Category: CULTURE

Targeting United States Senators complicit with Evangelicals in the export of hate to Uganda to Kill the Gays

November 26, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 26, 2012. Campaign against United States Senators Complicit with Evangelicals in the export of hate to Uganda to kill and imprison gays and lesbians. Americans who believe in the human right to freedom of sexuality, freedom of religion and the equal right to happiness must hold The Family and participating United … More Targeting United States Senators complicit with Evangelicals in the export of hate to Uganda to Kill the Gays

Ugandan President Museveni and Scott Lively Play Gay

November 24, 2012

DECLARING UGANDA A CHRISTIAN NATION IN PREPARATION FOR THE ANTI-GAY -KILL THE GAYS- BILL By Melanie Nathan, November 24, 2012. On October 9 Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda had a moment playing God. He declared Uganda cleansed of all its sins.  And now by a stroke of the despots pray all but one ill … More Ugandan President Museveni and Scott Lively Play Gay

Nigeria poised to Jail the Gays in defiance of Nelson Mandela

November 16, 2012

” Madiba, your time in prison was without any lesson to us, to the rest of Africa,  we the Nigerians are giving you the finger!” By Melanie Nathan, November 16, 2012. Nigeria is about to pass legislation that will provide for the arrest, conviction and jailing of all its gay and lesbian people. What lessons … More Nigeria poised to Jail the Gays in defiance of Nelson Mandela

Sudan blames gay teen sex for AIDS

November 14, 2012

Sudan’s government blamed gay school sex for rising HIV infection rates, while the opposition slam leaders for promoting homosexuality and AIDS by Dan Littauer, 14 November 2012 Teenagers sodomizing younger boys at school is apparently the ‘reason’ for the rapid rise of HIV cases in Sudan’s youth, according to a report broadcasted by the country’s … More Sudan blames gay teen sex for AIDS

South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

November 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 01, 2012. My alma mater, The University of the Witwatersrand, and the University attended by Nelson Mandela, is hosting ‘Wits Pride,’ a week long event designed to create awareness and educate students about crimes motivated by hate against the LGBTI community in South African. Marchers sang with scathing critique, pointing fingers … More South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

Kuwait Police Target Transgender People with Eleven Jailed

October 30, 2012

Eleven transgender people arrested in Kuwait morality campaign  -and counting, as even private parties are not safe. On 10 December 2007, the Kuwaiti parliament passed a bill proposed by Islamic MPs that amended article 198 of penal code so that anyone ‘imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex’ could be jailed for … More Kuwait Police Target Transgender People with Eleven Jailed

Ugandans Watch as Shamed Anti-Gay Criminal Pastors Start Ridiculous Sentence

October 16, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, October 16, 2012. Pastors Michael Kyazze and Robert Kayiira today began their community service sentence as guidance counselors, administering voluntary counseling and testing to the Youth on issues including HIV and AIDS. However while we applaud the guilty findings, the sentences are a joke. The punishment was handed down to three Pastors, … More Ugandans Watch as Shamed Anti-Gay Criminal Pastors Start Ridiculous Sentence

Lesbian Mom Answers Oprah Hurt Me to Oprah’s Weekly Lifeclass Question

October 7, 2012

Oprah Invites Rick Warren to teach Lifeclass – “Oprah perhaps you do not understand the extent to which LGBT Americans are impacted by the denial of our basic civil rights,” Melanie Nathan By Melanie Nathan, Oct 07, 2012. That lesbian mom is me. Oprah’s Lifeclass site asks its usual weekly question  “Are you hurting an … More Lesbian Mom Answers Oprah Hurt Me to Oprah’s Weekly Lifeclass Question

South African Gay Flag Becomes First in World to be Recognized as official National Symbol

October 6, 2012

Despite Homophobia South Africa is a World leader for LGBTI Rights – Constitutional Equality ‘flagged’ by the fight vs. homophobia By Melanie Nathan Oct 06, 2012. The South African government has announced in the official Government Gazette that Gay Flag of South Africa has been approved and accepted as South Africa’s official gay flag (an … More South African Gay Flag Becomes First in World to be Recognized as official National Symbol

Tutu Calls for Bush Blair Prosecutions | A Reminder of Romney Campaign Audacity

September 2, 2012

South Africa’s Tutu boycotts seminar in anti-Blair protest By Melanie Nathan, September 02, 2012 While many in the United States are contemplating the possibility of another Republican led government, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, wants to hold Republican life and thought responsible for the hundreds of thousands of preemptive deaths in Iraq. Nobel Peace Prize … More Tutu Calls for Bush Blair Prosecutions | A Reminder of Romney Campaign Audacity

South African Pastor Blames Mine Massacre on Gays

August 22, 2012

Errol Naidoo’s blame on gays will not fall well! By Melanie Nathan, August 22, 2012 A conservative Christian minister in South Africa has taken a leaf out of the book of U.S. deceased Evangelical Jerry Falwell and  blamed the horrific massacre of South African Miners by police witnessed last week at the Marikana platinum mine … More South African Pastor Blames Mine Massacre on Gays

Human Rights Watch Reports Ugandan Government’s Increasing Harassment of LGBT NGO’s

August 21, 2012

BY MELANIE NATHAN, AUGUST 21, 2012. In a report released today, Human Rights watch (HRW) asserts that research and advocacy organizations in Uganda which deal with controversial topics are facing increasing harassment by Uganda’s government. Groups have recently faced forced closure of meetings, threats, harassment, arrest, and punitive bureaucratic interference. The 50-page report, “Curtailing Criticism: … More Human Rights Watch Reports Ugandan Government’s Increasing Harassment of LGBT NGO’s

Vietnam Considers Law for Same-Sex Unions

July 29, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 29,2012. I have always thought of  the Vietnamese as pragmatists when it comes to the law. Associated Press is reporting that the Vietnamese are considering the possibility of registering unions for same-sex couples. Homosexuality is a sensitive subject in Vietnam, as in most Asian countries, yet the Ministry of Justice has … More Vietnam Considers Law for Same-Sex Unions

Gays can defeat Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy employing true American Values

July 29, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 29, 2012 By now you have all read that the inventors of the chicken sandwich, Chick-Fil-A, have gone cuckoo, with clucked anti-gay cluck by owner Dan Cathy, who said the company was “guilty as charged” in its stance against same-sex marriage and equality.  He made  gay-hate comments which fueled protests by … More Gays can defeat Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy employing true American Values

President Bill Clinton & Chelsea Visit Nelson Mandela for 94th Birthday

July 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 19, 2012. Former United States President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea visited former South African President Nelson Mandela this week to celebrate  Mandela’s 94th birthday at the ANC and anti-apartheid  icon’s home in his childhood village. Clinton spent two hours inside Mandela’s family compound in Qunu, the picturesque village where Mandela … More President Bill Clinton & Chelsea Visit Nelson Mandela for 94th Birthday

Where Law Meets Reality |Forging African Traditional Justice

July 13, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 13, 2012.If anyone would like to review this for my BLOG, please let me know. I have yet to read it. It looks like an important topic that we could all learn a lot from, especially the context of LGBTI lives. I wonder if it makes reference to LGBTI issues at … More Where Law Meets Reality |Forging African Traditional Justice

The Castro Gives ‘Call Me Kuchu’ Historic Standing Ovation

June 20, 2012

By Melanie Nathan. June 20, 2012. Never in the history of a Frameline Film Festival has there been a solid five minute standing ovation following the screening of a film. Such was the resounding applause from the Castro community for the brilliant “Call Me Kuchu,” as its filmmakers Malika Zouhali-Worral, Katherine Fairfax Wright, together with … More The Castro Gives ‘Call Me Kuchu’ Historic Standing Ovation

South Africa Democratic Alliance Party Mocks South African LGBTI Protests to Protect Rights

May 22, 2012

DA Party Manny de Freitas calls protests Gay Pride Parade and Helen Zille remains silent by Melanie Nathan, May 22, 2012. Pursuant to nationwide protests in South Africa this weekend, the opposing Democratic Alliance (DA) party has failed to issue any official  press statement in support of the South African LGBTI community which held events … More South Africa Democratic Alliance Party Mocks South African LGBTI Protests to Protect Rights

South African Photographer Zanele Muholi Revisited

May 18, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, May 18, 2012. Here are two articles I wrote about Zanele Muholi, the famed lesbian artist, photographer and filmmaker, from 2010 and 2011 respectively. Now that Zanele Muholi has had her work stolen by a thief who removed 20 hard drives from her apartment, I decided to republish these pieces here. For … More South African Photographer Zanele Muholi Revisited

South African LGBTI Coalition Organizes Nationwide Marches to Protect the Constitution

May 16, 2012

This is about protecting the Constitution for ALL South Africans and so whether LGBTI or not, all South Africans should participate. By Melanie Nathan, May 16, 2012. A powerful and unified coalition of South African LGBTI groups have formed to promote nationwide marches to protest the House of Traditional Leaders to Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee … More South African LGBTI Coalition Organizes Nationwide Marches to Protect the Constitution

Outrageous Interview with South Africa ANC’s Patekile Holomisa Indicates Homophobia

May 13, 2012

Holomisa is saying that LGBTI people should not be protected by the Constitution because some people believe they are not entitled to those rights. He is forgetting that thinking is the very reason why their rights are so protected.

What remains is the question of what next – while traditionalists ought to have a voice in South Africa’s Parliament, they should be banned from sitting on committees where they have an inherent conflict of interest. Which means they should be excused from serving in positions where they risk impacting the entrenched rights of minorities such as gays, lesbians etc. … More Outrageous Interview with South Africa ANC’s Patekile Holomisa Indicates Homophobia

South African Lesbian Activist Photographer Zanele Muholi Loses Major Work in Burglary

May 12, 2012

Please Help my friend  find  her stolen work – What Zanele has lost is a body of history that is irreplaceable – “I have dedicated my life to this work,” Zanele Muholi. By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2012. “Loss, lost, violated, ripped, stripped, ransacked… ngilahlekelwe,” are the devastating words that appear on the Facebook page … More South African Lesbian Activist Photographer Zanele Muholi Loses Major Work in Burglary

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

California Braces for Prop 8 Ruling | List of Pro Same-sex Marriage Events

February 6, 2012

Breaking News Prop 8 Ruling TOMORROW morning | Events Planned . February 6th, 2012 COMMUNITY EVENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO ON DAY NINTH CIRCUIT ANNOUNCES PROP 8 DECISION Please join same-sex couples, LGBTIQ people, friends, family, and clergy for 2 events on the day that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announces its decision regarding Proposition … More California Braces for Prop 8 Ruling | List of Pro Same-sex Marriage Events

Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

February 3, 2012

For White House Briefing:- Young leaders note, I encourage all concerned with LGBT rights in America and globally to consider the question of  the criminalization of being gay as it impacts our LGBTI brothers and sisters and gender free persons on the continent of Africa…. Melanie Nathan by Melanie Nathan, 02/03/2012 Black History Month is … More Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

South Africa Lesbian Killers| Zoliswa Gets Justice at Last

February 1, 2012

Lesbian Murderers Receive 18 years and Magistrate sets hate crimes acknowledgment precedent by Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2012. A cheer rang out and the crowd sang and danced outside the Khayelitsha Courthouse, Cape Town, South Africa, the scene of over thirty postponements in a murder trial that shocked the world, taking five years to meter … More South Africa Lesbian Killers| Zoliswa Gets Justice at Last