A Ugandan Member of Parliament Visits the Castro

Bridges between San Francisco and Kampala By Melanie Nathan, September 20, 2014. On the day that the majority of Ugandan Parliamentarians signed a petition to bring back the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), which had been invalidated by the court, one unexpected Member of Parliament made a disappointing about turn. Honorable Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, woman MP for … More A Ugandan Member of Parliament Visits the Castro

Why Human Rights Resolution of Chile’s UN Ambassador Includes All

The Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva explains why she is tabling a resolution this afternoon on the human rights of everyone regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity. The International Service for Human Rights is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights. We achieve this by supporting human rights defenders, … More Why Human Rights Resolution of Chile’s UN Ambassador Includes All

Applicant suing Nigerian Government to Nullify Anti-Gay Law Speaks out before Judgment

Judgment is being handed in a week – the Petitioner’s thoughts about the Judge and a message to fellow straight Nigerians Updated 9/25/2014.: The judgment in the case was postponed today until October 21, 2014. By Melanie Nathan, September 18, 2014. On Jan. 7 of this year, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the … More Applicant suing Nigerian Government to Nullify Anti-Gay Law Speaks out before Judgment

Nigerian LGBT Defenders Await Court Decision on Anti-Gay Law

By Melanie Nathan, September 17, 2014. Courageous Nigerian human rights defenders and the Nigerian LGBT community, in Nigeria and exile, anxiously await the outcome of Justice Abdu Kafarati ‘s ruling in the claim filed against the Federal Government in the Abuja High Court from earlier this year. The ruling will be handed down on September … More Nigerian LGBT Defenders Await Court Decision on Anti-Gay Law

Imminent Terror Attack Thwarted in Uganda

Uganda Arrests 19 Linked to ‘Imminent’ Terror Attack Ugandan security forces have thwarted a cell of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabaab insurgents apparently “planning for an imminent attack,” the US embassy said Saturday. Ugandan police arrested 19 people in connection with a foiled attack in central Kampala that the United States has said was hatched by Somali … More Imminent Terror Attack Thwarted in Uganda

Gays from The Gambia need Urgent humanitarian help

A President and His Tacit Call to Kill Gays with little to no help for survival By Melanie Nathan, September 09, 2014. Under The Gambian law Homosexual acts are punishable by up to 14 years to include men and woman. However now the law has bee amended to include so called “aggravated homosexuality” with terms … More Gays from The Gambia need Urgent humanitarian help

Transgender Woman Celebrates Win Against Discrimination and Harassment at Halfway House

Watch VIDEO | Lambda Legal and Transgender Woman Celebrate Successful Fight Against Discrimination and Harassment at Halfway House “It was like I have been living my life on mute, singing, screaming, and yelling and somebody finally pressed the mute button and someone heard me.” (Chicago, IL, September 4, 2014) – Today, Lambda Legal released a … More Transgender Woman Celebrates Win Against Discrimination and Harassment at Halfway House

Shocking Undercover Film Shows Cameroon A Homophobic Hotbed of Arrests

Watch as Short Film Exposes Severe Abuses and A Human Rights Disgrace By Melanie Nathan, August 27, 2014. Global Rights, Partners for Justice is doing work for LGBT Human Rights in Africa, bringing into focus the plight of gay people in Cameroon: “In Africa, homosexuality is illegal in 38 of the continent’s 54 countries and … More Shocking Undercover Film Shows Cameroon A Homophobic Hotbed of Arrests

Ugandan Member of Parliament to meet for Human Rights Town Hall in San Francisco

A Courageous and Critical Meeting to help USA LGBT Community Get an Insider’s Perspective San Francisco, August 26, 2014 – The San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute (SFALI) is pleased to announce a Town Hall Forum with Ugandan Member of Parliament, the Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, to be held at The San Francisco LGBT Community Center. … More Ugandan Member of Parliament to meet for Human Rights Town Hall in San Francisco

Happy Weeding Larry Griffin-Kentzel and John Kentzel-Griffin

Did I say weeding? Oops I meant to say wedding |   I thought it would be a wonderful gesture on my part to name these two lovely people as ‘Melanie’s revered persons of the week,’ under my newly launched ha ha ha category By Melanie Nathan, August 25, 2014. The oddest thing happened. Here is … More Happy Weeding Larry Griffin-Kentzel and John Kentzel-Griffin

Award Winning Nigerian Gay Activist Speaks Out Against NGO’s

By Melanie Nathan, August 24, 2014. After persecution in Africa, Davis Mac-Iyalla, a Nigerian, sought refuge and settled in the United Kingdom. A devout Anglican Christian, he lived and worked in Nigeria until he was forced to flee in 2006. He was one of the first Nigerian gay men to come out publically and has … More Award Winning Nigerian Gay Activist Speaks Out Against NGO’s

LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 21, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 21, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

Africa Business and Human Rights

When Business Gets down to the Business of Human Rights Key Stakeholders are excluded Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 20, 2014. “At the U.S.-Africa Business Forum this month, President Barack Obama announced $33 billion in new private and government investment in sub-Saharan Africa, including new projects within Africa’s energy, aviation and construction sectors. Such robust … More Africa Business and Human Rights

Urgent Petition to Save Another Ugandan Lesbian About to be deported from United Kingdom

URGENT PETITION – See link below-  Se updated note below By Melanie Nathan, August 19, 2104. An Ugandan lesbian may be deported on Friday, unless we act fast. When Burton Youth for Christ members found out that their trusted interned employee of 10 months was a lesbian, they suddenly turned on her, fearing that she … More Urgent Petition to Save Another Ugandan Lesbian About to be deported from United Kingdom

Maxim Martsinkevich the Russian Anti-Gay Terrorist gets 5 years

By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2014 According to LGBTQ Nation, the leader of the Russian anti-gay vigilante group “Occupy Pedophilia,” “who is alleged to have lured LGBT youth to abusive encounters through fake social media profiles, was sentenced Friday to five years in a Russian penal colony.” We had reported extensively here on OBLOGDEE about … More Maxim Martsinkevich the Russian Anti-Gay Terrorist gets 5 years

Did Archbishop Say Dont Harm Gays in Uganda for the Love of Money?

By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2014. Whereas the churches in Uganda have helmed the battle against gays, as triggered by the shenanigans of the likes of Scott Lively, an American fringe radical right Christian pastor, who tried to re-brand Christianity for the Ugandan Christian market and other global communities, now some may be turning toward … More Did Archbishop Say Dont Harm Gays in Uganda for the Love of Money?

LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 14, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 14, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration

By Melanie Nathan, August 12 2014, Israel has decided that the law of return includes non-Jewish same sex spouses. Directly form the Haaretz report: The Law of Return, which gives Diaspora Jews and non-Jewish family members the right to immigrate to Israel, also applies to legally married same-sex spouses, Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday. … More Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration

LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

Queer Nation and a bunch more of us demand Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  New York, NY (Aug. 11, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other Americans … More LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

Ugandan Attorney General Appeals Anti-Homosexuality Act Court Ruling

By Melanie Nathan, August 08, 2014. The Attorney General of Uganda has filed a Notice of Appeal in an attempt to reverse the Constitutional Court of Uganda’s judgment which voided the Anti Homosexuality Act. Advocates, who won the case, and were awarded 50% of the costs and are now preparing to fight the appeal all … More Ugandan Attorney General Appeals Anti-Homosexuality Act Court Ruling

Did Yoweri Museveni Hire a US Lobby firm to Improve his Image in the West

OK LOL – seriously? Is that how dictators hold on these days?  I wonder how those poor women who have sold themselves into prostitution to feed their kids feel about THIS allocation of funds?  If I am wrong please let me know…. By Melanie Nathan, AUG 06, 2014, I have unconfirmed reports that President Yoweri … More Did Yoweri Museveni Hire a US Lobby firm to Improve his Image in the West

Official Ugandan Constitutional Court Ruling Killing the Anti-Homosexuality Act for Now

By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2014. One can expect that if a Parliament fails to follow basic protocol and procedure and passionate local and International law experts get together using activists as Plaintiff’s, it is unlikely that the law will withstand the test of Constitutionality. That is what happened in the case of the Ugandan … More Official Ugandan Constitutional Court Ruling Killing the Anti-Homosexuality Act for Now

Activists Protest Jamaican Homophobia

First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaica’s Buggery Law –  in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom NEW YORK – On the 52nd anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from the United Kingdom, human rights activists renew their calls for the repeal of that country’s buggery law, which effectively criminalizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender … More Activists Protest Jamaican Homophobia

Betrayed by Obama – Museveni in OUR White House

BY MELANIE NATHAN, AUGUST 05, 2014.   BETRAYAL BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FIRST LADY! My Message to President Obama:  WTF!……. PRESIDENT Obama – I have been a huge supporter of yours. Where are your principles?  – You and the First Lady have now welcomed this gay hating corrupt dictator into OUR White House! “On … More Betrayed by Obama – Museveni in OUR White House

First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaican Homophobia

CALL TO ACTION and  ADVISORY – Activists in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom Protest Jamaica’s Buggery Law By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2014. NEW YORK – On August 6, human rights activists from across the globe will protest against the Jamaican government’s continuing inaction on repealing the anti-LGBT buggery law. There will … More First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaican Homophobia

Reality Check As Uganda Court Rules Against Anti-Homosexuality Act

This article First appeared on HUFFPO Gay Voices on AUG 0.1, 2014   Article First appeared on HUFFPO Gay Voices on AUG 0.1, 2014 By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2014. Today, in a packed Constitutional Court in Kampala, Uganda, a panel of five Justices ruled unanimously that The Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 (AHA,) is unconstitutional. … More Reality Check As Uganda Court Rules Against Anti-Homosexuality Act

Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

Jubilation as the  the Ugandan Court agreed – the AHA is Unconstitutional ! Well done to the Plaintiffs.  Congratulations to the Plaintiff team for your extraordinary courage and your resolve and the credit must go to all those who worked so hard on every front, especially the hard work of the extraordinary legal team – … More Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy

The pink triangle parallel between Nazi Germany and Africa’s Anti-Gay climate By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2014. For me this was a very special San Francisco pride. I had the great honor to be appointed by the San Francisco Pride Board as community grand marshal, in recognition of my global LGBT activism, especially for criminalized … More Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy