Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

Seattle LGBT Commission’s Boycott of Israeli LGBTI Guests Opens Wounds

March 16, 2012

By Melanie Nathan and Scott Rose, 03/16/2012 Caving to protests by a small anti-Israel and anti-Jewish contingency, using the guise of so called pinkwashing,  the  Seattle City LGBT Commission has silenced the voices of its Israeli LGBT guests  from the coalition Group AILO,  by cancelling, with less than 24 hours notice,  a dialogue event which … More Seattle LGBT Commission’s Boycott of Israeli LGBTI Guests Opens Wounds

Seattle LGBT Commission Shuts Down Israel’s LGBT Voice

March 15, 2012

The unconscionable shutting down of gay, lesbian and transgender voices by our own community cannot be tolerated, for any reason whatsoever – I take blogger’s license – I am sad and disgusted! By Melanie Nathan 03/15/2012 Reports have come in from the Seattle commission’s meeting tonight that in an act of unprecedented cowardice the Seattle … More Seattle LGBT Commission Shuts Down Israel’s LGBT Voice

Seattle University Assistant Law Professor Attempts to Silence Visiting Israeli LGBT Voices

March 14, 2012

Denying dialogue is a means to foster hate … By Melanie Nathan, 03/14/2012 In the midst of a visit to the West Coast by a delegation of Israeli LGBT leaders, is a small group of  US anti-Israel proponents determined to silence the visitors. Leading this effort to silence the equality activists from Israel is  an … More Seattle University Assistant Law Professor Attempts to Silence Visiting Israeli LGBT Voices

U.S. Federal Lawsuit Filed by Uganda Sexual Minorities Group vs Scott Lively

March 14, 2012

A Ugandan gay rights group filed suit against notorious American evangelist, Scott Lively, in federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, accusing him of violating international law by inciting the persecution of homosexuals in Uganda. According to an Article by Laurie Goodstein in the New York Times … More U.S. Federal Lawsuit Filed by Uganda Sexual Minorities Group vs Scott Lively

San Francisco Castro Vigil kicks off World Outrage at Gay, Emo, Goth Iraq Massacres

March 14, 2012

“Silence is Complicity! Today we urge the world to show solidarity against the murder of our children. By Melanie Nathan, 03/14/2012 Yes it is raining a much needed rain in San Francisco and with it brings greater tears as we hold a vigil today in the Castro,  starting at 4:00 PM. The group Gays Without … More San Francisco Castro Vigil kicks off World Outrage at Gay, Emo, Goth Iraq Massacres

Oslo Declaration on Criminal Prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure

March 13, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/13/2012 Groups working  around the world to end inappropriate criminal prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure, potential exposure and non-intentional transmission,  came together in Oslo, Norway on 13 February 2012 to create the Oslo Declaration on HIV Criminalization. The Declaration provides a clear roadmap for policymakers and criminal justice system actors to ensure a … More Oslo Declaration on Criminal Prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure

Iraqi Gay and Emo Murders San Francisco Castro to Hold Vigils Protesting

March 12, 2012

 No genocide in Iraq, Never Again! The World must scream – Americans have a great responsibility By Melanie Nathan, 03/12/2012 Up to a 100 gay and ‘Emo’ youth have been massacred in Iraq, some reports indicate it has been ordered and supported by police and state officials.”  The Government itself seems complicit and that has … More Iraqi Gay and Emo Murders San Francisco Castro to Hold Vigils Protesting

Horrific Reports of Emo and Gay Massacres in IRAQ and Bush Legacy

March 10, 2012

Is this the Free Iraq the U.S. Bush War Anticipated, noting his Administration’s participation in Sharia law included in IRAQI Constitution. See Petition – By Melanie Nathan, 03/10/2012, I never understood the Bush Iraq war. It never made sense to me. I always knew we were there under false pretenses, that George W. Bush had … More Horrific Reports of Emo and Gay Massacres in IRAQ and Bush Legacy

Will Ugandan David Bahati’s Political Aspiration Fool a Nation

March 10, 2012

Now while we abroad are screaming foul on behalf of the local LGBTI coalitions and community, we may well be playing into Bahati’s hands on a local level, as he has so much internal support we may actually be serving to enhance the unity. Yet I do believe still this could backfire as the more intelligent and less ambitious start to realize that this is nothing but the political aspirations of one man using an entire community to meet his needs. Maybe just maybe some local brave hero will expose him! Someone who is not afraid to display intellect and speak truth. … More Will Ugandan David Bahati’s Political Aspiration Fool a Nation

Anti-Gay Santorum and Gingrich Holding Hands with Organization of Islamic Cooperation

March 7, 2012

Geneva and United Nations Human Rights Council “Discrimination directed at people just because they were LGBT was a monumental stain on the collective conscience, and a violation of international law” – Ban Ki-Moon!  And so we fight for a President who is on the side of the International Declaration of Human Rights! Melanie Nathan, 03/07/2012 … More Anti-Gay Santorum and Gingrich Holding Hands with Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

March 6, 2012

Tomorrow the UN debates Human Rights for LGBT people By Melanie Nathan, 03/06/2012, For us in the USA, “gay rights” is associated with the debate over equality and is about whether LGBTI people should be allowed to marry, adopt, serve in the military, be subject to baseless firing from jobs. Yet others in the World … More Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

March 5, 2012

The threats gave the individuals, whose names and ages were listed, four days to stop their behavior or else face the wrath of God, and were to be carried out by the Mujahedin.
According to sources inside Iraq,as reported apparently by IGHLRC, as the result of this new surge of anti-gay violence close to 40 people have been kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered. … More Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

March 5, 2012

For the last 2,000 years, Christians have been taught to believe that Apostle Paul condemned homosexuality. But a new discovery documents that he deliberately acknowledged that it does not prevent anyone from entering heaven. This discovery by internationally acclaimed cryptographer Michael Wood removes the final barrier to full societal acceptance of gays and lesbians. … More Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

Cape Town With Love and Pride Pictures and Reflections

March 4, 2012

SOUTH AFRICA KEYNOTE SPEECH – CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2011 MELANIE NATHAN 03/02/2011 Greetings, comrades, lesbians, gays, queers, LGBTQI people, allies, and everyone in between. It is a great honor for me to be here tonight -thanks to my fellow bloggers, Marriage Equality USA MEUSA, and my family and friends back home in the US for … More Cape Town With Love and Pride Pictures and Reflections

IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

March 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/02/2012, Washington, D.C. – On February 24 and 25, 2012 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a meeting of independent experts on “Violence and Impunity against Lesbians, Gays, and Trans, Bisexual and Intersex Persons” (LGTBI). More than 20 experts attended the meeting organized by the IACHR under the auspices of … More IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive

February 29, 2012

Allegedly tested for HIV without consent, found positive and subsequently dismissed, detained and deported, a South African journalist is attempting to take his case against Qatar to the International Labour Organization (ILO) to change the country’s HIV travel and employment laws. … More South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive

Anti-Homosexuality Law in St. Petersburg Mobilizes International Gay Lesbian Community

February 29, 2012

Today, lawmakers in St. Petersburg adopted a bill that would impose fines of up to $16,700 for the “promotion of homosexuality.” The bill, if signed in to law by the City Governor in the next 14 days, will criminalize reading, writing, speaking or reporting on anything related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. … More Anti-Homosexuality Law in St. Petersburg Mobilizes International Gay Lesbian Community

Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

February 29, 2012

Speech at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva By Melanie Nathan, 02/29/2012 The Human Rights Council in Geneva  has heard it from Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations who  reiterated this week that homophobia is incompatible with Commonwealth values. This sends a signal from the top that persecution based on sexuality … More Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

February 28, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 02/28/2012, JOHANNESBURG -Great excitement hit the gay community in South Africa Monday, when the first ever gay Billboard went up in South Africa, near Melrose Arch on M1 South in Johannesburg. Much to the awe of the empowered LGBTI community in South Africa, the tone is set to ready the country for … More Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

February 27, 2012

“You see, the mere mention of benefits for same-sex couples on a website, or the mere mention of inclusion of LGBT people in corporate diversity hiring policies, are tantamount to the “promotion” of homosexuality in Uganda, under the AHB!” Melanie Nathan, 02/27/2012, Last week I received a phone call from the folks at Change.org asking … More Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

Ugandan President Museveni Warns Obama and Cameron on Promotion of Homosexuality

February 26, 2012

My Response to the Ugandan President’s London Interview as noted in Ugandan Daily Monitor. By Melanie Nathan, 02/26/2012 The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni says Uganda “does not persecute gays, but resents promotion of gay activities.” According to the Uganda Monitor, this is the first time the President, who was in London for a one-day … More Ugandan President Museveni Warns Obama and Cameron on Promotion of Homosexuality

Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell

February 26, 2012

Calling Leaders who believe in Justice and Equality Weak is direct insult to Mandela! Melanie Nathan, 02/26/2012 Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe ended his 88th birthday celebrations with a message for the youth of his country and the rest of Africa, asking them to shun Western values, homosexuality and greed. All this in the context of … More Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell