Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

January 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January, 19, 2013. The South African Justice Ministry has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate claims of unfair discrimination at the Creare Training Centre in Bloemfontein. A week ago we reported that Creare Training Center’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation” and the discriminatory statements … More South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

January 19, 2013

Cape Town, South Africa  join the march to help catch brutal rapist By Melanie Nathan, January 19, 2013. In 2010 I broke the story of the brutal rape of a lesbian in Gugulethu, a Township near Cape Town, in an article that went viral around the world, causing outrage, “The Face of Corrective Rape.”  I … More March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

Berkeley Queer Concert to benefit homeless youth

January 17, 2013

Singer/Songwriters and Spoken Word Artists come together to raise funds and awareness of our most vulnerable population By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. Well I am definitely going to what promises to be an amazing evening – but more important the cause. I hope to meet some of our readers on Saturday, January 19th at … More Berkeley Queer Concert to benefit homeless youth

European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

January 17, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. The European court of human rights in response to claims brought against the British government in four individual cases by Christians,  should, according to the U.K. Guardian, come as no surprise. The detailed ruling shows how difficult it was for the seven Strasbourg judges who heard the claims to … More European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win

January 17, 2013

No Scott Lively and “this house would be glad to have gay parents” By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2012. Gay parenting won the Oxford Union debate this Thursday evening, with a resounding majority happy to have gay parents. The topic “this house would be glad to have gay parents”,  was debated at the traditional Thursday … More Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win

Hate crime charges for anti-gay graffiti at UC Berkeley

January 17, 2013

Man charged with hate crime for anti-gay graffiti at UC Berkeley Doug Oakley of the  Oakland Tribune has reported that  Anthony Garcia, 23, of Huntington Park, Calif. was booked on a felony hate crime charge after UC Berkeley after officers spotted him spray painting anti-gay graffiti on campus buildings over the weekend, UC Berkeley police … More Hate crime charges for anti-gay graffiti at UC Berkeley

NLGJA Announces death of Michael Triplett its President

January 17, 2013

Statement by NLGJA, National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. It is with great sadness that we inform you that our friend and leader, NLGJA President Michael Triplett, passed away today after a courageous battle with cancer. While Michael only served as president for a few short months, he has … More NLGJA Announces death of Michael Triplett its President

Marin County’s Human Rights Commission Awards to Honor Community Advocates

January 15, 2013

MHRC 31st  Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Award Dinner Jan. 24th | Marin County’s Human Rights Commission Highlights Connections to Civil Rights Movement’s Bayard Rustin The 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner Gala will be held by the Marin Human Rights Commission at The Four Points Sheraton on January 24, 2013, to honor Marin’s … More Marin County’s Human Rights Commission Awards to Honor Community Advocates

Video Topless Gay Women Protesting in front of Pope

January 13, 2013

Much watch video of the extreme protest by topless “gay” identified women By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2013. The Petrelis Files report on the Vatican topless protests.  Equality supporters staged a topless protest in a packed St. Peter’s Square during the Pope’s address, in protest of Pope’s anti-gay stand against same-sex adoption. The Vatican paper … More Video Topless Gay Women Protesting in front of Pope

Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

January 13, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2013. The Eiffel Tower was not looking so friendly to Paris and Gays today as several hundred thousand people  converged on the Eifel Tower in Paris on Sunday to protest against President Francois Hollande’s plan to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption by June, 2013. Many came after long train and … More Hundreds of thousands of French Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims protest at Eiffel Tower against Gay Marriage

Oral Arguments Convey Accountability for Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Mission

January 13, 2013

The analysis speech, action and jurisdiction; without this opportunity under the Alien Tort Act, Lively could have got off without rebuke; now he cannot escape that what he did exceeds the bounds of his religious freedoms By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, January 11, 2013. This past week, a most unusual Motion to Dismiss was … More Oral Arguments Convey Accountability for Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Mission

South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

January 13, 2013

A South African Christian arts academy in Bloemfontein may be breaking the law by advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, and that if a homosexual refuses such, they can be expelled.  By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2012. The Sunday Times reported that the Creare Training Centre’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into … More South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

Hatemonger Scott Lively invited to debate Gay Rights at Prestigious Oxford Union

January 11, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2013. UPDATED: 1/18/2013  10.30 am PST.  Scott Lively GAY Hatemonger @OxfordUnion  was due to speak last night in a debate re ‘gay rights’, but an alleged error saw him given the date of the Israel debate on 31st January instead.    As Mr Lively had already arranged his travel around that … More Hatemonger Scott Lively invited to debate Gay Rights at Prestigious Oxford Union

Video | Uganda LGBTI Activist Speaks out at Courthouse after Scott Lively Hearing

January 8, 2013

“I know that David Kato is watching.” By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson Pepe Julian Onziema traveled from Uganda to the United States of America to attend the Motion to Dismiss hearing at Hampden Federal Courthouse, Massachusetts. What follows is a must watch Video of Pepe’s moving remarks, so courageously delivered at great risk to … More Video | Uganda LGBTI Activist Speaks out at Courthouse after Scott Lively Hearing

Court overturns 5-year sentence for gay sex in Cameroon

January 7, 2013

Court overturns 5-year sentence for gay sex in Cameroon Posted on January 7, 2013 by Colin Stewart at 76 Crimes Two young men in Cameroon were found not guilty today, overturning their previous sentence to five years in prison for homosexuality. Stephane N. Koche, project manager for PAEMH (Project for the Support and Assistance of Sexual … More Court overturns 5-year sentence for gay sex in Cameroon

Large crowd of U.S. Gay Activists at MA Federal Court to Support Ugandan Gays against Pastor Scott Lively

January 7, 2013

Pepe Onziema Said  “I came to Springfield to face the devil.” (Meaning in the form of Scott Lively) By Melanie Nathan,  January 07, 2012. Today a large crowd of U.S. LGBTQI activists, holding signs outside the Hampden Federal Courthouse, Massachusetts, braved the early morning cold, to support Uganda’s LGBTI community in the first case of … More Large crowd of U.S. Gay Activists at MA Federal Court to Support Ugandan Gays against Pastor Scott Lively

Israeli Politicians Vow Equality

January 6, 2013

Israel’s politicians give an unprecedented pledge to legislate pro gay laws  Representative of Israeli political parties promise more action on LGBT rights during a panel debating the upcoming elections and gay rights 06 January 2013 | By Dan Littauer, Shabi Gatenio During a political panel organized by the Aguda, Israel’s largest LGBT rights group, representatives … More Israeli Politicians Vow Equality

New Israeli Gay Film Follows Yossi and Jagger

January 5, 2013

Yossi revisited with Israeli director Eytan Fox Israeli director Eytan Fox’s Yossi & Jagger (2002) was one of the most memorable of gay films, a tale of truly star-crossed lovers—soldiers in the Israeli army. It ended heartbreakingly with the death of Jagger, and for anyone who has ever wondered what became of his partner, Fox’s … More New Israeli Gay Film Follows Yossi and Jagger

Scott Lively is still persecuting Ugandan Gays

January 5, 2013

Scott Lively argument set for next week as persecution of gays escalates in Uganda By Melanie Nathan ,  JAN 05, 2012. When Scott Lively, the founder of Christian Evangelical group Abiding Truth Ministries journeyed to Uganda to incite the persecution of gays, he had no idea that his mission would lead to a lawsuit by … More Scott Lively is still persecuting Ugandan Gays

David Bahati lies about homosexuals recruiting kindergarten children

January 5, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 05, 2012. Lies can indeed be proved through impossibility.  I stumbled across this report in the Ugandan press, Red Pepper Tabloid, which I previously missed.  I am reporting it here because it is absolute evidence that the assertions made by David Bahati, which form the basis of his anti-gay legislation in … More David Bahati lies about homosexuals recruiting kindergarten children

Israel MP performs gay marriages as protest

January 4, 2013

To protest claims same-sex marriage will destroy the Jewish people Mock gay weddings preformed outside Tel Aviv’s Rabbinical court in protest of a ring-wing religious candidate stating that they would destroy the Jewish people 04 January 2013 | By Dan Littauer, Andrew Potts, VIA GAYSTAR News Following a statement by a religious right-wing electoral candidate … More Israel MP performs gay marriages as protest

Ugandan Court Dismisses Case against British Producer of Play Featuring Gay Character

January 2, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 02, 2013, 2:00 AM PST David Cecil the British play producer appeared in court today charged with ‘‘disobeying lawful orders’’ from the Uganda Media Council, which says he staged ‘‘The River and the Mountain’’ in Uganda’s capital last year despite orders to the contrary. All charges against the producer were dismissed. … More Ugandan Court Dismisses Case against British Producer of Play Featuring Gay Character

Ugandan Gay Hating Pastors Spit on their Constitution in Mandela Stadium

January 1, 2013

It will become clear through this type of  anti-gay hate evidence, as provided by the Ugandan article, that the Kill the Gays Bill has indeed been drummed up by preachers who in so doing are spitting on the Ugandan Constitution,  and by virtue of venue associating the name of Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. … More Ugandan Gay Hating Pastors Spit on their Constitution in Mandela Stadium

Ugandan LGBTI Youth Group Founder Arrested for Homosexuality

December 31, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, Dec 31, 2012. While many of us celebrate New Years Eve, our LGBTI family around the world suffer persecution and are unable to openly celebrate with their loved ones.  Reports are coming in from Uganda that one of the founders of LGBTI group Youth on Rock Foundation, (YRF)  was arrested by police … More Ugandan LGBTI Youth Group Founder Arrested for Homosexuality

UN Watch Calls for Removal of HRW Board member citing Anti-Semitic Remarks

December 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, December 30, 2012. Amongst its many human rights related missions, Human Rights Watch works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people’s rights, with activists representing a multiplicity of identities and issues. According to their LGBT mission statement  they “document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide – including … More UN Watch Calls for Removal of HRW Board member citing Anti-Semitic Remarks

Ugandan LGBT Organization SMUG Office Robbed and Vandalized during Xmas

December 28, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, Dec 28, 2012. SMUG, the LGBTI organization led by Frank Magishu, had its offices broken into and vandalized with almost all office property stolen during the Xmas holiday. It is unknown at this time if the motivation behind the attack was homophobic persecution.  However given the anti-gay climate in Uganda and the … More Ugandan LGBT Organization SMUG Office Robbed and Vandalized during Xmas