Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

May 29, 2014

Founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Joseph and Jane Clementi, Will Receive the Honor By Melanie Nathan, May 30, 2014.   Maplewood, N.J.- North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State will be awarding the inaugural “Outstanding Ally Award” at its fourth annual Pride Festival on Sunday, June … More North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

May 28, 2014

Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 29, 2014. From The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is alive and well in rural America and your government wants to hear from you! In a historic partnership, NCLR has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a new … More LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

Urgent Stop Ugandan Foreign Minister from Becoming President of UN General Assembly

May 28, 2014

Call to Urgent Action Show your outrage — “Let us tell the United Nations that we do not reward Homophobic countries with positions of global leadership,” Melanie Nathan By Melanie Nathan, May 28, 2014. Uganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa is set to become President of the UN General Assembly on 17 June – unless you … More Urgent Stop Ugandan Foreign Minister from Becoming President of UN General Assembly

Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

May 28, 2014

Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, novelist, civil rights leader and actress whose work defied description under a simple label, has died, her publicist, Helen Brann, said Thursday. She died at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C., Brann said. A professor, singer and dancer, among other things, Angelou’s work spans different professions. She spent her early years … More Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

First Open Lesbian Cabinet Minister in Africa

May 27, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 27, 2014. Lynne Brown, 52, is the first openly lesbian cabinet minister in South Africa’s history and also the first on the continent. South African president, Jacob Zuma, has appointed Brown who is now the country’s first openly lesbian (LGBTI) cabinet minister, a move thought also to be a first in … More First Open Lesbian Cabinet Minister in Africa

LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

May 26, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 26, 2014. On Saturday a group of 25 LGBTQ activists protested controversial Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller as she received an honorary degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. The activists, who chanted “Gay rights Portia!” for two hours, were at one point called “trash” by some Lafayette graduates and … More LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

Africa’s First Openly Gay Member of Parliament

May 24, 2014

A must read interview and a testament to progress By Melanie Nathan, May 24, 2014. South Africa has just gone through an election and there is some good news for the LGBT community. Wednesday’s swearing in of the members of parliament, for South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament,  was an especially historic occasion; it featured the … More Africa’s First Openly Gay Member of Parliament

Homophobic Jamaican Queen Ifrica Axed from Concert

May 24, 2014

Council Member Dromm and Jamaican LGBT activists call for cancellation of Queen Ifrica concert in Queens and Amazura Concert Hall complies Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 24, 2014. On May 23rd New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm and Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand (JAHS) protested in front of Amazura Concert Hall in Jamaica, Queens, calling for … More Homophobic Jamaican Queen Ifrica Axed from Concert

Life or Death to Save Lesbian Aidah from UK Deportation to Uganda Please Sign Now

May 21, 2014

#SAVEAidah Her fast track deportation is set for mere days ahead – May 24 |  we received a desperate request for help from her team here in the UK.  I am meeting with them in London today. They want to hear from you NOW and there is no time to waste! UPDATED MAY 23: LAST … More Life or Death to Save Lesbian Aidah from UK Deportation to Uganda Please Sign Now

A Must See | Uganda The State of Persecution

May 16, 2014

From Torment to Tyranny   162 Incidents of known persecutory actions targeting LGBT Ugandans, reported between December and May, 2014,  indicating an enormous rise in state sponsored persecution of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Ugandans, proving absolutely that the impact of Uganda’s newly enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act is causing grave life threatening injustices. This has been exacerbated … More A Must See | Uganda The State of Persecution

What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

May 16, 2014

Updated 7/9/2014. This post had been removed to archives private because it is an OLD post dated May 16, 2014, and its is being misused by some as a reference for a current Relief Fund , which it is not. It referred to an older relief fund campaign which has since closed. A new relief … More What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

Prestigious Awards Cancels Gala Venue owned by Sultan of Brunei

May 15, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 15, 2014. In a PinkNews Exclusive, it is reported that The British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) announced it will no longer have its awards dinner at the London Dorchester hotel owned by the Sultan of Brunei – due to his country’s new rule on stoning gays and adulterers to death. The … More Prestigious Awards Cancels Gala Venue owned by Sultan of Brunei

The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

May 15, 2014

You might be thinking that hearts and minds have transformed. Society might have evolved on gender identity, but not the military’s old guard. By L.S. Kove, May 15, 2014. The Department of Defense (DoD) is different than the rest of the federal government. Not only is it large enough to swallow the rest whole, but … More The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

May 14, 2014

An Embarrassment to Zuma By Melanie Nathan, May 14, 2014. Armed robbers boarded a tour bus and robbed 30 American students at gun point in Pretoria, South Africa. The students, from a Maryland university, on a trip to South Africa will return home early. No one was injured during the robbery according to Stevenson University. … More Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

May 12, 2014

Center for American Progress  | RELEASE: New Analysis and Infographics Show the Dangerous and Costly Effects of Detainee Bed Quotas Washington, D.C. — New CAP analysis and infographics detail the dangerous and costly toll of the congressionally mandated bed quota on our immigration system. Beginning in 2009, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or … More Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

May 12, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2014. South African world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, is marrying her fellow athlete, Violet Raseboya. Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya had been subjected to gender testing. She was then withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her … More Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

Eurovision Win by Drag Artist is an F U to HOMOPHOBE PUTIN

May 10, 2014

By Melaie Nathan, May 10, 2014 Congratulations Queen Conchita the Eurovision winner for Austria’s victory – its a first in 48 years! And she won despite Ukraine and Russian attempts to ban the bearded drag artist. The 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria and Conchita Wurst. Her entry ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ … More Eurovision Win by Drag Artist is an F U to HOMOPHOBE PUTIN

Outrageous lies by Ugandan Government regarding the Anti-Gay Laws

May 8, 2014

And Lies about Gays not being Persecuted  as Uganda tries to squirm out of aid cuts they once said they did not care about By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. The Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs is attempting to avert Ugandan fears that the international community will cut aid to Uganda and has allegedly provided … More Outrageous lies by Ugandan Government regarding the Anti-Gay Laws

Ugandan men first to face trial after passage of harsh anti-gay laws

May 8, 2014

The World is Watching the Making of Martyrs until all Anti-homosexuality laws are decriminalized By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. No matter the outcome, their lives will forever be tarnished, at least in Uganda. However with their faces splashed across world press, many  may come to regard them as martyrs, a symbol for the oppressed … More Ugandan men first to face trial after passage of harsh anti-gay laws

Ugandan MP’s Face Travel Bans for Anti-Homosexuality Support

May 8, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. Members of Uganda’s Parliament and ministers, have according to the Ugandan press, been notified of visa restrictions because of their “public utterances” during the passing of the disputed Anti-Homosexuality Act, which makes same-sex relations  punishable with life imprisonment. International Affairs minister Okello Oryem told MPs on the Foreign Affairs … More Ugandan MP’s Face Travel Bans for Anti-Homosexuality Support

Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

May 7, 2014

Federal Court Rejects Discrimination Claim Against Catholic Hospital’s Refusal to Cover Same-Sex Spouse Under Employee Benefit Plan and ENDA is in danger Why I am calling on Freedom to Marry, NCLR, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, ACLU, Transgender Law Center,  GetEQUAL to thwart the HRC push for Senate’s ENDA By Melanie Nathan, May 07, 2014. Although both … More Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

Call to Boycott Barbaric Brute of Brunei Dorchester Hotels

May 6, 2014

Commonwealth urged to suspend Brunei as Planned Sharia law executions violate Commonwealth Charter By Melanie Nathan, May 06, 2014. While activists in the United Kingdom are calling on the Commonwealth to suspend Brunei’s membership because it has introduced stoning to death for consensual, non-violent behavior, including homosexuality, U.S. activists are calling for boycotts of the … More Call to Boycott Barbaric Brute of Brunei Dorchester Hotels

Swedish Authorities Complicit in Persecuting LGBT Uganda by Refusing Workshop Visa

May 4, 2014

Sweden and other allies have a duty to act and not just talk – you need to practice what you preach , says Bob Bwana By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2014. LGBT activists are very upset about the denial by Sweden of a visa to a Ugandan human rights defender. It is being reported from … More Swedish Authorities Complicit in Persecuting LGBT Uganda by Refusing Workshop Visa

Police Descend on Bekkersdal The ANC Embarrassment

May 4, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2014. It reminds me largely of the “old” pre-Apartheid South Africa: — Township – a filthy dumping ground languishing in stark contrast to nearby spotless suburbs – no services- the stench of poverty – and then the ultimate reminder THE large police presence – challenging – the obnoxious scent of … More Police Descend on Bekkersdal The ANC Embarrassment

Belgian Parliament Resolution on Uganda

May 1, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 01, 2014. has provided the English translation for the March 22, unanimous Resolution of the Belgian Parliament regarding Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was made official law of Uganda on march 10, 2014. WE REQUEST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: 1. to emphasize the importance of respecting sexual orientation and gender identities in … More Belgian Parliament Resolution on Uganda

South African Government Launches Historic Program to Attack Homophobia

April 30, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, April 29, 2014. Back in 2011, when South Africa was exposed internationally for horrific amount of rapes and murders perpetrated on the lesbian community in so called “corrective” or “Curative” rape attacks, Minister Jeff Radebe was taken to task, and now some years later the climate may be set for change. This … More South African Government Launches Historic Program to Attack Homophobia

Uganda Seeks to Introduce More Anti-Gay Laws to Stop NGO Services

April 28, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, April 28, 2014. It is clear that the Ugandan government is doing everything that the Hitler Government did – that which preceded the holocaust. As if the scapegoating and Anti-Homosexuality Bill is not enough, now the Ugandan Government is looking to close loop-holes in its new already onerous law, which became law … More Uganda Seeks to Introduce More Anti-Gay Laws to Stop NGO Services

Shocking Story of Cameroon Police Beating 2 Women Accused of Same-Sex Relations

April 26, 2014

Court denies bail, as Cameroon Police Attempt to coerce Lesbian confession and over hundred of these cases pend trial after years languishing in jails By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2014. Two women have been beaten and arrested in Cameroon and are facing years in prison for allegedly engaging in sexual relations together in the privacy … More Shocking Story of Cameroon Police Beating 2 Women Accused of Same-Sex Relations

Marin County Man Mounts Pride Rainbow Flag on Uganda’s Highest Peak

April 25, 2014

He braved not only the challenges of the peak, but also the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality law #prideflagatopUganda #RepealAHA By Melanie Nathan, April 24, 2014. Marin County Founder of Three Twins Ice Cream braved not only the challenges of the peak, but also the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality law while issuing a challenge to President Museveni. That is how the … More Marin County Man Mounts Pride Rainbow Flag on Uganda’s Highest Peak