Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

California Senator Leno introduces Bill to Limit Strip Searches

April 19, 2012

For  Non-Violent Detainees By Melanie Nathan, April 19, 2012 SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno today announced introduction of legislation to protect Californians from intrusive strip and body cavity searches when they are taken into custody for minor offenses that do not involve drugs, weapons or violence. Senate Bill 1536 clarifies existing state law to allow … More California Senator Leno introduces Bill to Limit Strip Searches

Ugandan President Museveni tries to Down Play Kill the Gays Bill

April 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 19, 2012. The Ugandan President Museveni was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour where  he down played the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, otherwise known as the ‘Kill the Gays Bill,’ by asserting it applies to exhibitionism only. Whether the man is ill informed or  an out and out liar, he was unprepared for a persistent … More Ugandan President Museveni tries to Down Play Kill the Gays Bill

ORAM Releases New Publication to help LGBT Refugees and Asylees

April 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 19, 2012 The Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) released its latest publication entitled ‘Rainbow Bridges: A Community Guide to Rebuilding the Lives of LGBTI Refugees and Asylum Seekers. ‘ This is the first guide of its kind directed at the United States lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and affirming … More ORAM Releases New Publication to help LGBT Refugees and Asylees

California AG Kamala Harris Call to Action for Homeowners BIll of Rights

April 16, 2012

Attorney General’s CALL TO ACTION to bring mortgage fairness to California Posted by Melanie Nathan, April 16, 2012 Earlier this year in Sacramento, Attorney General Kamala Harris  introduced the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, which will bring fairness and transparency to mortgages in our state. Now your help is needed if the legislation is to … More California AG Kamala Harris Call to Action for Homeowners BIll of Rights

San Francisco Yom HaShoah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

April 16, 2012

Notice Posted by Melanie Nathan, April 16, 2012 San Francisco – The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) invites you to observe Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on Thursday, April 19. Open from 1-8pm, the Museum offers several meaningful activities throughout the day and evening to observe, remember, and ponder, including: Gallery Talks: Artistic Responses to the … More San Francisco Yom HaShoah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

More About Mr. Gay World Winner Mr. New Zealand

April 9, 2012

Mr. Gay New Zealand wins Mr. Gay World 2012 in Johannesburg at the Fourth Annual International Competition.  South Africa is first Runner up, France comes 3rd and  4th Place to Mr. USA. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – from the twenty-two gay men representing their respective countries in the 4th annual Mr. Gay World competition held in … More More About Mr. Gay World Winner Mr. New Zealand

Mr. GAY World 2012

April 8, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, April 08, 2012 Congratulations to New Zealand  for winning Mr. Gay World 2012, held this past week in South Africa and culminating in a packed finale. Yes my prediction was correct after seeing the man’s man, Andreas Derleth, win the sports challenge, I knew he would be first. Now the contestant from … More Mr. GAY World 2012

Mr GAY World Competition See Sport Challenge Winners

April 7, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 07, 2012 In what promises to be an exciting and tight finish, the competitors for Mr. Gay World are heading towards tomorrow night’s finals at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef, Johannesburg, South Africa. The four day event brings results in the sports challenge portion which described by some as a  hunk-fest. … More Mr GAY World Competition See Sport Challenge Winners

Africa | Zambian Law Student Beaten Perceived Gay

April 7, 2012

Calling for a more calculated course to curb Africa’s anti-gay human rights path while  admonishments seem to cause backlash By Melanie Nathan, April 07, 2012 Educated people know that being gay is not a lifestyle it is simply a state of being. It is a concomitant of one’s makeup, a birth right,  if you will. … More Africa | Zambian Law Student Beaten Perceived Gay

New Accuser for Secretly Gay Murder Suspect Shrien Dewani

April 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan,April, 02, 2012 A beautiful bride and the perfect groom and what better than a honeymoon in magnificent Cape Town, South Africa. It would take wealth to put on the lavish wedding depicted in the photographs splashed across the world press, and that wealth itself would serve to question the very alibi upon … More New Accuser for Secretly Gay Murder Suspect Shrien Dewani

Calling on Andrew Sullivan to Boycott the Maggie Gallagher Debate

March 29, 2012

Let us declare  Maggie Gallagher –  ‘marriage equality irrelevant’- By Melanie Nathan, March 29, 2012 I received an invitation to attend what is touted by organizers as the “media debate of the year ”  to be held at  Lee Chapel, at Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA – a debate on marriage equality between Maggie … More Calling on Andrew Sullivan to Boycott the Maggie Gallagher Debate

Kirk Cameron’s Monumental Kill Gays Question

March 28, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, March 28, 2012 Kirk Cameron has come out with a pseudo-historical documentary  which premiered last night and is asking that the film, Monumental, become a movement. He is also selling material by Marshall Foster on the Monument website. We are compelled to ask Cameron where he stands, especially in light of his … More Kirk Cameron’s Monumental Kill Gays Question

ENDA could save the Facebook Privacy Invasion

March 26, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/26/2012 I read an article today in SF Gate, noting that some companies and government agencies are going beyond merely glancing at a person’s social networking profile  and may have the audacity to ask for log in information, such as the usernames and passwords. The idea is that a prospective employer can … More ENDA could save the Facebook Privacy Invasion

Video Seattle City Council Meeting LGBT Commission Regarding their Discrimination Against Israeli LGBT Guests

March 22, 2012

Incompetency of the Seattle LGBT Commission highlighted by the Council member questions at the end of the discussion in Video By Melanie Nathan Watch the apology and the dramatic and emotional testimony given by leaders from the Seattle LGBT and Jewish community to the Seattle City Council ( Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee … More Video Seattle City Council Meeting LGBT Commission Regarding their Discrimination Against Israeli LGBT Guests

Atlantis Cruise Gay Passengers Arrested in Dominica for Sexual Contact on Deck

March 22, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/22/2012 Gay Cruise and Safari community if you had been reading my blog for a while you may have noticed that  I have been talking about the criminalization of homosexuality in many African countries to which we cruise and peruse!  I have mentioned our hypocrisy as a an LGBT community for conducting … More Atlantis Cruise Gay Passengers Arrested in Dominica for Sexual Contact on Deck

Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign

March 21, 2012

The Seattle City LGBT Commissions has issued a formal apology, by posting it on Facebook, to the LGBT public and the Israeli AILO group, as can be seen below, for its actions in cancelling an event that in essence served to boycott and silence the visiting group from Israel.

It admits the “pain, offense … More Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign

Greater Seattle Business Association Outraged by Seattle LGBT Commission

March 20, 2012

Reacting to last week’s cancellation of a meeting with Israeli equality delegates,the Greater Seattle Business Association, the largest LGBT chamber of commerce in the United States with over 1000 members, wrote a letter to the City of Seattle LGBT Commission, to express their outrage at the commission’s decision to “silence LGBT voices by cancelling the City Hall event with a delegation of Israeli LGBT civil rights leaders.” … More Greater Seattle Business Association Outraged by Seattle LGBT Commission

Muslim Lesbian Couple Fight Deportation in Canada in Fear of Honor Killing

March 19, 2012

An Arab-Israeli lesbian couple, who fled to Canada from Israel in fear of death at the hands of their Muslim family have been told they can remain in Canada for another chance at receiving asylum, according to the  Toronto Sun newspaper. Iman Musa and Majida Mugrabi, living in Toronto, filed unsuccessful refugee claims that were … More Muslim Lesbian Couple Fight Deportation in Canada in Fear of Honor Killing

Jewish Voices for Peace and the Seattle LGBT Commission Anomaly

March 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, March 19, 2012 I often wonder if advisory boards for non-Profit organizations keep a check on what they have tied their names to?  Many are apt to join for an appealing mission statement tied to common causes and very often because a friend or acquaintance pitched the importance. Although I do recognize … More Jewish Voices for Peace and the Seattle LGBT Commission Anomaly

Uganda Cannot Sweet Talk Kony 2012 when it wants to Kill Gays

March 17, 2012

Perhaps Prime Minster Mbabazi should be fair and at the same time alert such celebrities, that if they just happen to be gay, homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender, setting foot on Ugandan soil may render them guilty of a crime and subject to death penalty or life in prison; that is if the current Kill the Gays Bill passes into law. Kony 2012 no promo please Amama … More Uganda Cannot Sweet Talk Kony 2012 when it wants to Kill Gays

United Arab Emirates LGBT Reports possible Gay Arrests

March 16, 2012

Dan Littauer, Editor GME, 16.3.2012 The United Arab Emirates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group has received reports that 30 people who are believed may be gay were arrested in private ‘after’ party last at 5am, last Friday (9 March) in the Shangri La Hotel, Dubai. It was said the party was ambushed and all present were … More United Arab Emirates LGBT Reports possible Gay Arrests