Published on March 22, 2017, Homosexuality and Armenian Genocide Advocacy is a op-ed published in The Armenian Weekly by Raffi Joe Wartanian.
Raffi Joe Wartanian’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Lapham’s Quarterly, Outside Magazine, and elsewhere.
Raffi currently teaches undergraduate writing at UCLA, and has led writing workshops to veterans at the Manhattan VA, incarcerated writers at Rikers Island, youth in Armenia, and undergraduates at Columbia University, where he earned an MFA in Writing. He is the recipient of grants and fellowships from The Fulbright Program, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, and Humanity in Action. As a musician, he has released two albums of original music: “Pushkin Street” and “Critical Distance.”
As Armenians prepare to #KeepThePromise and preach to the world about Armenian Genocide recognition to learn from the past and prevent future atrocities, secular and religious Armenian institutions must consider the promise of sustaining the Armenian identity and nation through respect, tolerance, and inclusion of all Armenians regardless of their sexual, religious, or economic orientation.
Raffi Joe Wartanian
In this op-ed, Wartanian tackles what shouldn’t have been a controversial subject in 2017. Elton John held a screening of The Promise. Somehow, controversy ensued.
As Wartanian explains, “A gay man became the world’s most prominent advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition. On Feb. 26, Elton John and his AIDS foundation hosted their annual Oscar Viewing Party with a screening of the highly anticipated period drama, The Promise, set during the Armenian Genocide. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Or was it?”
You can read the full op-ed here.
You can read more of Raffi’s poetry and other writings at his website: raffijoewartanian.com
