Right Side NGO Held a Meeting to Strengthen Regional LGBTQI+ Community Networks

On August 15, 2026, Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO organized a “Meeting to Strengthen Regional LGBTQI+ Community Networks,” bringing together LGBTQI+ community members living in different regions of Armenia, as well as LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees.

The meeting aimed to create a safe and inclusive space where participants could voice their needs and concerns, share experiences, build new connections, and jointly discuss opportunities to develop LGBTQI+ community networks and strengthen mutual support across Armenia’s regions.

During the meeting, participants addressed the challenges faced by LGBTQI+ people living outside Yerevan. Discussions covered experiences of discrimination and social isolation, limited access to safe spaces, difficulties in accessing legal, social, and psychological support, and the need to strengthen community connections.

Participants particularly emphasized that services and initiatives for the LGBTQI+ community should not be concentrated solely in Yerevan. People living in the regions often have more limited access to specialized services, safe community spaces, information, and peer-support networks.

Speaking about the importance of Right Side NGO’s work in the regions, an LGBTQI+ activist from Gegharkunik Province noted:

“I appreciate that throughout these years, Right Side has not focused solely on the LGBTQI+ community living in Yerevan. The organization also pays attention to LGBTQI+ people living in the regions, providing them with necessary services and support.”

LGBTQI+ activist, Gegharkunik Province

Another key focus of the meeting was the development of regional community networks. Participants discussed mechanisms for strengthening connections among LGBTQI+ people living in the regions, expanding opportunities for mutual support, improving information sharing, and encouraging greater community participation.

An LGBTQI+ activist from Ararat Province highlighted the importance of holding such meetings on a regular basis, noting that they provide community members living in the regions with an opportunity to connect with one another and overcome isolation.

“Living in a region, you can sometimes feel disconnected from the community. Meetings like this give us an opportunity to meet other people, share our experiences and challenges, and build new connections. It is very important for these meetings to continue so that LGBTQI+ people living in the regions feel that they are an active part of the community.”

LGBTQI+ activist, Ararat Province

Particular attention was also given to the situation of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees. Participants discussed the additional challenges that forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people and those seeking asylum in Armenia may face, ranging from social and language barriers to difficulties in accessing services, information, and supportive community environments.

The discussions also emphasized the importance of ensuring that programs and initiatives affecting LGBTQI+ people living in the regions are developed with their direct and meaningful participation, taking into account the specific circumstances, needs, and priorities of different regions.

The meeting provided participants not only with a platform to raise concerns and identify needs, but also with a space to exchange new ideas, explore opportunities for collaboration, and discuss future joint initiatives.

Right Side NGO will continue expanding its work across Armenia’s regions, supporting the development and strengthening of LGBTQI+ community networks, fostering mutual support among community members, and improving access to essential services.

For the organization, it is essential that LGBTQI+ people, regardless of where they live, have access to the support they need, opportunities to participate in community life, and the ability to have their voices and lived experiences represented in processes that directly affect them.