People are speculating about corruption and ineptitude in the South African Embassy in Uganda | Why is High Commissioner seat in Uganda Vacant? By Melanie Nathan, November 17, 2014. Following the story in South African press that Jon Qwelane is back in Court, I noted terminology referring to Mr. Qwelane as the “former high commissioner” … More Jon Qwelane No Longer High Commissioner to Uganda
Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 28, 2013 The hate speech case against homophobic journalist Jon Qwelane is set to continue to drag on into its sixth year without finality, notes South African site, MambaOnline: In addition, Qwelane will be challenging the constitutionality of the Equality Act, under which he was convicted, in an effort to … More Ambassador to Uganda Qwelane still running from the law
By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. Jon Qwelane, the homophobic journalist who was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as the South African Ambassador to Uganda in exchange for political favors, and to escape prosecution for hate speech, successfully pleaded that the Equality Court in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear … More South African Ambassador to Uganda Jon Qwelane Hate Speech Trial Goes to High Court
06/06/2011 By Melanie Nathan Johannesburg – South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda, Jon Qwelane, will apply for rescission of a judgment in which he was found guilty of hate speech, his lawyers said on Monday. The known homophobic envoy, a recent President Jacob Zuma (response to favors) appointee to anti-gay Uganda, will not come home from … More President Zuma returns the Favor to Qwelane – A Defense on a Silver Platter
06/06/2011, Melanie Nathan, Zapiro is a well known South African cartoonist; known for controversial and unabashed cartoons about President Zuma and other South African politicians. I met Zapiro at a birthday bash in Cape Town back in March of this year. I told him about my Uganda LGBTI activism and he gave me free license … More Zapiro Cartoons Qwelane
06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, When I immigrated to the United States in 1985, I marveled at the U.S. Constitution. It protected everything. I left a place where it was constitutional to discriminate – in fact it was required that one discern between races when it came to where people could live, who could vote and … More Apartheid Against LGBTI Americans – A View via the Hate Speech Ruling for South African Envoy to Uganda Jon Qwelane
05/31/2011, by Melanie Nathan Back in 2008, Jon Qwelane posted a piece in his column in the Sunday Sun. Well known to the South African LGBTQI community is the fact that Jon Qwelane, despite protest and outrage, was sent to Uganda as South Africa’s Ambassador to that country. Qwelane, inter alia, writes about the Anglican … More South Africa Ambassador Jon Qwelane Guilty of Anti-Gay Hate Speech
South Africa’s history and legacy compels it to do more when it comes to human rights on the Continent of Africa! To speak out and to offer a diplomacy of insistence. Most countries in Africa have suffered the oppression and ills metered out by Colonizers. It is a long history. It is a large continent. … More South African President Ramaphosa Must Take the Lead for Journalists and LGBTQ in Africa
It am pleased to note that South Africa’s President Zuma has issued a statement condemning the massacre of LGBT Americans. Indeed this is an important statement to make and I am grateful for it. Yet cannot help but note the hypocrisy and in doing so – lets hope speaking out brings renewed consciousness. Here … More South African message of condolence to US following Orlando Massacre
Why is Qwelane no longer Ambassador to Uganda – why the secrecy? By Melanie Nathan, November 14, 2014. While the Johannesburg High Court must decide whether the Jon Qwelane’s hate speech case and a constitutional challenge to the Equality Act are closely linked enough so that the Court can hear both cases as one, it … More Homophobic South African Ex Ambassador to Uganda Back in Court
Zuma is seen as condoning the new homophobic laws of Uganda, while assaulting the principles of South Africa’s Constitution. By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2014. Today a group of American activists targeted the South African Embassy in Washington D.C., to protest President Jacob Zuma’s recent comments that he supports the Ugandan Governments sovereign right to … More Protest at South African Embassy in D.C. Slams Zuma for Failing on Gay Rights
Zuma proves that he is a homophobe, as he spits on the legacy of Madiba, and this should be his demise! By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2014. South Africa has a Constitution that ensures equality for all, including LGBTI people. And now according to South Africa’s media, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday “South Africa respects … More South African President Zuma Respects Uganda’s Jail the Gays
Silence = death! Shame on South Africa’s President Zuma and the ruling ANC Party. By Melanie Nathan, February 25, 2014. The South African Government has yet to come out with a definitive stand, condemning Uganda for its anti-Homosexuality Bill. South Africa, has an all inclusive full equality constitution which includes LGBTI people. The country is … More Ruling South African Party Blocks Motion Condemning Uganda for Anti-Gay Bill
by Anti-Gay Evangelical Christians and those falling for their hate, leading to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and its current passage through the Ugandan Parliament By Melanie Nathan, Dec 23, 2013. The 10 Worst Lies Spread about Gays* Gays are pedophiles Gays recruit children – “they are coming for your kids” It is possible to make someone … More The 10 Worst Lies Spread in Uganda about Gays
An open letter to Persecutors of Gays and LGBTI, Rapists, ‘Corrective’ Rapists, Bullies, Hon. Holomisa, Ambassador Qwelane, Christian Evangelicals and those of you who know who you are – I address you as one in a short simple letter as follows: Dear Homophobes of South Africa, Please heed this simple yet imperative quote: “Never, never … More A letter to Homophobes Living in South Africa
View Moving Pictures By Melanie Nathan, October 01, 2013. Despite its all inclusive constitution, declaring full equality for all South Africans, including gays, lesbians, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, and despite the independence of its judiciary system, South Africa’s LGBTI community still suffers extreme homophobia and it’s LGBTI refugee community suffers Xenophobia in addition to … More Soweto Pride 2013 defies South African Homophobia
South Africa: Vigils, Protests & Second Parliament Meeting against “Corrective Rape” Melanie Nathan, May 02, 2011 Vigil Protests for Lesbian Rape & Murder Victim, Noxolo Nogwaza, as South African LGBT Groups and Activists Call upon Honorable Minister Jeff Radebe, DOJCD to Speak out Against Corrective Rape & President Zuma to Recall Jon Qwelane. “Research conducted … More Second Parliament Meeting against “Corrective Rape”
From the bottom of the Continent of Africa to the top of South Africa, a Budget Bus filled with LGBTQI community representatives toiled the bush, the veld, cities and townships, spreading rainbow acts and music, all in the name of full inclusiveness and education against homophobia. The Gay Flag of South Africa, led its annual tour of the country amidst much to contemplate and celebrate, including the approval of the Gay Flag as a national symbol. … More South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia
Sexual orientation and gender identity will remain fully protected by the South African Constitution By Melanie Nathan, September 09, 2012. Victorious news for the South African LGBTI community. It would seem that the anti-gay traditionalists in the South African Parliamentary system have failed to ditch LGBTI equality in South Africa. The South African Constitutional Review … More Victory For LGBTI South Africans as Constitutional Committee Says Gay Rights are Safe
By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. An historic public meeting took place Thursday between the South African majority party, the ANC and the Gay Flag of South Africa (GFSA) an NPO to condemn recent homophobic violence against the LGBTI community in South Africa, as well as the anti-gay commentary by Traditional leaders who are reviewing … More Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA
While the passage of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, known as Kill the Gays Bill, remains a threat – Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 12, 2012. LOS ANGELES, CA — Noted Hollywood actor and photographer Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Blood Diamond; Treme; Heroes; CSI) debuts his newest solo work, A Missionary Position, this summer at REDCAT (Roy and … More World Premiere A MISSIONARY POSITION by Ugandan American Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
By Melanie Nathan, May 18, 2012. Here are two articles I wrote about Zanele Muholi, the famed lesbian artist, photographer and filmmaker, from 2010 and 2011 respectively. Now that Zanele Muholi has had her work stolen by a thief who removed 20 hard drives from her apartment, I decided to republish these pieces here. For … More South African Photographer Zanele Muholi Revisited
SOUTH AFRICA KEYNOTE SPEECH – CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2011 MELANIE NATHAN 03/02/2011 Greetings, comrades, lesbians, gays, queers, LGBTQI people, allies, and everyone in between. It is a great honor for me to be here tonight -thanks to my fellow bloggers, Marriage Equality USA MEUSA, and my family and friends back home in the US for … More Cape Town With Love and Pride Pictures and Reflections
What would Madiba have said and done about the Anti-homosexuality Bills in Uganda and Liberia? Melanie Nathan , February 25, 2012 While Liberia and Uganda are forging their anti-homosexuality agendas, former South African President Nelson Mandela, 93, who has not been available for some time to advise on ANC policy, was rushed to hospital with … More While Nelson Mandela’s Health an Issue Uganda and Liberia forge Apartheid
Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has hit out at Ndorwa West MP David Bahati’s anti-gay Bill, telling a public audience in Kampala that what two consenting adults do in private “is really not the matter of law.” by Melanie Nathan Finally, a South African leader has spoken out publicly and forcefully against the Anti-Homosexuality … More Uganda | Visiting South African Mbeki Slams Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill
Americans must Heed the Cry of African LGBTI Victims Posted: December 22, Melanie Nathan “Actions speak louder than words!” by Melanie Nathan Dec 22, 2011. SAN FRANCISCO – Shorty after Secretary Clinton and President Obama spoke out about LGBTI Global human rights, the bloggers and press began to buzz with statements and comments from those impacted … More December Articles for The O-BLOG-Dee
by Melanie Nathan; Dec 20,2011. From Far Away I observe and wonder…Witsies show their gay pride -The University of Witwatersrand held a pride march for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people (LGBTIA) community in September of this 2011 year! Now it is time to Protest against discrimination in the rest of Africa and for … More Who are The Witsies Now?
by Melanie Nathan, Dec 15, 2011 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: “ Repeal laws used to criminalize individuals on grounds of homosexuality for engaging in consensual same-sex sexual conduct, and harmonize the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual conduct. “ The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) today released the … More UNHCR Issues Report Highlighting Violence Based on Sexual Orientation
“This critical move by the Obama administration is cause for celebration, especially at a time when violence against LGBTI people is on the increase, through the institutionalization of discriminatory laws, such as the criminalization of homosexuality in Africa.” Melanie Nathan By Melanie Nathan President Obama ordered U.S. diplomatic missions and federal agencies working abroad to … More U.S. President OBAMA Orders Far Reaching Pro-Gay Foreign Policy
Now is the Time for South Africa to Recall Anti-Gay Ambassador Jon Qwelane from “Kill-the-Gays-Bill” Uganda – Melanie Nathan’s scathing attack on DIRCO, ZUMA and ANC Administration “In light of Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill, the virulent homophobia so prevalent in Uganda, and the constitutional imperative placed on President Zuma, we call for the immediate recall of … More South Africa: DIRCO’s Dithering Defense of Homophobia in Africa
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