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“Isn’t there a place in Turkey for LGBT’s?” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 1, 2013 Just before Turkey exploded onto the international news scene with the current uprising in Taskim Square now labeled #OccupyGezi , we received a request to publicize the police suppression of this year’s Istanbul Gay Pride March which we did here. While … More Turkey’s ruling party says LGBTs ‘immoral’
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 29, 2013 The Istanbul Pride March of 2013 is under threat of suppression by the Turkish Government security forces. Istanbul Pride,which has been occurring annually since 2003,is a week of events capped off by the Pride March. From the 30 who marched the first year it has grown to tens of … More Istanbul Pride March 2013 under threat of government suppression
Now it is our turn to be heard – read on… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 29, 2013 Once again today, as they have done for the past 14 consecutive years, ExxonMobil shareholders voted down non-discrimination protections for the company’s LGBT employees. This year the vote was 81-19%, the lowest vote for non-discrimination in all those … More ZERO LGBT protections with $44.9 BILLION in profits
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 29, 2013 Today Governor Alejandro García Padilla of Puerto Rico signed into law two LGBT bills recently passed by the island’s Senate and House. The two bills, which protect LGBT people in employment, housing, governmental services and public accommodations, and adds sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to domestic violence laws, … More Puerto Rico’s Governor signs sweeping LGBT legislation into law
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 27, 2013 Ever since the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reported that they were going to be voting on a resolution to allow under 18 year old open gay scouts while reaffirming their ban on open gay adults, including 18+ scouts, there has been a debate in the blogosphere as to … More Scott Lively | Satan wins back the scouts
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 26, 2013 In October of 2012, two major television stations in Jamaica refused to run paid Public Service Announcements (PSA) asking Jamaicans to love and respect their fellow citizens who happen to be homosexuals. Maurice Tomlinson, the legal advisor for AIDS-Free World, who appears in the PSA’s decided to take the stations to court for … More Censorship of Gay PSA on Jamaican TV Goes to Supreme Court
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013 Update May 26 – Video add down below We reported earlier here on OBLOGDEE about Ukraine’s 1st ever Gay Pride March happily occurring despite multiple political attempts to derail it. The folks in Moscow were not so lucky. Today in the Russian capital of Moscow, activists and opponents clashed in an unsanctioned … More Moscow Gay Rights Rally ends in violence and arrests
Using diversion tactics to make it happen By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013 Yesterday we reported here on OBLOGDEE the week long saga of KyivPride-2013, Ukraine’s LGBT Pride Organization, attempts to hold their 1st Gay Pride March today. After members of Parliament signed a petition against the, followed by Kiev city authorities filing a suit to ban them, … More Ukraine holds their 1st Gay Pride March after all
LGBT community of Ukraine still trying for their 1st Gay Pride Parade… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 24, 2013 Ukraine, like most ex-Soviet countries, is not kind to their LGBT community despite homosexuality having been decriminalized in the early 1990s. Last Friday Ukraine was one of three countries, along with Jamaica and South Africa, called out … More Ukraine Forced to Change Gay Pride March to Private Event
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 23, 2013 Last Saturday we reported IDAHOT Around the World | The good, the bad, and the ugly . In the Ugly category we listed the riot that ensued in Tbilisi, Georgia when thousands of anti-gay protesters, including Orthodox Church priests, united to descend upon an International Day Against Homophobia rally in Freedom … More Violence and homophobia at IDAHOT rally results in two priest arrests
No youth may be denied membership, but what about the adults… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 22, 2013 Since 1910, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have sought to “train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership … More Boy Scouts resolution for vote tomorrow only perpetuates homophobia
Homo-Fascism vs. the First Amendment… By the Editors, May 21, 2013 Scott Lively has long taken full advantage of his First Amendment rights and while no one would ever deny him that right, it certainly becomes pitiful when he whines about us not loving his hate when he exercises it. He is welcome to scurry … More Poor Scott Lively bullied and intimidated by homo-fascists
On 19 May, the first Pride March was held in Chisinau, Moldova. By Cathy Kristofferson, May 19, 2013 I just saw this on twitter and cheered out loud: First Pride March held in Moldova http://t.co/NGwq6Bepbr%5B@Eastbook_en%5D EurAlmanac16:15 I cheered not only because I was thrilled for the Moldovan LGBT community, but also for the bitter defeat … More First Pride ever in Moldova | Huge Scott Lively Fail
Award Winning Author Justin Reed Early releases new edition of acclaimed “Street Child: A Memoir” Continuing National Tour Providing Books at No Cost to Homeless and At-Risk Youth (& Social Workers) Posted by Cathy Kristofferson , May 19, 2013. Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2013….This week the acclaimed book “Street Child: A Memoir” was re-released … More Homeless Youth | “Street Child: A Memoir”
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 18, 2013 The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia – IDAHO, IDAHOT, IDAHOBIT or however you like it – annually celebrated on May 17, was conceived in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990. This year over 100 … More IDAHOT Around the World | The good, the bad, and the ugly
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 18, 2013 I started this piece months ago when there was risk of the delegates from Uganda being exposed at the Scott Lively trial in Springfield MA by those who have the vile habit of exposing members of the gay community in some misguided attempt of shaming them… ‘straight’ I suppose. I … More Bigots stalk, video and harass at Boston Youth Pride
Happy Anniversary Massachusetts By Cathy Kristofferson, May 17, 2013 We here in Massachusetts are waiting. Waiting for the sky to fall, the apocalypse to occur, the locusts to swarm. We have been waiting 9 long years now. Nine years and over 19,000 same-gender couples’ marriages later and none of the promised catastrophes have occurred! We remember May … More 9 years of Marriage Equality for Massachusetts and no Apocalypse yet
Where the purveyors of hate take funding from State Dept USAID… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 16, 2013 Secretary of State, John Kerry is headed to Ethiopia this weekend for the 21st African Union (AU) summit May 19-27. While at the summit he will attend the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African … More John Kerry headed to the lion’s den of homophobia
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 15, 2013 Ah, but were every city’s Mayor so enlightened. The Mayor of Somerville, MA, Joseph Curtatone, has publicly chastised the use of homophobic language against a recently appointed official, Alderman Courtney O’Keefe. He is using the opportunity to remind everyone demanding the respect of all. Mayor Curtatone’s open letter starts … More Somerville Mayor publicly condemns homophobic language directed at appointed official
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 14, 2013 The dust has now settled a bit in Belize after last week’s whirlwind 4 day trial of the Caleb Orozco v. The Attorney General. The case challenged the constitutionality of Section 53, a law inherited from the colonial legal system, that criminalizes same gender sexual conduct in Belize. The case brought … More Belize: Final thoughts from the Caleb Orozco v. The Attorney General Case
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 14, 2013. Yesterday the Minnesota Senate voted 37 to 30 to approve marriage equality. Their vote followed last Thursday’s 75 to 59 vote in favor in the Minnesota State House. Today Governor Mark Dayton will sign the bill into law at 5 p.m. CT with the bill going into effect on August 1st. … More Minnesota brings marriage equality to an even dozen U.S. States
Anti-gay sentiment increases after the export of more Western Evangelical hate By Cathy Kristofferson Zambia and Ethiopia appear poised to be the next ‘Kill the Gays’ countries. Is that really something nations should aspire to? Melanie Nathan has documented the current struggles in Zambia here on OBLOGDEE , from the arrest of HIV/AIDS rights activist … More Zambia and Ethiopia are the ‘next Uganda’
Will direct action be what it takes to get job protections? By Cathy Kristofferson, May 11, 2013 While nationally the fight for job protections has gone quiet since the re-introduction last month of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) 2013, local activists in Texas have been fired up, and have taken direct action steps that may … More LGBT Job Protections Needs Activist Uprising
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 10, 2013 Court opened for the fourth day in the Caleb Orozco v. The Attorney General of Belize trial challenging the constitutionality of the Section 53 anti-sodomy penal code trial. The Churches continued their claim that social issues such as public morality and health do not belong before the court. Once again … More Belize anti-sodomy penal code trial wraps-up its final day
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 09, 2013 Day Three of the Caleb Orozco v. The Attorney General of Belize trial challenging the constitutionality of the Section 53 anti-sodomy penal code started with chatter in the courtroom about the Claimant Caleb Orosco’s home being vandalized: This came on top of new reports last night on Belize Channel 5 … More Belize Attorney General argues to maintain anti-sodomy penal code
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 08, 2013. Today, on Day Two of Caleb Orozco and the United Belize Advocacy Movement’s (UBIBAM) constitutional challenge of Belize’s Section 53 anti-sodomy law, lead attorney Christopher Smith‐Hamel SC, made his closing arguments. During his closing, he quoted Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican humanitarian leader from South Africa: “’Our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters … More Belize Court hears Closing argument in Penal code anti-Sodomy case
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 07, 2013 Today began the four day constitutionality challenge trial of Belize’s Section 53 anti-sodomy law in their Supreme Court. I have been watching the #UNIBAM twitter feed all afternoon (Belize = CST) for wonderful live-tweeting from Asa DeMatteo and now have been emailed (thank you!) the Press Release for Day One. … More Opening Arguments in Belize Urge Supreme Court to Uphold the Constitution
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 07, 2013. Tomorrow, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF) will be re-introduced in Congress. The Act would ban discrimination in adoption or foster care placement based on the marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity of the potential parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child. … More Re-introduction of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 05, 2013. First off – Happy Cinco de Mayo! I saw a headline just now – “Gingrich: LGBT rights fight ‘one sided’ because Catholics are oppressed too”. Oh, really. Wonder what in Heaven’s name Newt is whining about now? Then I saw this quote: “But what I’m struck with is the … More Tiny violins for Newt and the oppression of his new-found Catholicism
Getting rid of the old British Colonial penal code criminalizing homosexuality in Central America… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 05, 2013 The nation of Belize, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala, is the last country in Central America where homosexual acts are still illegal and punishable by long prison terms. But that could change for Belize and set … More Belize Government and Christian right fight Supreme Court Challenge to decriminalize homosexuality
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