National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255 Call for acceptance: “Remember how loving and passionate an activist Jai was…. Together we can make this world safer and softer for youth like Jai by treating everyone we meet with dignity and respect no matter how different they may appear.” After Bakersfield police confirmed that search crews found the body … More Appeal by Family After Trans Teen Suicide
Yeah all 62,979,879 plus of them ….. By Melanie Nathan, December 30, 2016. As the New Year approaches, and in looking to write up my annual Heroes and Zeroes I could not help but notice that this year 62,979,879 ZEROES voted for a sick, mentally deficient, hateful, misogynistic, racist, sexual predator, who happens also to be a xenophobic, … More 2016 Heroes and Zeroes yields an unprecedented number of Zeroes
Today in the United Nations General Assembly, a cross-regional group of states affirmed the principles of universal human rights by blocking a hostile attempt to prevent the work established by the UN Human Rights Council of the Independent Expert on Discrimination and Violence based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A small group of States … More Equality Wins at UN General Assembly with Protection of SOGI Independent Expert
Yahya Jammeh, the Gambian president, known for his virulent homophobia and vicious anti-gay threats, has been ousted in this week’s presidential election in The Gambia. Jammeh, an authoritarian president for 22 years, suffered this surprise defeat in the country’s general election. He will be replaced by a property developer, Adama Barrow, who won more than 45% of … More Anti-Gay Gambian President Ousted
Today is the annual international Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), dedicated to the memory of those whose lives have been lost because they are transgender. According to Freedom for All Americans, this year, there are at least 25 reported cases in the U.S. alone of transgender people who have been murdered. Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed … More Extra Concern on Trans Day of Remembrance
By Melanie Nathan, Nov 18, 2016. President Elect Donald Trump has appointed Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to the job. The United States Attorney General (A.G.) is the head of the United States Department of Justice per 28 U.S.C. § 503, concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer and chief lawyer of the United … More Racist Bigot Homophobe Jeff Sessions Chosen as Trump Attorney General
Sexual Minorities Uganda Lawsuit Charges Abiding Truth Ministries President Scott Lively with Persecution | Oral Argument in Springfield, MA Wednesday, November 9, 11:00 AM Springfield, MA – On Wednesday, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and co-counsel, will argue in a federal lawsuit against Abiding Truth Ministries President, Scott Lively. The … More Ugandan LGBTI Activists to Argue Case Against U.S. Anti-Gay Extremist in Federal Court
By Melanie Nathan, November, 07, 2016. Several African countries are demanding that the appointment of a United Nations expert on LGBT rights be suspended, saying his mission to report on anti-gay violence had nothing to do with human rights. In September the UN Human Rights Council appointed to a three year term, international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn … More African States sell out LGBT Human Rights in bid to end role of UN Expert
Well my question is are they? Melanie Nathan, October 29, 2016. #HRCdumpKIRK According to the website of the preeminent LGBT organization, Human Rights Campaign, the HRC Board of Directors “has the ultimate authority over the organization’s actions, including fiscal management and budget approval. Board members also establish the official policies that direct HRC.” That means, … More HRC Board Members OKAY with the Deplorable Endorsement of Republican Mark Kirk for US Senate
Since the day the preeminent LGBT organization, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced its endorsement in favor of Republican Senator Mark Kirk, (R-IL) the incumbent for the Illinois Senate seat, instead of supporting the Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth who has a 100% equality rating to Kirk’s 76% , many LGBT activists have questioned the move … More HRC Fails to Withdraw Endorsement of Republican Senator Despite Bigoted Comments
Historic Hate Crimes Bill released – proposes 3 years in jail for hate speech Ten years in the making, the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill has now been published in South Africa, for comment. The proposed legislation, inter alia, provides a three yer sentence for those found guilty of hate … More South Africa Releases Draft Bill Proposing Jail for Hate Speech
New York, NY- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is set to host the 2016 Freedom Awards, commemorating 11-years of transgender advocacy. This year TLDEF honors U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, whose unwavering support and leadership at the Department of Justice has helped advance transgender rights. TLDEF will also honor HBO for its work on … More TLDEF to Host 2016 Freedom Awards
“That’s why the stakes in this election are so high.” Clinton While Donald J. Trump and his henchman Mike Pence continue to promise to negate LGBT equality gains, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has penned an historic OP-ED in the Philadelphia Gay News, highlighting her support for LGBT rights (PGN) The editor comment notes the historic … More Hillary Clinton addresses LGBT Equality in Historic PGN Exclusive
Now is a Critical Time to participate in your Equality Finally we are seeing a national LGBTI organization push for passage of the Equality Act that is currently before Congress. Today the National Center for Lesbian Rights, NCLR, launched a national campaign, Support the Equality Act, to urge municipal and state leaders across the country … More NCLR Pushes for LGBT Rights in Call to Action for Equality Act
By Melanie Nathan, September 12, 2016. Soccer legend Abby Wambach expresses her “Truth” on her Facebook timeline, while announcing the launch of her memoir, “Forward”. Wambach, an open lesbian, having scored 184 career goals, is the leading career scorer, male or female, in international soccer. She retired in December after 15 years with the U.S. … More Soccer Legend Wambach tells Her Truth in Memoir, Forward
News from Argentina – quoting The Bubble – Yesterday marked yet another important day for the LGBTQ community in Argentina. The Buenos Aires City legislature approved a measure to name the Sante Fe station of the newly inaugurated “H” subway line after Argentine LGBT activist Carlos Jáuregui. The memorializing of one of the country’s most impactful activists is … More Argentinian Subway Station To Be Named After LGBT Activist
TLDEF Denounces Federal Court Ruling in Favor of Michigan Funeral Home that Fired Employee for Being Transgender New York, NY- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) condemns a federal court ruling in favor of a Garden City, Michigan funeral home that fired an employee for being transgender. The court ruled that the funeral home … More TLDEF Denounces Federal Court Ruling in Michigan Funeral Home Case
Thanks to Petrelis Files for this important post – keeping the human rights community posted on this position: “The good people at ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and their office in Geneva where the UN Human Rights Council is located, I can share with you the latest update on creating … More UNHRC LGBT Expert Candidates Shortlist
Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) Submits Extensive Documentation of Anti-Gay Persecution in Uganda and Role of Scott Lively and Ugandan Actors in Propelling It Yesterday, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) submitted a filing in federal court documenting the widespread and systematic persecution of LGBTI people in Uganda and the key … More Documents in Case Against Scott Lively Reveals Massive LGBTI Persecution
Reports that LGBT participants have been physically and emotionally Abused by Ugandan Police Reports are coming in from an Uganda Pride event, Mr. and Mrs. Pride, that police have raided, possibly made arrests of LGBTI activists and human rights defenders, while detaining attendees on the rooftop of a building.: An activist at the event informed … More Breaking Uganda Pride Participants Detained in Police Raid
ESTROGEN IN PATCH AND TABLET FORMS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE New York, NY- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center warns of potential public health risk for transgender women and transfeminine people due to a nationwide shortage of some generic and brand name injectable estrogen. Makers of the drugs have reported manufacturing delays in getting the medications to the market. “During times like these, we want … More Shortage of Injectable Estrogen as Public Health Risk
MA becomes first and only state this year to pass transgender -inclusive protections, including restrooms and locker rooms BOSTON – Today Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed a transgender public accommodations bill into law making Massachusetts the only state this year to pass a bill updating state law to ensure full protections for transgender people from … More Breaking: Governor of Massachusetts Signs Transgender Bill Into Law
See San Francisco Pride behind the scenes photos below This year I served on the board of directors for San Francisco Pride. I learned so much from the leadership, staff and contractors, as well as all the grand marshals and honorees and want to thank everyone who helped make the Pride weekend and run-up month … More San Francisco Pride is San Francisco Proud
Voters in CO and UT also make history, handing victories to two transgender candidates for Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two of the nation’s most virulently anti-LGBT legislators lost their primary elections on Tuesday night. South Carolina state Senator Lee Bright’s 52-48 loss in a runoff election with former Representative Scott Talley comes after he introduced legislation that … More Two of US Most Anti-LGBT Lawmakers Toppled in Primary Battles
But is relieved that Court upholds affirmative action Washington, DC – Today, a badly divided U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in the case U.S. v Texas. The decision upholds a lower court’s ruling to block President Obama’s Executive Actions on immigration, which expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and created … More LGBT Asians Deeply Disappointed in U.S. Supreme Court Decision Denying Immigrants’ Rights
After self proclaimed Pastor Roger Jiminez launched his hate attack and slandered the lives and memories of the 49 massacred LGBTQIA in Orlando, people from all over California traveled to Sacramento to protest outside the Church. The protests were robust and heartfelt and Jiminez is now starting to feel the brunt of one certain fact … More Sacramento Church Lease will not be renewed due to Hate by Pastor Jiminez
I have come to learn that when a person attaches the word PASTOR to their name, we cannot always trust that they will be real Christians, or loving, or kind, for that matter. I have come to learn that some propose the antithesis of the intention of the Christian religion – forgetting to love, not … More Pastor Expels Lesbians from Church telling them to Burn in Hell
Imagine having a human rights organization’s office broken into and the security guard, who has become like family, murdered, brutally, in cold blood and then when you go after the police for their dilatory and incompetent handling of the case, the police retaliate, with a slanderous claim, blaming the grieving victim organization, itself. All I … More Ugandan Police make Unsavory Accusation While Failing Murder Investigation
WASHINGTON – In a major victory for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in Mississippi, the Jackson City Council unanimously voted in favor of an ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The ordinance protects LGBT individuals from discrimination in housing, employment and public services. “This ordinance is not only a major … More Jackson Mississippi City Council unanimously passes nondiscrimination ordinance
It am pleased to note that South Africa’s President Zuma has issued a statement condemning the massacre of LGBT Americans. Indeed this is an important statement to make and I am grateful for it. Yet cannot help but note the hypocrisy and in doing so – lets hope speaking out brings renewed consciousness. Here … More South African message of condolence to US following Orlando Massacre
O-blog-dee-o-blog-da 