By Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2013. Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Through the prized amongst bloggers annual convention, Netroots seeks to strengthen the community, inspire action and serve as an … More Netroots comes to California
The Bill is based on myth as expounded by Russian Deputy Speaker, who said: “If a child ends up with a homosexual couple, it could cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality.” By Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2013. As same-sex marriage is increasing in acceptance around the world, … More Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage
By Cathy Kristofferson, June 17, 2013 Saturday about 8 thousand marched in Poland’s annual Equality Parade, Parada Równości 2013, under the slogan ‘Fully-fledged Diversity’. Since Poland has become more accepting these days, the organizers decided to march for Russia and Eastern Europe where the LGBT communities are currently under attack. Prior to the parade bout … More Poland Pride’s success dampened by first openly gay PM assault
Ziningi & Delisile Ndlela just married – Durban June 15, 2013. By Melanie Nathan June 17, 2013. While the United States struggles, state by state, to allow legal marriages between same-sex couples and while the United States waits with bated breath to see if any of its nine justices agree that marriage equality must be … More As the U.S. waits on SCOTUS Durban lesbian wedding speaks volumes
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 17, 2013. Two men were arrested in January after a series of incidents in London saw members of the public harassed by self-styled vigilantes who posted footage of their activities online. One included a clip showing a man being subjected to homophobic abuse. The incidents are believed to be linked … More The part of London that is not safe for Gays and Jews
By Cathy Kristofferson, June 16,2013 Idaho, like other states, has gained some protections for its LGBT community through municipal ordinances banning discrimination in housing and employment. It seems the Idaho State GOP just can’t stand that fact! Yesterday at their annual Central Committee summer meeting the Republican Party leaders of Idaho passed a non-binding resolution … More Idaho GOP resolves to reverse gay rights
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 16, 2013. Statement by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC): Black gay, bisexual and trans fathers, uncles and brothers play many important roles in the Black community. As caregivers, role models, providers, teachers, friends and leaders, Black gay, bisexual and trans men are invaluable threads in the fabric of the … More On Fathers Day NBJC honors the commitment of Black gay, bisexual and trans men
By Melanie Nathan, June 14, 2013. Porterville City Council, the only city council in all of California to declare its support for the anti-gay Proposition 8 in 2008, is now threatening to rescind a proclamation signed by its Mayor, who had declared June to be LGBT Pride Month in Porterville. On June 04, despite heated … More Porterville Spews More Hate by threatening to rescind LGBT Proclamation
“Religious liberty, contrary to what opponents of racial equality argued then and LGBT equality argue now, is not a license to use religion to discriminate.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 14, 2013 Back in April when the 2013 version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced into Congress we posted here and here on OBLOGDEE … More Julian Bond gives powerful statement opposing ENDA’s religious exemptions
By Melanie Nathan, June 13, 2013. Today eight members of the group Get Equal were arrested while protesting outside speaker Boehner’s office, calling attention to the House’s failure to pursue ENDA, the legislation that would end work place discrimination against LGBT people in America. The protestors were demanding that the speaker hold a floor vote … More Video of LGBT ENDA Activists Arrested at Boehner’s Office Today
“What is wrong to be humankind?” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 12, 2013 This morning I saw a post in my Facebook news feed from Istanbul LGBT Onur Haftası/ Istanbul LGBT Pride Week requesting desperately needed motorcycle helmets for the LGBT BLOCK at Taksim Gezi Park. I was really trying to figure how to beam them my helmet … More Taksim Gezi Park LGBT activists beaten arrested delivering food and medicine
By Melanie Nathan, June 12, 2013. UPDATED 6/13/20123. P.E. Herald took swift action in Apologizing to the South African Gay Community for an Ad that was placed on page 3 of their print publication: “The Herald Port Elizabeth – The Herald distances itself from the contents of this advert which goes against the basic tenets … More P.E. Herald Publishes Hate Ad designed to intimidate Gay Community
A young gay man who was detained in San Diego by immigration authorities — whose story was documented by San Diego Gay & Lesbian News and OBLOGDEE — has been reunited with his fiancé in New York City. Here is the follow up article after his release by our friends at SDGLN:- A happy ending? … More Gay immigration detainee reunited with fiancé after detention ordeal
By Melanie Nathan, June 12, 2013. At the time of the 1962 trial of Nelson Mandela, one of a few, South Africans who were not white, and who comprised the majority of the population, were not allowed to vote. This was because Apartheid excluded black South Africans from this basic right to equality. When reading … More Remembering Mandela’s 1962 Creative Cry to the World
Inaccurate media reports could be exacerbated by privacy of trial, while Magistrate ‘s call for closed trial may evidence prejudice during time when Zambian Government calls to hunt down gays, By Melanie Nathan, June 11, 2013. Please note update (6/12/) below, where Magistrate denies trial is being heard in camera and accuses a Reporter of … More Public Booted from Trial of Accused Zambian Gay Couple
By Cathy Kristofferson, June 10, 2013 Update 6/30: President Putin today signed this bill into law. Proponents argue it is for the protection of children, but critics still allege it part of a broad crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community. For his part Mr. Putin tells international critics “We ask you not to interfere in our … More Protests and arrests as Russia’s State Duma passes anti-gay promotion bill unanimously
Predicting doom and gloom – or a publicity stunt for ratings – or a desire to jump the gun for SEO optimization- or an embarrassing mistake? By Melanie Nathan., June 11, 2013. In an over zealous attempt to be ahead, popular LGBT blog site QUEERTY, through writer Lisa Keen, jumped the gun by mistakenly hitting … More Queerty Publishes Advance Article of a “Disappointing DOMA Ruling”
Marching for LGBT Asylum | “It is illegal to be gay in 80 countries…“ By Cathy Kristofferson, June 09, 2013 I’m pretty sure last year I whined that I was never marching in Boston’s Gay Pride parade again because of the appalling corporatization. And then last week I heard that the amazing LGBT Asylum Support Task … More Boston Pride Speaks LGBT Asylum
AND A Letter from a Get Equal Lead, C.D. Kirven to the First Lady Explaining the Actions of Ellen Sturtz. The lesbian community was drawn into a controversy this week as Ellen Sturtz, a leader from the group Get Equal, attended a D.C. fundraiser and interrupted the First Lady’s speech calling attention to the fact … More Lesbian Fund Raisers and The Ellen Sturtz Fallout
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 07, 2013. People for the American Way are asking that you sign their petition. Here is the story: The New York Times reports that Judge Edith Jones, a right-wing firebrand who sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and many saw as a potential Supreme Court … More Remove Right Wing Judge Edith Jones
By Melanie Nathan, June 06, 2013. In a dramatic and long awaited development Israeli Police have arrested 3 suspects in the Tel Aviv 2009 gay youth center shooting, that left 2 dead and 10 injured. It is believed that the motivation for the killings was based on personal revenge, according to a report by Eli Senyor … More Arrests in 2009 Tel Aviv Gay Youth Center Shootings
1893 law that makes it a criminal offense for men to wear female attire and for women to wear male attire “in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 06, 2013 Queue up another constitutional challenge outcome to await, this time from Guyana. On May 10th and June 4th … More Guyana: Challenge to colonial era cross-dressing ban after 7 convicted
By Melanie Nathan, June 06, 2013. Members of GALZ, an LGBT human rights organization in Harare, Zimbabwe, were attacked by five hammer wielding men during a board meeting at their offices. No injuries reported, however the group is extremely shaken. The attack occurred at GALZ offices around 11 am on Thursday when five unknown men … More Breaking Gay Board Members attacked with hammers at meeting in Harare
It is believed that Kasonkomona was specifically targeted amidst the Zambian government’s call to “hunt down homosexuals” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 05, 2013 The court case of Zambian Paul Kasonkomona which we have reported on here on OBLOGDEE was today transferred to that country’s High Court for the constitutional challenge Kasonkomona and his defense are seeking. … More Zambian High Court to hear Freedom of Expression challenge after call to hunt down homosexuals arrest
Porterville’s LGBT Community encounters City gay haters in venomous outburst By Melanie Nathan, June 04, 2013. It has been a long dirty battle between the LGBTQ community and some choice government officials and residents of the town of Porterville, California, culminating in tonight’s City Hall showdown, where Mayor Virginia Gurolla issued a proclamation recognizing the … More California Mayor Issues LGBT Proclamation despite Hateful City and Council Outburst
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 04, 2013. China Blue, is one of three movies being screened from Bay Area filmmaker, Micha Peled’s Globalization Trilogy. The film will be playing at the Rafael on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:00. China Blue focuses on teenager Jasmin Li, who leaves her home to work in a far-away blue jeans factory. This … More Micha Peled’s Globalization Trilogy Comes to Marin
Despite all odds, the fearless continue …. and the least we can do as an international community is support this imperative statement… By Melanie Nathan, June 04, 2013. Last year, despite the climate of fervent anti-gay hostility, Ugandan volunteer LGBT activists accomplished what seemed impossible – they launched the first every Gay Pride celebration in … More Uganda Prepares for Its Second Gay Pride
Great new legal defense – “If someone was the organizer, it was Jesus Christ.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 3, 2013 On Friday two priests attended Court to answer charges following their arrest at a riot in Tbilisi, Georgia, when thousands of anti-gay protesters, including Orthodox Church priests, descended upon an International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHOT) rally … More Jesus Christ cited as organizer of violent riot at Tbilisi IDAHO rally
“Despite what you may have heard elsewhere, you do not have a ’homosexual gene,’ nor were you born this way with no hope of freedom.” Gay Community where is the ourtage – This app being available is not new news, but Google REFUSING to take it down even after Apple has ought to be big … More Outrage while Google still deciding if to close the Door of Hope ex-gay cure App
Compared to being Gay in privacy of home By Melanie Nathan, May 2013. In the context of Stephen Fry, asking Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Fr. Simon Lokodo, in a recorded interview, why Ugandans were more concerned with what gays did in the privacy of their homes rather than with the high incidence of … More Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity says Men Raping Girls is Natural
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