FROM: CALIFORNIANS FOR THE ARTS Both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have returned to their work in Washington, DC in a “lame duck session” following an election. Current reporting indicates that despite the spiking COVID-19 rates, and the year-end conclusion to many of the relief programs they approved in March, leaders in Congress are … More CALIFORNIANS FOR THE ARTS Call to Action on COVID Reflief
Bard College announced today the appointment of Tania El Khoury as Distinguished Artist in Residence of Theater and Performance and Ziad Abu-Rish as Visiting Associate Professor of Human Rights. Together they will lead a pioneering Master of Arts program in Human Rights and the Arts, planned to commence in Fall 2021. Designed by Bard’s Human … More Bard College Announces Leads for New M.A. Program in Human Rights and the Arts
African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) is pleased to partner with our friends at ALIGHT for the ongoing OUR KITCHEN TABLE initiative. Together with the LGBTI community in Kenya, we are collaborating through this programming in our joint quest to mitigate the hardships that the COVID-19 Pandemic is bringing to LGBTI refugees in Kenya, to support safe shelter, food and hygiene needs … More Fun-Filled Event at the Heart of Alight, AHRC and Refugee LGBTI Community Alliance in COVID-19 Response
Dear Friends, African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC) is proud to announce its partnership with California Film Institute (CFI) for the upcoming free community impact and educational screening of the award-winning feature documentary Unsettled: Seeking Refuge in America, in Marin County, California. You are invited to the screening! Bay Area filmmaker Tom Shepard’s powerful new documentary tells the untold stories … More CFI Hosts Educational and Community Screening in Marin of Award Winning Documentary UNSETTLED
Frameline, presenter of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the world’s largest and longest-running queer film festival, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Woolley as Executive Director. Woolley brings with him over a decade’s worth of film festival management experience, most recently as the Head of Marketing and Customer Relations at the … More Frameline Announces New Executive Director
Ella Holmes White, an American born in 1856, boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her maid Amelia Bissette and manservant Sante Ringhini. She travelled first class sharing a cabin with Marie Young. They also brought along some exotic French-bred chickens, intending to keep them at their New York country home. White and her maid were rescued … More Guernsey Auction of Secret Electric Cane Sheds Light on Same-Sex Relationship
A solo play about saving one’s own life: “The problem is women. They’re bloody everywhere.” That’s what Fiona Goodwin – a very British, hilariously funny, middle-aged lesbian – has discovered and recounts in her one-hour, one-woman play. Fiona’s shows will be on in Edinburgh and London during July: Dates and ticket links here. https://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/edinburgh-preview-a-very-british-lesbian/ Fiona Goodwin, the … More A Very British Lesbian Comes to Marin
Theater on the Cusp presents “Love & Pride” – a new musical that turns the conversation on gender, sex, and sexuality on its head – Support Queer Theatre- See discount code below! San Francisco, CA – Theater on the Cusp presents Love & Pride at the EXIT Theatre for an 8-show run. This will be the 4th production in … More “Love & Pride” a New Musical in San Francisco – Link to Discount Tickets
County Fair Theme for 2019: Over the Moon! Celebrate the anniversary of the first lunar landing July 3-7 in San Rafael San Rafael, CA – The 2019 Marin County Fair will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing with the theme Over the Moon! during its festive run July 3-7 at the Marin County … More Over the Moon with Marin County Fair 2019
The early box office success, and swift criticism, of the Queen biopic movie Bohemian Rhapsody, is also attracting interest in Freddie Mercury’s African roots: The country of his birth, may not only have failed to embrace him, but most certainly would have persecuted him through its criminalization of homosexuality and bisexuality. Freddy mercury was born in … More Could Freddy Mercury have been the Voice for Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Africa
As the Nation Rallies to Raise Awareness for Sexual Violence, A team of Filmmakers Launch a Unique Project hoping to Change the Law for Domestic Violence. JENNIFER, 42 Kickstarter Campaign: SEE IT HERE! (Brooklyn, NY, October 1, 2018) An unusual theme for an animated movie, domestic violence is at the center of the hybrid feature film … More Filmmakers Poised to Impact Change for Domestic Violence Laws
For fear that some LGBTI people may show up?- Well that in truth is what it boils down to! Using gays as scapegoats again is a basic human rights infraction. I do not think the Ugandan people will fall for this ploy… Uganda’s misguided minister for ethics and integrity, Simon Lokodo, who is obsessed with what … More Uganda Bans Popular International Music and Art Festival Blames it on the Gays
Experience the Spirit Nest! Here’s an update on volunteer opportunities and events: Following the initial Story on this blog – ART A FIRE DANGER REMINDER: “A County of Marin sponsored art installation, now under construction in San Rafael, will serve as an eye-catching reminder about the always-present danger of wildfire for Marin County….” UPDATE with … More Marin County Art Installation Spirit Nest Volunteers and Events
If you fly from the West Coast of the united Sates to South Africa, like me, you have probably spent many hours at Heathrow Airport. I report this with great PRIDE! Heathrow has embraced the colors of the rainbow in celebration of Pride in London and commissioned a unique interpretation of the iconic flag, created … More Heathrow Airport Did Something Stunning for Pride
Fifty voices in a unique and most important reflection on LGBTQ! Do not miss the LA Premiere of Between the Shades – At Dances with Films and Chinese Theatre Hollywood Between the Shades is a documentary by filmmaker Jill Salvino and features 50+ voices, among them: Beth Malone (of Broadway’s Fun Home & Angels in America), … More Tickets for Los Angeles Premiere of Between the Shades
On its road to acclaim, the new LGBTQI documentary, Between the Shades, has been given a weekend block to premier at The Soho International Film Festival. The film, premiering at the New York venue on June 17th, examines the immense power of labels and the transcendence of love, while putting faces to the letters that … More LGBTQI Documentary to Premiere at Soho International Film Festival.
Festivals, Events, and Exhibitions this Winter and Fall for LGBT Travellers Posted by Melanie Nathan, October, 01, 2015. PHILADELPHIA, October 1, 2015 – A welcoming and diverse destination that celebrates its LGBT pride every day, Philadelphia offers a range of cultural and social events perfect for gay and lesbian travelers this fall. Highlights: OutFest, the … More A Lot of Fun for LGBT Travelers to Philadelphia
The festival is in partnership with Outfest, and presented by HBO – Runs October 22-27 Posted by Melanie Nathan, September 21, 2015. New York, NY (September 21, 2015) – NewFest, in partnership with Outfest, today announced the lineup of their 27th annual celebration of the year’s best LGBT films from around the world. The program of nearly 100 … More New York LGBT Newfest Film Festival Announces Lineup
Family Equality Council®and COLAGE Set For Family Week, 2014 | Event Brings LGBTQ Parents & Families Together in Provincetown, MA July 26 to August 2 Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 14, 2014. Family Equality Council®, the national organization which represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer in the … More Gearing up for LGBT Family Week 2014
Official SF Pride Mainstage Speaker line-up: Janet Mock – Roberta Kaplan – Melanie Nathan , and MC – Marga Gomez and Liam Mayclem June 2014, San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committee is excited to announce the 44th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration (SF Pride), … More Official San Francisco Pride 2014 Mainstage Speakers Announced
By Melaie Nathan, May 10, 2014 Congratulations Queen Conchita the Eurovision winner for Austria’s victory – its a first in 48 years! And she won despite Ukraine and Russian attempts to ban the bearded drag artist. The 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria and Conchita Wurst. Her entry ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ … More Eurovision Win by Drag Artist is an F U to HOMOPHOBE PUTIN
Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative Art for Social Change | Zanele Muholi and Gabrielle Le Roux Posted by Melanie Nathan, January, 23, 2014. The Wits Art Museum, ( The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa) in partnership with Wits Centre for Diversity Studies and Inkanyiso, is proud to announce the exhibition Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative … More Important Queer and Trans Art Exhibit at Wits
LGBT Rights Group Again Targets Conductor Linked to Putin By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2013. New York, NY (October 9, 2013) — In the latest in a series of high-profile protests against the Russian government’s anti-gay laws, Queer Nation will stage a demonstration at Carnegie Hall on October 10. The target of the protest is … More Queer Nation to Protest Russian Conductor at Carnegie Hall
Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Eleanor Holmes Norton revisit their part in the Anti-Apartheid movement at the unveiling of the Mandela Statue in Washington D.C. By Melanie Nathan, October 01, 2013 A statue commemorating former South African President Nelson Mandela was unveiled last week at an historic ceremony in front of the South African Embassy in … More Mandela stands tall in Washington D.C. with 2 U.S. Congresswomen
ZANELE MUHOLI | VISUAL ACTIVISM AND BLACK LESBIAN VISIBILITY IN SOUTH AFRICA By Melanie Nathan, September 17, 2013. Award winning South African lesbian artist and activist Zanele Muholi will appear with her works at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to discuss her visual activism, her work with the queer media collective Inkayiso, her … More Famed South African Lesbian Visual Activist to Present at Los Angeles LGBT Center
Press Release: Contact Melanie Nathan: nathan@privatecourts.com Dated: September 05, 2013. https://www.facebook.com/events/433652160084761/ Tomorrow night, Friday, September 6 at 7:00 pm, the coalition, including members of Gays Without Borders, BoycottRussianVodka.com and PCI-Justice, will stage an informational vigil, outside the San Francisco Opera’s gala opening night at the War Memorial Opera House, located at Van Ness and Grove. … More Opera Couple Patricia Racette and Beth Clayton to Support LGBT Vigil for Russia
“We’re simply not going to support them institutionally as in the past.” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 02, 2013 Last week when the DOMA ruling was handed down by the Supreme Court, the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) excitedly posted and tweeted inviting all to marry at the museum. Their website reads almost as an advertisement: “The … More MA Art Museum celebrates DOMA win and loses Catholic Church funding
Please tell other Monarchs, especially in Africa, that being gay is OKAY By Melanie Nathan, June 21, 2013 The Crown Princess of Norway, Her Royal Highness Mette-Marit, met famed South African photographer, filmmaker and LGBTI activist Zanele Muholi recently at an exhibition of Muholi’s work in Norway. The event took place last night at the Kunstplass … More South African Lesbian photographer’s big ask of Norway’s Crown Princess
By Melanie Nathan, March 09, 2013. Inkanyiso is a South African website which was conceptualized by internationally renowned photographer, award winning documentary filmmaker and visual activist, Zanele Muholi in 2006. In 2009, Muholi registered the organization with Department of Social Services in South Africa. It was in response to the lack of visual histories and … More Remember Me When I’m gone
By Melanie Nathan, February, 25, 2013. Last week the small Southern African country of Botswana saw a highly unusual and courageous event. In a country that criminalizes homosexual acts, a film festival was held at the University of Botswana to educate the community on same-gender relationships. According to a report in the local Monitor publication, … More Despite criminalization homosexual acts Botswana educates through LGBTI film festival
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