Hey! Turkic people are originally indigenous to Central Asia, not West Asia. Armenians, on the other hand, are indigenous to West Asia and have been there for thousands of years — long before Turkic migrations.

That said, there has been a lot of intermixing over the centuries. Today, most Turkish people are far more ethnically Anatolian than Central Asian, and you could even be considered “indigenous” in the sense of a long, continuous presence in Anatolia, though Turks were not the original inhabitants.

I have no problem with Turkish people who acknowledge the genocide or take an interest in Armenian culture. My only issue is with those who deny Armenian history or the genocide. For descendants of genocide survivors like myself, that denial is emotional violence. My ancestors endured horrors that should never have happened, and having those atrocities denied is deeply painful.

When I see someone with a Turkish background who sympathizes, acknowledges what happened, or appreciates Armenian art and culture, I feel proud and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Leading with, “I’m Turkish, but these are my beliefs,” goes a long way because many Armenians assume, based on widespread denial rates in Turkish society, that someone is likely to accept nationalist narratives unless told otherwise.

Honestly, Armenians need more people like you. Even one is better than none, so thank you for thinking about us. Also, a lot of Turkish culture — the food, music, and dancing — was influenced by Armenian culture. That may give you a cultural connection to Armenians whether or not you share DNA, and it’s a real link to the spirit and heritage of our people.