Johannesburg Gay Pride Cancelled as Board Dissolves

By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. The board of Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival Company (JGPFC) has voted to wind up the Section 21 (not-for-profit­) company that has produced ‘Joburg Pride’ over the past seven years. The voluntary winding up of JGPFC  was decided by an unanimous resolution at a board meeting held on Wednesday, 13 … More Johannesburg Gay Pride Cancelled as Board Dissolves

Uganda Speaker Kadaga nominated for San Francisco Pride most harmful to gays Pink Brick award

PLEASE VOTE \ at http://www.sfpride.org/vote/ By Melanie Nathan, March 21, 2013 UPDATED 3/21/2013. : After informing the San Francisco Pride Board that Ugandan activists were horrified by this nomination and concerned about the harmful backlash that could follow, the Pride organizers agreed to remove Kadaga from the site as a nominee.  They were apologetic for … More Uganda Speaker Kadaga nominated for San Francisco Pride most harmful to gays Pink Brick award

Rallies Across the United States for Marriage Equality

You MUST come OUT and Rally for Marriage Equality | Let the SCOTUS Justices hear your voice | Join United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice in rallying for equality! By: Cathy Kristofferson and Melanie Nathan On March 26th and 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases, respectively,  which are fundamentally … More Rallies Across the United States for Marriage Equality

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

Queer feminist human rights defenders face a range of unimaginable challenges Today 29th/Nov is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (IWHRDD). Several Human Rights defenders and activists from all over the word met 7years ago, in Colombo Sri Lanka to celebrate, raise awareness acknowledge the works and to discuss the situation of women human rights … More INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

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

South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia

From the bottom of the Continent of Africa to the top of South Africa, a Budget Bus filled with LGBTQI community representatives toiled the bush, the veld, cities and townships, spreading rainbow acts and music, all in the name of full inclusiveness and education against homophobia. The Gay Flag of South Africa, led its annual tour of the country amidst much to contemplate and celebrate, including the approval of the Gay Flag as a national symbol. … More South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia

Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

Statement Written by GAP – Oct 11, 2012 On Saturday 6 October 2012 at the annual Johannesburg Pride march, the 1in9 campaign staged a now nationally infamous ‘disruption’ of the Pride ‘march’. LGBTi activists, many of them black lesbians, attempted to stop the march by blocking Jan Smuts Avenue near Rosebank, Johannesburg. The activists staged … More Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade

by Melanie Nathan, Oct 07. 2012. South African lesbian feminists called for a pause, a minute of silence at the Johannesburg  (Joburg) Gay Pride Parade, to remember lesbians and LGBTI victims of homophobic murders,  yet were denied their moment by Pride organizers. A group calling themselves One in Nine chanted “one minute of silence” and … More Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade

U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton Pays Tribute to Ugandan Gay Rights Defenders

By Melanie Nathan, August 04, 2012, “I’m well aware that you do your work often amidst difficult, even dangerous circumstances. I know that some of your lives have been threatened, your friends and families intimidated. But I want you to know that the United States is and will be your partner.” Hillary Clinton United States … More U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton Pays Tribute to Ugandan Gay Rights Defenders

Ugandan Police Raid Beach Pride Party Arrest LGBT Activists

Yet Activists pull off historic pride event! Melanie Nathan, August 4, 2012 For several weeks  and with great excitement Ugandan LGBT activists have been building a Beach Pride event. The idea was to celebrate with friends and to hold a private party for those who wanted to attend. Activists kept the Pride event under wraps … More Ugandan Police Raid Beach Pride Party Arrest LGBT Activists

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

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

Gay Flag of South Africa at World Pride Parade Hopes to end Homophobia

South Africa’s Gay Flag flies in London,  amidst the threat of revocation of equality and heightened violence precipitated by homophobia By Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2012. LONDON- More than 250000 people turned out to celebrate World Pride 2012 in London last Saturday (7 July) and marching in the crowd was The Gay Flag of South … More Gay Flag of South Africa at World Pride Parade Hopes to end Homophobia

Kenyan Media Plays the Anti-GAY Card in US Ambassador’s Resignation

By Melanie Nathan, July 01, 2012. Several media outlets in Kenya are reporting that the US ambassador to Kenya, Scott Gration, was forced to resign his post because of the pro LGBTI equality stance of the U.S. Government. In a statement, Major Scott Gration, who has only held the position for a year, said he … More Kenyan Media Plays the Anti-GAY Card in US Ambassador’s Resignation

South African Gay Flag at San Francisco Pride 2012

By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2012. Today the Gay Flag of South Africa passed   a million people lining the streets of San Francisco as the LGBTI community celebrated San Francisco Pride 2012. San Francisco Pride parade is a world-renowned LGBT pride parade attracting tourists and Television crews from around the world. Thousands of people … More South African Gay Flag at San Francisco Pride 2012

A Million Cheers for Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo at San Francisco Pride 2012

By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2012. Amidst a sea of rainbows, over one million people lined the streets of San Francisco and cheered as Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, the heroic clergyman and LGBT rights ally activist from Uganda, made his way through the San Francisco Pride 2012 route,  as its Global Grand Marshall leading a fitting … More A Million Cheers for Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo at San Francisco Pride 2012

Kenya Gays Call Boycott of U.S. Embassy Pride Event

Melanie Nathan, June 22, 2012. Kenyan activists are divided, some up in arms, over the recent announcement that the US Embassy in Nairobi will be holding a Gay Pride event, said to be the first of its kind, to bring together local LGBT activists and dignitaries to celebrate Gay Pride Month. While on the surface … More Kenya Gays Call Boycott of U.S. Embassy Pride Event

While this US Secretary of Defense offers Moving Pride Message, Imagine a Romney DOD

Can you imagine Romney’s  Secretary of  Defense recognizing June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month?  Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta thanks gay and lesbian service members for their dedicated service to the nation. By Melanie Nathan, June 16,2012. The US Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, sent a special message to America and the World. … More While this US Secretary of Defense offers Moving Pride Message, Imagine a Romney DOD

San Francisco Pride Announces Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo as Global Grand Marshal

Watch our Video Interview where Bishop Christopher talks about Desmond Tutu and the exporting of Hate by American Evangelicals to Africa By Melanie Nathan, June, 09, 2012. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Disani Christopher Senyonjo is on tour of the U.S.A. and will be this year’s Global Grand Marshall, as San Francisco Pride recognizes the contributions … More San Francisco Pride Announces Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo as Global Grand Marshal