Author: Melanie Nathan

Global news drenched in Activism

Ugandan First Lady Accused of ‘backing homophobic smear campaign’ against Rivals

July 15, 2011

 07/15/2011, Article by Paul Canning, United Kingdom, The fanatical evangelical Christian First Lady of Uganda, Janet Museveni, has been named in a Ugandan court as a participant in a homophobic smear campaign. Mrs Museveni was referred to in evidence as a backer of smear tactics using sodomy accusations against Robert Kayanja, a ‘prosperity evangelist’ Christian … More Ugandan First Lady Accused of ‘backing homophobic smear campaign’ against Rivals

Gov. Jerry Brown signs LGBT Inclusive Landmark Education Bill into Law

July 14, 2011

July 07, 2011, Melanie Nathan The FAIR Education Act ensures that the historical contributions of LGBT people and the disability community are accurately and fairly portrayed in instructional materials.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown today signed the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Act, authored by Senator Mark Leno. The bill ensures that the … More Gov. Jerry Brown signs LGBT Inclusive Landmark Education Bill into Law

Binational Spouse Obtains Deportation Reprieve from San Francisco Immigration Judge

July 13, 2011

July 13, 2011, Posted by Melanie Nathan, SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This morning in San Francisco, Doug Gentry and Alex Benshimol — a married binational same-sex couple — appeared before Immigration Judge Marilyn Teeter for a deportation hearing and were permitted to remain in the country despite the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law … More Binational Spouse Obtains Deportation Reprieve from San Francisco Immigration Judge

Congratulations Equality Ally Janice Hahn Elected to Congress

July 13, 2011

July 13, 2011, Melanie Nathan Yesterday, Equality California Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed candidate Janice Hahn was elected to represent California’s 36th Congressional District. (Los Angeles).  Democrat Janice Hahn defeated Republican Craig Huey to win Tuesday’s special election to fill an open U.S. House seat from California. Hahn, a Los Angeles City councilwoman, won … More Congratulations Equality Ally Janice Hahn Elected to Congress

Esteemed Blogger, Mika Stefano in Bed with Gay Flag of South Africa

July 13, 2011

Eugene Brockman Designer of Flag The team behind the Gay Flag of South Africa (Designer Eugene Press release from Gay Flag S.A.  – Permission to cross post granted to all and use of Photo. Brockman and his partner Henry Bantjez) are glad to report that Mika Stefano will be joining the team of the Gay … More Esteemed Blogger, Mika Stefano in Bed with Gay Flag of South Africa

Senator Patrick Leahy Announces DOMA Repeal Hearing

July 12, 2011

July 12, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, Today, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that would overturn DOMA, scheduled for Wednesday July 20th. The hearing will be the first time Congress has heard testimony on legislation that would end federal marriage … More Senator Patrick Leahy Announces DOMA Repeal Hearing

Ohio Supreme Court Rules Against Lesbian Partner of Biological Mother

July 12, 2011

July 12, 2011,  by Melanie Nathan, The Supreme Court of Ohio today upheld lower court rulings that a biological mother who acknowledged her same-sex partner as a “co-parent” of her daughter while the two women were in a relationship did not permanently give up her sole custody of the child to create legal shared custody … More Ohio Supreme Court Rules Against Lesbian Partner of Biological Mother

Local Christians to Protest Hate Group’s Cosponsorship of Gov. Perry’s Prayer Assembly

July 11, 2011

 July 11, 2011, Melanie Nathan Fort Worth, TX – Not all mainline Christian churches in Texas are happy with Rick Perry’s plan to co-sponsor a prayer assembly in Houston on Saturday, August 6. Fort Worth First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, voted unanimously in a congregational meeting on Sunday, July 10, to endorse congregants’ … More Local Christians to Protest Hate Group’s Cosponsorship of Gov. Perry’s Prayer Assembly

Deportation of Uganda Gay Robert Segwanyi deferred as about to Board Plane

July 11, 2011

July 11, 2011, Posted by Melanie Nathan, Article by Paul Canning: The removal of Ugandan gay asylum seeker Robert Segwanyi was tonight “deferred” at the last minute. He had been moved today to a Heathrow ‘removal centre’ for an early morning 11 July flight to Kampala.  The deferment comes after the last minute intervention of … More Deportation of Uganda Gay Robert Segwanyi deferred as about to Board Plane

Groups Call on FIFA to Condemn Homophobia on “Day Against Discrimination”

July 11, 2011

Melanie Nathan, July 11, 2011, The international gay rights pressure group AllOut.org has called for FIFA to publicly condemn homophobia in league play, starting with a full investigation of head Nigerian Football Coach, Eucharia Uche, for her homophobic coaching policies documented last week in the New York Times and earlier this year in the Nigerian … More Groups Call on FIFA to Condemn Homophobia on “Day Against Discrimination”

Watch Video Banned by MTV – first Gay and Lesbian Youth Talkline PSA

July 10, 2011

July 10, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, Los Angles, 1988  the gay scene buzzed with “Perfect”, aerobics in West Hollywood, cocaine was cool, the Gay pride Parade a phenomenon and lipstick lesbians reinventing woman-queer on one side of the Palms while dykes intrigued from the other end! At the time I was dabbling in media, playing … More Watch Video Banned by MTV – first Gay and Lesbian Youth Talkline PSA

NOM Rally for Hate in New York against Same-Sex Marriage

July 9, 2011

Whining about “lost” rights – the anti-gay group NOM simply cannot stand that Equality is an American value! So they have decided to protest  same-sex marriages  which will start in New York  State on July 24th. Imagine the thinking my equality is Maggie Gallaghers’s lost right! Via Joe My God: “NOM has announced that it … More NOM Rally for Hate in New York against Same-Sex Marriage

Gillard Government blocks Marriages of Gay Australians in New York.

July 9, 2011

July 09, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, When New York state’s new equal marriage law takes effect on July 27th same-sex couples from other countries will be able to marry there if they provide a Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage (CNI) to show they are not already married in their home country. But the Australian Government refuses … More Gillard Government blocks Marriages of Gay Australians in New York.

UK to Deport Uganda Gay Man, Robert Segwanyi, despite Torture and Risk to his Life

July 8, 2011

July 08, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, On June 20, 2010, Robert Segwanyi fled Uganda, seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, weeks after having been tortured for ‘homosexuality.’ Indicative of  arbitrary verdicts, broken systems, and the inadequacies of  refugee status/ asylum laws in the United Kingdom and across the world, the UK Border Agency has made … More UK to Deport Uganda Gay Man, Robert Segwanyi, despite Torture and Risk to his Life

BREAKING:- Log Cabin Republicans v. U.S.A. Stay Order Lifted – DADT

July 6, 2011

July 06, 2011, Posted by Melanie NathanBREAKING-  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers United, the nation’s largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, today enthusiastically applauded the order issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting its own stay of a lower court’s injunction barring enforcement of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. This … More BREAKING:- Log Cabin Republicans v. U.S.A. Stay Order Lifted – DADT

London Pride: Politicians MIA, the SA Gay Flag and More

July 6, 2011

July 06, 2011,  by Melanie Nathan (USA)  and Henry Bantjez (SA), One million or more took part in the annual Pride Parade through London today, through streets lined with curious onlookers.  This year, unlike in the past, the march took place around the old BBC building in Portland Place, going down from there to Oxford … More London Pride: Politicians MIA, the SA Gay Flag and More

South African Lesbian Photographer Activist: Zanele Muholi’s Exhibits New Portraits

July 6, 2011

July 06, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, Inkanyiso brings together three new bodies of photographic work: new portraits in the ongoing series Faces and Phases (2010-11); Beulahs (2007-10) and Transfigures (2010-11), and the documentary Difficult Love (2010). As always, Muholi is upfront about her agenda as an activist, seeking to educate the viewer on ‘the complexities … More South African Lesbian Photographer Activist: Zanele Muholi’s Exhibits New Portraits

NCLR Summer Tour – Events Across the Continent

July 6, 2011

July 06, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, In support of NCLR, National Center for Lesbian Rights, I am highlighting their program for their summer tour. NCLR will advocate, legislate and educate, as the case may be – to ensure the rights of the entire LGBTI community.  I am proud to recommend the following events, overseen by … More NCLR Summer Tour – Events Across the Continent

Same-Sex Marriage License Applications Available for NYC Couples

July 5, 2011

07/05/20011, by Melanie Nathan As of today the New York Times reports that the marriage license application form, in the City of New York,  still asks for the “groom info” and “bride info.”  However that is not likely to stop a whopping $140 million dollar surge (estimated) for the City as it braces for the … More Same-Sex Marriage License Applications Available for NYC Couples

LGBT Inclusive Education Bill Passes California Assembly

July 5, 2011

July 05, 2011,  Melanie Nathan SACRAMENTO – The FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Act, authored by Senator Mark Leno, passed the Assembly today with a 49-25 vote. The bill ensures that the historical contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are accurately and fairly portrayed in instructional materials by adding LGBT … More LGBT Inclusive Education Bill Passes California Assembly

South Africa Corrective Rape Task Force Helms Hate Crimes Reform

July 3, 2011

July 03, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, Early in 2010, I started covering the stories of women in the South African Townships, who were raped by men seeking to “correct” the fact that they were lesbians, touting that rape would change the sexuality of the victim.  I never believed that these brutal crimes ever truly earned the … More South Africa Corrective Rape Task Force Helms Hate Crimes Reform

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Signs Marriage Equality Act into Law – Asking Obama to go Cuomo on DOMA!

June 24, 2011

June 24, 2011, by Melanie Nathan In thirty days same-sex couples will be able to marry in New York State.  The  Marriage equality Bill was signed into law today mere hours after it was passed by the New York State Senate, in a 33 to 29 vote, exceeding the swing by more than the expected … More New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Signs Marriage Equality Act into Law – Asking Obama to go Cuomo on DOMA!

Reactions to Passage of Marriage Equality Act in New York

June 24, 2011

June 24, 2011, Melanie Nathan  Today, the color changed on the Empire State Building – it became a rainbow! The New York State Senate passed the Marriage Equality Act, a bill that extends the right to marry to same-sex couples, in 33-29 vote.  The bill was previously approved by the New York State Assembly and … More Reactions to Passage of Marriage Equality Act in New York

New York State Senate Passes Cuomo Same-Sex Marriage Bill

June 24, 2011

June 24, 2011, by Melanie Nathan Amidst concern that it would never come to a vote the great State of New York just passed a roll call signalling that  the Governor Cuomo led Marriage Equality Bill.  The New York Assembly passed the state’s marriage equality bill on June 15th by a vote of 80-63, paving … More New York State Senate Passes Cuomo Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Calling on President Obama to Stand up for Full Marriage Equality Now

June 23, 2011

June 24, 2011, Melanie Nathan, The venue and current battle ground for marriage equality is New York State and as it happens, President Barack Obama is in New York  fundraising for the Democratic National Committee (DNC).  The Mammoth in the room is marriage equality, in New York, specifically, because the President is present and has … More Calling on President Obama to Stand up for Full Marriage Equality Now

California Assembly Education Committee Passes Landmark LGBT Education Bill

June 23, 2011

June 24,2011, by Melanie Nathan Legislation sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network aims to stop discriminatory education and promote school safety Sacramento – Yesterday a bill that would require schools to fairly and accurately portray the historic contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in social science instruction passed the Assembly Education … More California Assembly Education Committee Passes Landmark LGBT Education Bill

Bilerico Piece: Melanie Nathan’s Final Weeks at Fraudulent ‘Lez Get Real’

June 15, 2011

Posted by Melanie Nathan, Written by Adam Polaski | June 14, 2011 6:30 PM For two and a half years, LGBT activist and blogger Melanie Nathan had been working with Paula Brooks as an editor of Lez Get Real. But less than three weeks ago, Nathan resigned from her position at the website. She was … More Bilerico Piece: Melanie Nathan’s Final Weeks at Fraudulent ‘Lez Get Real’

Paula Brooks from LezGetReal is a Man – Straight Man Fraud in the Lesbian World

June 13, 2011

Melanie Nathan – June 13, 2011 – 4.50 pm Paula Brooks is  BILL and Bill may be MacMaster or a member of the military or security professional! I have been a co-owner on LezGetReal and paid for the site LGR for two years. I left the site because I believed that Amina “the Gay Gal … More Paula Brooks from LezGetReal is a Man – Straight Man Fraud in the Lesbian World

Lesbian Survives Brutal Stabbing to Become Hero vs Hate

June 11, 2011

06/11/2011, by Melanie Nathan, Crossroads Informal Settlement, Cape Town; Nxolo Nkosana (23) is spending an angry yet terrifying night in her home as she deals with wounds, pain and trauma of a vicious attack on her life.  She was walking home on the evening of May 10th with her partner and a few friends when … More Lesbian Survives Brutal Stabbing to Become Hero vs Hate