is observed across the countries.

Regional and country-specific recommendations were produced. The major recommendations are: 1) to increase community representation in decision-making bodies and national research, related to HIV response; 2) to develop national standards of providing HIV related services for key populations; 3) to provide extensive technical support to national MSM and trans community organizations to empower local leadership.

The assessment showed insufficient levels of MSM and trans communities engagement in HIV decision-making processes in all countries under study. The assessment can serve as a powerful tool for measuring the progress of institutionalization and quality control of HIV services for MSM/trans people.

Authors: S. Chikhladze, V. Djuma, M. Kasianchuk, S. Orbelyan, R. Stuikyte, S. Sheremet

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Assessment of Size Estimation studies among MSM and Trans People in Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine

Eurasian Coalition on Male Health (ECOM) made the evaluation of existing size estimation (SE) studies in 8 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA). Program planning for MSM can be more efficient if there are accurate estimates of the size of these populations. MSM SE studies are often sub-standard, due to inadequate sampling and political motivations to downplay the existence of certain subgroups.

Review of the existing MSM SE studies was conducted. Assessment protocol and tool was elaborated assessing the existed SE surveys: existence of surveys, reliability of data, recency, use by stakeholders, availability of data on national and regional level. Experts from each country from both governmental and non-governmental institutions participated in the assessment process. The modification of the Delphi technique used to achieve the consensus.

SE of MSM has been conducted in all target countries. However, SE was not done regularly and has not been updated in target countries, except for Armenia and Ukraine. In the majority of countries the research underestimates true number of MSM population (less than 1% of adult male populations in countries). The studies are subject to a number of limitations (small sample size; number of sites; accuracy of census data; difficulties to reach hidden MSM groups; age restriction; differences in definition of MSM, etc.). As a rule, MSM are not involved in the process of survey planning, implementation, analysis and/or management. Part of NGOs/communities do not trust the data coming from SE studies conducted by state and consensus on estimation was not reached. SE of trans population in the region was conducted only in Armenia, but the results are not published yet.

Although MSM SE results are recognized by national HIV programs of target countries, national budgets allocate little to no resources to HIV interventions targeting them. Better communication and collaboration between state institutions and NGO sector as well as effective advocacy can improve the state funding of MSM oriented services. SE should be conducted regularly and qualified representatives from LGBT community organizations should be fully involved in planning, conduction and analysis of SE.

Authors: Chikhladze, Sergo; Kasianchuk, Maxim; Djuma, Vitaly
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О грекоцентризме. Тбилиси

По наводке коллеги пошёл в музей — два евро суть мелочи жизни. К слову, музей слегка бестолковый: экспонатов много, но сюжета нет, освещение такое, что освещает не экспонаты, а спину тебя любимого, толпы каких-то галдящих англодедушек и немкобабушек, да и туалет бы не мешало чистить… Ну то таке. На втором этаже, собственно, самом интересном, встретили меня тачки.

Надпись гласила, что этим почерневшим громадным колёсам свыше 5 тысяч лет. Впечатляет. Скрипим дальше: древняя древность (8–4 века до н. э.), бронзовый век (4-2й), железный (2-1й)… Кувшины, фигурки, украшения… В какой-то момент я совсем потерялся в потоке времени, но Клио подала мне помощь: а что в это время происходило в Элладе? — подумал я. Бронзовый век, Парис похищает Елену, Агамемнон плывёт к Трое, ссорится с Ахиллом, его возлюбленный Патрокл погибает… Тесей борется с Минотавром… Ясон плывёт в Колхиду, а Медея, разъярённая его изменой, убивает их детей… Так вот на какой тачке ездила Афина!!!

Быстро сама в колесницу к Тидиду восходит богиня,
Бранью пылая; ужасно дубовая ось застонала,
Зевса подъявшая грозную дщерь и храбрейшего мужа.

Всё — олимпийцы снова помогли мне восстановить порядок в мыслях. Уже потом был стенд классической эпохи: милый Ганимед, римские масляные лампы, театральные терракотовые маски и Антиной — такое уютное, такое знакомое детство Европы.
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