“Merontsov” Regional Forum 2026
From March 27 to 29, the three-day regional forum titled “From Region to Region, From Heart to Heart” was held for the first time, bringing together more than 80 participants from the LGBT+ community across different regions of Armenia and creating a safe space for sharing their experiences.
The first day of the forum began with introductions. The main part of the day was a panel discussion titled “Queer Life Outside the Capital,” where participants spoke about their experiences of living in the regions, the challenges they face, and the lack of visibility.
“Queer Life Outside the Capital”
On the second day, discussions were held on “Mental Health of Queer People in the Regions” and “Relationships with Family and Society.”
Participants shared their experiences, speaking about family relationships as well as ways of coping with social pressure in the regions.
During the day, the topic of professional development was also addressed, including discussions on how to achieve career growth without losing one’s identity.
The third day was dedicated to self-discovery and community connections.
During the panel discussion “Stories of Self-Discovery,” participants shared their personal experiences.
In parallel sessions, activities were organized for creating queer memes and building new connections within the community.
“Stories of Self-Discovery”
During the forum, we were hosted by the “Real World, Real People” NGO for a session with participants on HIV prevention.
At the end of the forum, participants received gifts, including socks, books, T-shirts, and other items featuring the forum’s theme. The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony attended by participants who had become like family.
These three days provided an opportunity to hear the voices of queer people living in the regions and to build new connections within the community.
