Author: Melanie Nathan

Justice for Guinea Stadium Massacre while Human Rights Still in Question

October 7, 2022

By Melanie Nathan, Oct 7, 222 Thirteen years ago, Guinea’s security forces stormed a stadium filled with tens of thousands of peaceful protesters. More than 150 people were slaughtered, bodies strewn across the field. Scores of women were raped. Now, a long-delayed effort to bring the perpetrators of the massacre to justice is finally underway. … More Justice for Guinea Stadium Massacre while Human Rights Still in Question

AHRC with 105 Organizations Ask Biden Admin to End Dedicated Docket

October 6, 2022

African Human Rights Coalition as signed on with 106 other organizations to a letter calling on the Biden administration, addressed to Merrick Garland, Attorney General at Department of Justice, et al, to note the grave concerns and calling for the an end to the Dedicated Docket: I. Due Process Failures on the Dedicated Docket A. … More AHRC with 105 Organizations Ask Biden Admin to End Dedicated Docket

REFLECTIONS on WISHING YOU HAPPINESS NEW YEAR 5783

September 22, 2022

As this Jewish New Year approaches, I am reminded of the refuge, sanctuary and home that Africa gave to my grandparents approximately 100 years ago, as they fled the Pogroms in Ukraine. America and Canada had turned us away! We, the stranger, were welcomed to South Africa. And it was complex… We were classified as … More REFLECTIONS on WISHING YOU HAPPINESS NEW YEAR 5783

100 Organizations Urging Biden Admin Reform of CAM Refugee & Parole Program

September 21, 2022

African Human Rights Coalition is a signatory to this letter: “We at AHRC are proud to participate in this quest to reform CAM – and bind ourselves to the plight of all those forcible displaced around the globe. Because we are one we support equity, justice, protection and solutions for ALL!” Melanie Nathan Today more … More 100 Organizations Urging Biden Admin Reform of CAM Refugee & Parole Program

AT A TIME LIKE THIS: WE DARE YOU AMERICA – FROM LGBTQI+ AFRICA

August 25, 2022

At a time like THIS! By Melanie Nathan and African Human Rights Coalition. We are living in a time where in America we are suffering the backlash against LGBTQI+ people – a backlash from actually attaining a measure of acceptance and a measure of equality. We only have a limited EQUALITY and we are still … More AT A TIME LIKE THIS: WE DARE YOU AMERICA – FROM LGBTQI+ AFRICA

Legislature Approves Bill to Strengthen Existing Anti-Discrimination Policies for LGBTQ Resource Families

August 23, 2022

Legislature Approves Cervantes Bill to Strengthen Existing Anti-Discrimination Policies for LGBTQ Resource Families (SACRAMENTO) – Today, the State Assembly approved Senate amendments to Assembly Bill 2466 by Assembly Member Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) by a vote of 72-0, sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. AB 2466 strengthens existing anti-discrimination policies for lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer … More Legislature Approves Bill to Strengthen Existing Anti-Discrimination Policies for LGBTQ Resource Families

Singapore Decriminalizes and Discriminates

August 23, 2022

It is very good news that Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared that SINGAPORE would repeal the controversial 377A law – effectively legalizing homosexuality. However PM Lee followed this welcome announcement with his determination that same-sex marriage would be ruled out at this time through a push to amend the Constitution to define marriage … More Singapore Decriminalizes and Discriminates

BRANDI CARLILE LAUNCHES SOMEWHERE OVER THE RADIO’

August 9, 2022

BRANDI CARLILE LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE SIRIUSXM SHOW ‘SOMEWHERE OVER THE RADIO’ ON THE SPECTRUM (CH. 28) NEW YORK – August 9, 2022 – Today, SiriusXM and six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and #1 NY Times Bestselling author Brandi Carlile announced the launch of ‘Brandi Carlile’s Somewhere Over the Radio,’ a monthly show available on The Spectrum (ch. 28). The … More BRANDI CARLILE LAUNCHES SOMEWHERE OVER THE RADIO’

Brittney Griner Sentenced in Russian Human Rights Abomination

August 4, 2022

Today, WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison and a fine of $16,000. A Russian court has found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. The widely expected verdict comes after a monthlong trial and nearly six months after the basketball star was arrested at a Moscow-area … More Brittney Griner Sentenced in Russian Human Rights Abomination

Kenya Orders Facebook to Tackle Hate Speech or Face Suspension-

August 1, 2022

THE KENYAN CYBER-LAW ACT – prohibits LIES, SLANDER, HATE-SPEECH all of which are criminal and punishable offenses. This applies to individuals in Kenya! Kenya is in an election year and the country is facing election uprisings that will spells danger for many, and especially the most vulnerable, to include refugees, and more especially the unwelcome … More Kenya Orders Facebook to Tackle Hate Speech or Face Suspension-

Why the U.S. Senate Must Also Pass the Respect for Marriage ACT

July 20, 2022

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 267-157, with 47 Republican Votes. The bill repeals the aged and repulsive Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), previously dealt with under case law by the Supreme Court of the United States, but under threat since the reversal … More Why the U.S. Senate Must Also Pass the Respect for Marriage ACT

San Francisco Pride Main Stage Speech with a Rousing Intro to Something Serious

June 30, 2022

This past Sunday at SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE, 2022, I had the great honor to present, on San Francisco Civic Center Plaza Main-Stage, an historic and poignant PRIDE video greeting from UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Dr. Filippo Grandi, preceded by the courageous voices of LGBTQI+ people in forced displacement.   In a world where over … More San Francisco Pride Main Stage Speech with a Rousing Intro to Something Serious

California Law to give Refuge to Trans Kids Seeking Escaping Criminalizing U.S. State Laws

June 29, 2022

Senator Scott Wiener’s Legislation to Provide Refuge for Trans Kids and Their Families Passes Assembly Public Safety Committee Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s legislation to provide refuge for trans kids and their families, Senate Bill 107, passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a vote of 5-2. SB 107 will protect trans kids and their … More California Law to give Refuge to Trans Kids Seeking Escaping Criminalizing U.S. State Laws

SCOTUS turns POLITICAL to Partner with Republicans in Criminalizing Women of America

June 24, 2022

WOMEN WILL DIE- Because SCOTUS STOLE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT Today the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided women of America should lose their right to agency and autonomy of their own bodies, robbing them of a freedom which they have had entrenched for the past 50 years! HELL NO! The decision in Dobbs … More SCOTUS turns POLITICAL to Partner with Republicans in Criminalizing Women of America

Rwanda Catchup and The UK Plot to Boot Asylum Seekers Halted by Courts

June 20, 2022

After a UK court cleared the first plane taking individuals claiming asylum to Rwanda (Reuters), the European Court of Human Rights ordered a pause to the deportation of one of seven individuals scheduled for the flight. The other deportees promptly filed new court challenges based on the ECtHR’s ruling, and their deportations were also halted. … More Rwanda Catchup and The UK Plot to Boot Asylum Seekers Halted by Courts

UK Expulsions to Rwanda Especially Egregious for LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers

June 13, 2022

Melanie Nathan, Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition and publisher of this BLOG- (nathan@AfricanHRC.org): On June 11, 2022 Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the United Kingdom Home Secretary, Priti Patel who has now scheduled the first flight carrying people for June 14. Asylum seekers sent to Rwanda are then to be processed … More UK Expulsions to Rwanda Especially Egregious for LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers

AMERICAN SLAUGHTER OF 19 CHILDREN REFLECTS CHILLING HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

May 26, 2022

Here we are in the United States fighting to open pipelines for refugees and asylum seekers escaping violence around the world, while our own children in the United States do NOT have the basic human right to a safe day at school, without turning up in a body bag. How can any human rights organization, … More AMERICAN SLAUGHTER OF 19 CHILDREN REFLECTS CHILLING HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

The UK’s Off-Shoring of Asylum Process is Anti-Asylum and Anti-LGBTQI+

May 26, 2022

The United Kingdom published its safety assessment on Rwanda, intended to justify a recently announced agreement to send asylum seekers crossing the English Channel or other so called “irregular” or dangerous routes to the Central African country, for processing. An off-shoring of asylum! Britain was one of the first countries to ratify the Refugee Convention … More The UK’s Off-Shoring of Asylum Process is Anti-Asylum and Anti-LGBTQI+

Red Pepper Journalist Apologizes for Hanging Threat Against GAYS

May 16, 2022

AN INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA SPECIAL, By Melanie Nathan- May 17, 2022 The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. By 2016, the commemorations had taken place in 132 … More Red Pepper Journalist Apologizes for Hanging Threat Against GAYS

L-PROJECT’s Women’s Freedom Festival at WEHO Pride

May 13, 2022

“WOMEN’S FREEDOM FESTIVAL” PRESENTED BY THE L-PROJECT LA AND SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES PRIDE! WHEN: FRIDAY, JUNE 3 @ 7PM TO 10PM, FREE Admission. LIVE Event. WHAT: The Women’s Freedom Festival will feature LGBTQI+BIPOC and non-binary musicians, comedians, poets, and activists, along with a featured performance from MILCK, singing her latest protest song, We Won’t … More L-PROJECT’s Women’s Freedom Festival at WEHO Pride

Florida Department of Health Attacks Trans Health and Truth

April 20, 2022

Florida Department of Health Spreading Dangerous Disinformation about Gender Affirming Care & Trans WASHINGTON—Today, the Florida Department of Health released a statement, which it sent to licensed health and human services providers in the state of Florida, attacking the established standards of age-appropriate, medically-necessary, and often life-saving care for transgender youth. In response, Equality Florida … More Florida Department of Health Attacks Trans Health and Truth

Trans Texas Welfare Worker Resigns over Governor Abbott’s Abusive Law

April 14, 2022

Morgan Davis is a transgender man who joined Texas’ child welfare agency, the Travis County office of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as an investigator to be the advocate he never had growing up, as noted by an article  BY ELEANOR KLIBANOFF APRIL 11, 2022 in the Texas Tribune: “Less than a year later, … More Trans Texas Welfare Worker Resigns over Governor Abbott’s Abusive Law

Philadelphia Report: How the Pogroms Remind South Africa to Take a Stand

April 11, 2022

THE PHILADELPHIA REPORT – I was invited to do a weekly (Monday morning) series on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts “Breakfast in Bed,”  on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at www.rt1485.com This week we remember Aries Birthdays, Pogrom orphan refugees, Ukraine and South … More Philadelphia Report: How the Pogroms Remind South Africa to Take a Stand

Historic Confirmation of First Black Woman Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States

April 7, 2022

Today we rejoice as one of the most qualified Justices ever is confirmed by the United States Senate to the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. President Joe Biden kept his promise. With many blessings, African Human Rights Coalition congratulates Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and the People of the United … More Historic Confirmation of First Black Woman Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States

Philadelphia Report: A Week After The Oscars and The Big Real Deal

April 4, 2022

THE PHILADELPHIA REPORT – I was invited to do a weekly (Monday morning) series on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts “Breakfast in Bed,”  on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at http://www.rt1485.com This weeks report, A week after the Oscars (Academy Awards) … More Philadelphia Report: A Week After The Oscars and The Big Real Deal

Steve Hofmeyr Reports from His Queer Closet in Namibia

April 4, 2022

So Steve Hofmeyr is a famous something in Southern Africa, perhaps even Namibia. Although I am from South Africa I had never heard of him until he came out recently with some statement that perhaps the PLUS sign at the end of the LGBTQI+ acronym includes “bestiality.” I think he may be an actor or … More Steve Hofmeyr Reports from His Queer Closet in Namibia

Florida Parents and Students Challenge “Don’t Say Gay” Law

March 31, 2022

Florida Parents and Students Challenge “Don’t Say Gay” Law as Harmful and Unconstitutional, and included in legal team is renowned attorney Robbie Kaplan who argued for her client, the late Edie Windsor in our winning marriage equality case, at the Supreme Court of the United Sates. Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP and NCLR File Federal … More Florida Parents and Students Challenge “Don’t Say Gay” Law

Honoring Forcibly Displaced Trans People on Transgender Day of Visibility #TDOV

March 31, 2022

Today, March 31, is International Transgender Day of Visibility and this is the day African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC), the only Global LGBTQI organization dedicated to advocacy and humanitarian services for LGBTQI people forcibly displaced in and from African countries, celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility, by honoring the courage of transgender and non-binary … More Honoring Forcibly Displaced Trans People on Transgender Day of Visibility #TDOV