As the year heads toward closing, I am foregoing my robust reflection on the annual HERO AND ZERO roundup and substituting with a special thanks to all those who subscribe to O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da. This year my HEROES are all those will to listen to the voice of others, despite disagreement or preconceived notions. My Zeros are not worth mentioning. It is THAT simple this year… This BLOG has been up since 2009 and consistent since 2011, and there have been well over a million views over the years. I want to wish you all well for the coming new year and thank you for still being here for the read.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my supporters. Many thanks to my partner Carol, my kids, for putting up with this rather time consuming labor of love….. and my dear brother Steve and sister in law Romy for all their support. I have some very special friends who keep me feeling loved and grateful – and you know who you are….
Please note that much of my writing can also be found on the African Human Rights Coalition News Page: https://www.africanhrc.org/news
Sometimes I cross-blog, so my writing may appear on both platforms.
Please remember one can use the search tool on this BLOG to review subject matter. For example you may find a decent amount of articles about Uganda if you SEARCH “UGANDA” : https://oblogdee.blog/?s=UGANDA
I am just so happy you are a subscriber. Subscribing ensures you get an email when a new article appears. All are welcome to subscribe for free or one can contribute to an annual subscription rate to support the expenses, – and either way I am so happy you are here and hope you stick with me for the next year!
In looking at the stats I am happy to note the extensive use of the BLOG by journalists, students, academics, politicians, legal professionals, fellow bloggers and human rights activists, from across the globe.
I reiterate what I posted in 2019 –
Almost there…… 997,323 …….
The seemingly trite and amusing name of my 8 year old BLOG stands in stark contrast to the mostly serious and not funny subject matter it deals with. I am proud to say that with 2000 to go, we have almost hit the ONE MILLION view mark!
O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da has been a labor of love and a commitment I endure with complex emotion in its mix of LGBTQI equality advocacy, themed to end global criminalization of LGBTQI people and promote equality, plus news, politics and more…
Please explore – and do not hesitate to enter your search words – to see what comes up: For example: the keywords give you an insight: LGBTI, LGBTQI, Marriage Equality, Refugees, Kakuma, Trump, Melanie Nathan ( or your own name), Asylum, Human Rights, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Gay flag, Lesbian, Corrective Rape, Africa …. etc ….
Oblogdee has been a venue for your organization’s press releases, for unique real time news, for providing a platform to the authentic voices of those whose stories we tell, for a gallery of pictures that the world MUST see, for use by students writing their thesis. This BLOG was born from my personal discriminatory experiences during the DOMA era, from being the first to publish THE FACE OF CORRECTIVE RAPE, that took the issue of viral around the world, my advocacy for Shirley Tan that led to the introduction of a Private Bill by Senator Feinstein into Congress on her behalf, and so much more.. even to include my altercation with NAVAIR when it infringed my First Amendment Rights after I tweeted my criticism of Trump! I have used the BLOG as an advocacy tool and it has been such an incredibly rewarding experience – so THANK YOU!
Thank you to all who have read OBLOGDEE.BLOG, and to those who have provided press releases and quotes. Many thanks to my courageous sources, those brave refugees and asylum seekers and activists who report in real time, despite the odds. Thank you to my friends and family who put up with me jumping up in the middle of meals, sleep and play to attend to Oblogdee’s urgent needs!
Thanks to my muses – you know who you are.
And a BIG thank you to the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association for the 2019 Excellence in Blogging award.
MANY THANKS TO ALL MAY YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND
A SAFE AND PROFOUNDLY MEANINGFUL 2024
My Fundraising plea for the year is of course for donations to African Human Rights Coalition
where we continue to provide humanitarian relief and advocacy to LGBTQI+ African refugees and asylum seekers at all phases of the displacement cycle
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED HERE
O-blog-dee-o-blog-da 