Epress.am News from Armenia
Following the massacre at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub that left 49 people dead and more than 50 others injured, popular Los Angeles-based Armenian yoga blogger Armen Menechyan penned a heartfelt confessional to come out officially “as a gay Armenian man,” Out.com writes.
"I still haven't really mourned about the Orlando shooting," Menechyan told the magazine. "What I wanted to do is have people question and critically observe latent homophobia.”
In his piece, Menechyan wrote: "I empathize for all who have not had the right support to come out… But I will not turn my pride into shame. I will not go back into the closet. I will say proudly, I am a gay Armenian man. I am a man above all else transcending any and all cultural and social labels placed upon me."
According to Menechyan, latent homophobia is very much present in the international Armenian community, even amongst Armenian gays. "As much as we have evolved as gay men, homophobia is so socio-culturally engrained within us; we need to always be aware." In his piece, the blogger also discussed the intense shame he has felt in the past, and acknowledged that this shame, which is a product of society, may have contributed to the hateful motive of the murderer in Orlando.
The 33-year-old blogger has also had a steady stream of messages from other media thanking him for having the courage to put their thoughts into words. The notes have come from Armenian men and women, as well as Iranians, Turks, and others from around the world, according to Out.com.