‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia's drag queens risk it all for the stage
The News
Armenia's drag scene has grown in Yerevan despite a history of violence, including a 2012 firebombing of a queer club. Performers still face police raids and family rejection, but hundreds attend shows, reflecting changing attitudes partly influenced by the war in Ukraine. The scene highlights the tension between progress and ongoing risks for Armenia's LGBTQ community.
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The Analysis
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Analyzed
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Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed
A queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012.
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Key findings
The transformation of attitudes is in part due to the war in Ukraine.
France 24- Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed
- Thriving underground drag scene attracting hundreds
Plain English
Loaded language removedArmenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have changed in recent years, partly due to the war in Ukraine. While a queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012, the capital now has an active underground drag scene. However, police raids and family rejection remain common.
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What's next
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Claims
The transformation of attitudes is in part due to the war in Ukraine.
France 24Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed in recent years.
France 24A queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012.
France 24Yerevan now has a thriving underground drag scene.
France 24Drag events in Yerevan attract hundreds.
France 24Police raids and family rejection are still commonplace for drag performers.
France 24