Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2013. The Defense of Marriage Act  (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and woman only, and so a same-sex American spouse (citizen or resident) cannot petition for a foreign spouse to obtain a green card and citizenship.   That means that married same-sex couples cannot benefit from the same Federal … More Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

David Cecil British Producer detained for Deportation from Uganda

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, Feb. 07, 2013.  3:00 am PST Updated: Feb 12, 2013 –  Sources in Uganda confirm that British play producer David Cecil was deported last night.  Also confirmed by  British foreign office spokesman who told the BBC that Mr Cecil was deported on Monday evening. “We are concerned that he was deported without … More David Cecil British Producer detained for Deportation from Uganda

Valentines day petition to Ugandan Parliament

February 6, 2013

Petitioning Members of the Ugandan Parliament to end the push for anti-gay legislation once and for all A Valentine for Frank Mugisha Imagine a life where your sexual orientation or gender identity can be punished by death, by your own government. This is reality for Frank Mugisha and hundreds of thousands of LGBTI people living in Uganda, … More Valentines day petition to Ugandan Parliament

Ugandan Parliament resumes with anti-gay bill 8th on Agenda

February 5, 2013

Keeping guard over the Kill the Gays Bill By Melanie Nathan, Feb. 05, 2013. By the time the Ugandan Parliament went into holiday recess at the end of last year the Anti-homosexuality bill had not yet seen passage.  At that time the Bill had teetered at number one position on the Order Papers (Agenda) for … More Ugandan Parliament resumes with anti-gay bill 8th on Agenda

South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

February 2, 2013

Claiming the streets in protest for justice By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2013. Today a large group of lesbians, carrying signs and the South African gay flag,  from a variety of Townships around the Cape Town area, took to the streets singing and chanting for justice to draw attention to the issue of corrective rape … More South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

Pastor Scott Lively as pirate | Award winning attorney’s insights into Smug v Lively

February 1, 2013

Straight ally attorney to be honored for equality work at ST. Paul’s dinner – would like to file an Amicus brief in CCR case of  SMUG v. Lively By Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2013. Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, President of St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, recently interviewed Eric Isaacson, a straight attorney and LGBT ally, … More Pastor Scott Lively as pirate | Award winning attorney’s insights into Smug v Lively

Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

January 31, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 31, 2013. Recently we reported on the arrests of two youth human rights defenders from the LGBTI group, Youth on the Rock, who were arrested by police around New Years eve,  on accusations of homosexuality and recruiting people into homosexuality. Yesterday a third person who had been sought by the police … More Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate

January 31, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2013. We have been reporting on the recent debacle between Oxford Union, the debating society, in the U.K. and Scott Lively, where something went suspiciously awry with the invitation to Lively to debate the issue of Gay parenting. In a nutshell, Oxford Union’s debate topic ‘This house would be glad … More Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate

On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

January 29, 2013

The Marin Human Rights Commission By Melanie Nathan, January, 28,2013. Just last week a Commission to which I was appointed a few years ago, The Marin Human Rights Commission,  held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Gala , where we honored a fellow Commissioner, Marna Cohen, with a Lifetime Social Justice award.  Sadly Commissioner Marna … More On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples

January 29, 2013

A path to citizenship for all, if Obama’s plan is followed and the  U.S. Congress includes binational same-sex couples. Posted by Melanie Nathan, Jan 29, 2013. Today, President Barack Obama announced his support for comprehensive immigration reform that would establish a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and make it possible for US citizens in … More President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform. LGBT same-sex couples should not have to go through the trauma of the snub and exclusion by Senators Schumer and McCain et al, even at this early level of negotiations. It has been many years – should we say 20 at least – that … More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

Expectations that Obama to call for inclusion of same-sex couples: UPDATED – CONTRARY TO SPECULATION OBAMA FAILED TO MENTION THE SNUB OF LGBT SAME-SEX BINATIONALS in the McCAIN Schumer immigration reform plan. Maybe it is in his written plan? But Obama does include them in his written Proposal. By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2013, 7.30 … More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

January 28, 2013

Bipartisan bound to snub binationals indicative of failed Immigration Equality strategy, as gays tossed under the bus. By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2013 (nathan@privatecourts.com) A bipartisan group of Senators from both parties revealed today the framework of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, including a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million … More Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

January 27, 2013

Help Youth on Rock Find a Home and a Safe house by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. I reported the unlawful arrest of a young leader from the human rights group in Uganda, Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), around New Year’s Eve, after the break in at SMUG’s offices, where computers containing sensitive information were … More Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

January 27, 2013

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”  Elie Wiesel By Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. Holocaust Memorial Day  is commemorated throughout different parts of the world, each year on Jan. 27, the day of liberation from Auschwitz. It is … More On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

January 27, 2013

This Must Watch Video, on the second anniversary of David Kato’s death,  features David Kato, President Obama,  Politicians, Human Rights Defenders, Pastors, Bahati,  and all sides of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill’s debate Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. This must watch video, by Luis Arellano & Carlos Maldonado is one of the most comprehensive I have seen … More Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil

January 26, 2013

““The U.S. is a chosen country, an evangelical country, and if Americans don’t take God out of there, God won’t leave.”” By Jandira Queiroz, on January 26, 2013 Jandira Queiroz is a research fellow at Political Research Associates and a longtime reproductive and LGBTQ rights advocate in Brazil. From a modest building in a central … More Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil

David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

January 25, 2013

On January 26, 2011 the world received the shocking news of the murder of one of Uganda’s brave LGBTI warriors,  a hero then and still a hero now. By Melanie Nathan, January 25, 2013. David Kato was born to the Kisule clan in its ancestral village of Nakawala, Namataba, Mukono District, in Uganda.  The younger … More David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

January 24, 2013

Uganda’s representative and honorary Consul to Los Angeles is a U.S. Christian broadcaster and happens to be Vice President of TBN By Melanie Nathan, January 23, 2013. It is a much publicized fact that certain Christian Evangelical pastors from the United States, not only influenced the current state of anti-homosexual sentiment in Uganda, but may also … More Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda

January 23, 2013

Gospel of Intolerance: The filmmaker Roger Ross Williams reveals how money donated by American evangelicals helps to finance a violent anti-gay movement in Uganda; though the Video offering may not be without controversy. By Melanie Nathan January 23, 2013. ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS was raised in Pennsylvania, and  grew up in the black church. He exposes … More NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda

Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People

January 23, 2013

By Evelyn Dent, January 22, 2013. Late last year, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. stating that the country should put an end to discriminatory and human-rights-violating government policies that criminalize members of the LGBT community. Under Malaysian law, it is still illegal to engage in … More Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People

U.S. Pastor accuses gays of persecuting Christians in lead up to UK Oxford Union invitation

January 23, 2013

The Scott Lively Connive | A Lecture at Oxford Union, UK  in an attempt to win sympathy in SMUG vs. Lively Well this may or may not be the speech Scott Lively has planned for his address of the students at Oxford Union in the United Kingdom, but he did re-publish it on his “Defend … More U.S. Pastor accuses gays of persecuting Christians in lead up to UK Oxford Union invitation

Gay LGBT Leadership must take note as President Obama establishes the cue for Full Equality

January 22, 2013

The President gives the cue will our leadership follow?  – A FULL EQUALITY BILL is the imperative benchmark; The  Omnibus! Civil Rights Act Amendment to include Gender, Sexual orientation and Gender identity  – if South Africa can do it so can we.. At least set the benchmark. By Melanie Nathan, January 22, 2013. Yesterday, Barack … More Gay LGBT Leadership must take note as President Obama establishes the cue for Full Equality

Understanding that hate cannot dominate the Uganda Gay conversation

January 22, 2013

 Conversations with Ugandans about Criminalization of Gays Can Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill start a new conversation? By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2013. I have been writing about Uganda since 2009, after the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.  In all these years I have witnessed a conversation that has seemed only capable of extreme divisiveness.  Discussions about … More Understanding that hate cannot dominate the Uganda Gay conversation

Ugandan Catholic Priest Persecuted by Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Campaign speaks of bribes

January 21, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2013. The Ugandan gay community is suing a U.S. Pastor, Scott Lively  on U.S. soil, charging that he has committed crimes against humanity, resulting in their persecution. But it went further and this story illustrates just how murky the waters of anti-gay persecution can get. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender … More Ugandan Catholic Priest Persecuted by Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Campaign speaks of bribes

San Francisco Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK Day of Service

January 20, 2013

Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK  – Day of Service, 1/21/13 At HRC and Larkin Street Youth Services, we believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our LGBT youth, who make up 40 percent of homeless and at-risk youth. In our first year participating in MLK Day of Service, … More San Francisco Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK Day of Service

Uganda cannot escape the global fall out from the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

January 20, 2013

AS Uganda Media reports that UK University pulls out of Uganda as a result of direct advocacy of  Western Gay rights advocate, Private Courts, Inc.* By Melanie Nathan, January 20, 2013. After advocating against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill since its first introduction in 2009, last October I found out that the infamous editor of Rolling Stone … More Uganda cannot escape the global fall out from the Anti-Homosexuality Bill