FAMILY – Page 6 – O-blog-dee-o-blog-da

Breaking U.S. Supreme Court to Review Bans on Same-Sex Marriage

January 16, 2015

Current Statistics thanks to Williams Institute By Melanie Nathan, January 16, 2015 The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it will review the constitutionality of bans on same-sex marriage in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. The Court’s ruling is expected in June 2015 and will likely impact not only the same-sex couples in these four … More Breaking U.S. Supreme Court to Review Bans on Same-Sex Marriage

UK Couple Marry under the New Same-Sex Marriage Conversion Law

December 10, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, December 10, 2014. At midnight, and with a portrait of the Queen in the background, Philip Glanville and Trey Mcrary took their vows as one of Britain’s first same-sex couples to marry under England’s new marriage equality laws. Today in the United Kingdom and Wales, the first civil partnership conversion ceremonies and … More UK Couple Marry under the New Same-Sex Marriage Conversion Law

Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs

November 20, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 20, 2014. Wake Up Americans and get educated on these important human rights issues that you will not find in our USA local or national mainstream media. Thanks to SAfAIDS for the selection of important human rights stories: Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs for recreational use A … More Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs

NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

September 29, 2014

New surveys suggest that as many as 9.5 million adults in the US are LGBT | An estimated 124,000 same-sex couples are married and raising more than 30,000 children LOS ANGELES — Two new studies released by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, review findings from four recent large, national, population-based surveys to … More NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

Tulsa is the New Ferguson |The Truth about the Death of Benny Longoria

September 22, 2014

False Reports to the Media, Suppressing Evidence, Refusing to take Witness Statements, Covering up a Possible Murder and Police Misconduct are some of the Horrifying Facts surrounding Benny Longoria’s death By Cd Kirven, September 22, 2014. DALLAS — Last month’s news, from NewsOn6.com report titled; “Tulsa Police: Dallas Article About Death Of Gay Man Is … More Tulsa is the New Ferguson |The Truth about the Death of Benny Longoria

Anoka-Hennepin Suicide District Still a Hotbed for Anti-Gay Myth and Lies

August 27, 2014

Melissa Thompson – Anoka- Hennepin Parent … More Anoka-Hennepin Suicide District Still a Hotbed for Anti-Gay Myth and Lies

A Ugandan Pastor Ssempa is Accused of Defilement of Minor

August 14, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 14, 2014. A man by the name of Martin Ssempa has apparently been held by police in Iganga, Uganda, accused of allegedly “defiling” a 17 year old girl in Uganda. The term defilement is used in Uganda to describe rape of a young under-age person. There are two Martin Ssempa’s (urgh … More A Ugandan Pastor Ssempa is Accused of Defilement of Minor

Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration

August 12, 2014

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

Gearing up for LGBT Family Week 2014

June 15, 2014

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

North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

May 29, 2014

Founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Joseph and Jane Clementi, Will Receive the Honor By Melanie Nathan, May 30, 2014. Maplewood, N.J.- North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State will be awarding the inaugural “Outstanding Ally Award” at its fourth annual Pride Festival on Sunday, June … More North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

May 12, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2014. South African world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, is marrying her fellow athlete, Violet Raseboya. Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya had been subjected to gender testing. She was then withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her … More Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

May 7, 2014

Federal Court Rejects Discrimination Claim Against Catholic Hospital’s Refusal to Cover Same-Sex Spouse Under Employee Benefit Plan and ENDA is in danger Why I am calling on Freedom to Marry, NCLR, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, ACLU, Transgender Law Center, GetEQUAL to thwart the HRC push for Senate’s ENDA By Melanie Nathan, May 07, 2014. Although both … More Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

Magnificent Gay Marriage South African Style

December 24, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, December 24, 2013. Our friends at Inkanyiso have done it again. Recording every aspect and extreme, with amazing visuals, from the worst sadness to the ultimate joy, here is an exciting report by Yaya Mavundla. This was all about love and with given names like “Promise” and “Gift” all was perfect for … More Magnificent Gay Marriage South African Style

Putin’s Immoral Choice | Orphanages vs. Loving Same-Sex Families

October 14, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, October 14, 2013. Russian lawmakers would rather see infants and children starve and suffer neglect, resulting in deformities and attachment disorders than provide these children with the opportunities for love and health. A picture speaks a million words – how does one grasp what could have been; and why would Russian lawmakers, … More Putin’s Immoral Choice | Orphanages vs. Loving Same-Sex Families

Russian Anti-Gay Parliamentarian Wants to Talk to United States Congress About Syria

September 8, 2013

But wait – watch out – what if we get our grubby queer hands on her? By Melanie Nathan, September 08, 2013 Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko is the highest-ranking female politician in Russia, the former governor of Saint Petersburg and the current Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. She also hates gays. Valentina … More Russian Anti-Gay Parliamentarian Wants to Talk to United States Congress About Syria

New Russian Bill Seeks to Take Biological Children Away From Gays and Lesbians

September 6, 2013

Lesbian Activist Speaks about Russia’s Continued Defiance with worsening New Laws Against Gays and asylum being the only answer By Melanie Nathan, September 06, 2013. A Russian lawmaker has proposed a bill that would deny gay parents custody over their children. The draft bill, published on parliament’s website on Thursday, would make the “fact of … More New Russian Bill Seeks to Take Biological Children Away From Gays and Lesbians

The Importance of the Military in the Struggle for Equality and Another “Duh” Moment

September 5, 2013

“If anything this should be a wake-up call to our President and to Congress to act in like, to go even further. ….our goal of Full Federal Equality” By Jennifer McGuire, September 05, 2013. It was announced yesterday that spouses of Lesbian and Gay veterans will be eligible for benefits. In the recent stream of … More The Importance of the Military in the Struggle for Equality and Another “Duh” Moment

Mazeltov Minnesota

August 1, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, August 01, 2013. Midnight July 31, 2013, heralded the start of an equal Minnesota, as the Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Rybak married the first same-sex couple under the new law, making it legal for all couples to enjoy the same legal rights in the State of Minnesota. After years of battling against … More Mazeltov Minnesota

Belize gay hate emerges in the form of hanging effigy

July 11, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, July 11, 2013 LGBT rights issues have been boiling over for a while in Belize. Caleb Orozco of the The United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) pursued a constitutional challenge of the country’s Section 53 anti-sodomy law, which we covered here on OBLOGDEE in May (see links below). Shortly after that court case, the … More Belize gay hate emerges in the form of hanging effigy

ACLU challenging NC ban on same-sex marriages

July 9, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, July 09, 2013. Today the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) announced plans to challenge North Carolina’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples by amending a federal lawsuit filed against the state last year on behalf of six same-sex couples and their children … More ACLU challenging NC ban on same-sex marriages

Happy 4th of July | Gays Celebrate Independence in a More Equal America

July 4, 2013

See Video – And a Gay Tenor sings his way into the hearts of America By Melanie Nathan, July 04, 2013. The weeks leading up to this 4th of July have been historic for America – the horrendously discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) came crashing down after decades of hell for many Americans and … More Happy 4th of July | Gays Celebrate Independence in a More Equal America

San Francisco Marriage Exuberance

June 29, 2013

Prop 8 Plaintiffs marry on short notice as hundreds converge on San Francisco City Hall By Melanie Nathan, June 29, 2013. For the first time since that brief moment in 2008, all Californians are able to marry. Yesterday, with mere minutes notice, same-sex couples converged on San Francisco City Hall, as word spread through social … More San Francisco Marriage Exuberance

Aunt’s same-sex wedding song going viral

June 23, 2013

What If We Are Just Like You?/Shannon’s and Lisa’s marriage equality Song by Melanie Nathan, June 22, 2013. Sherri Gray, “straight but not narrow,” shares her love – she wrote this song for niece Shannon and her fiancée, Lisa, a same-sex couple who are getting married this summer. “I wrote this song about equal rights … More Aunt’s same-sex wedding song going viral

Trevor Project to mark 15th Anniversary by ringing opening NYSE bell

June 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, June 19, 2013. The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention to LGBTQ youth, will ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday, June 20th. The organization celebrates its 15th “birthday” this August and will premiere its latest public service announcement, “Ask For Help,” at NYSE. … More Trevor Project to mark 15th Anniversary by ringing opening NYSE bell

Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage

June 18, 2013

The Bill is based on myth as expounded by Russian Deputy Speaker, who said: “If a child ends up with a homosexual couple, it could cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality.” By Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2013. As same-sex marriage is increasing in acceptance around the world, … More Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage

On Fathers Day NBJC honors the commitment of Black gay, bisexual and trans men

June 16, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 16, 2013. Statement by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC): Black gay, bisexual and trans fathers, uncles and brothers play many important roles in the Black community. As caregivers, role models, providers, teachers, friends and leaders, Black gay, bisexual and trans men are invaluable threads in the fabric of the … More On Fathers Day NBJC honors the commitment of Black gay, bisexual and trans men

DEAD WRONG LGBT Publisher Refuses to Tell Binational Story

May 28, 2013

We as a community cannot reject the most vulnerable amongst us | Binational same-sex couples have already paid the heaviest price By Melanie Nathan, May 28, 2013. I started my advocacy work and writing the stories about the horrendous plight of same-sex binational couples back in 2009, when faced with the possible deportation of my … More DEAD WRONG LGBT Publisher Refuses to Tell Binational Story

School principal humiliates transgender student

May 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, May 19, 2013. It seems as if Issak Wolfe has as much of a right as anyone else to expect inclusion in his School’s mission: “The mission of the Red Lion Area School District, in partnership with our communities, is to prepare all students to reach their greatest potential, thus becoming responsible … More School principal humiliates transgender student

Homeless Youth | “Street Child: A Memoir”