Visitors Pack Coastal Marin Despite Order Public Health authorities urge that now is not the time to visit San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) is urging Bay Area residents not to travel beyond their communities as they engage in outdoor activities during the statewide shelter-in-place order. On Saturday, … More Dammit Marin This is not a Vacation its a Pandemic
Amidst the spread of coronavirus, communities are increasingly concerned about making the choice between taking unpaid sick leave and making rent. NYC activist and drag queen, Marti Gould Cummings, among other activists, is fighting to protect all New Yorkers from making this impossible decision. In a petition to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Marti is asking the … More COVID-19 Sign Petitions to Suspend Rents and Mortgage Payments
LEILAH BABIRYE Gwe Is Ye Nze, Lekka Mbele Nze (You Are Not Me, Let Me Be Me) 15 January – 28 February 2020 Artist dialogue with human rights advocate Melanie Nathan: Saturday 18 January, 10 AM Rebecca Camacho Presents 794 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94109 UNTITLED, ART San Francisco Booth C11 16 January – … More Ugandan Artist Brings Asylum LGBTQ Dialogue to San Francisco Debut
In the words of an LGBTQI refugee – from the streets of Kenya… with more to come …. In the dark, I sit where the site of distress is bliss, my thoughts are cadacomn cliffs and I teeter Voices of responsibility ring out bleakly, my eyes can’t close up My brain won’t free me It’s … More 2020 Overwhelmed by LGBTQI Migrant Crisis
QUESTION: what if she were asked as an expert witness in her family law custody mediation expert testimony practice to testify in court for or against an Israeli Plaintiff or Defendant? Facebook, the social media platform is that oddity that brings us humans together in cause, kinship, and opinions. Often opinions differ. Often we fail … More Jan Falk Therapist – Is this Anti Semitism Within our Ranks
TWO men who were caught having sex at a lodge in Kapiri Mposhi in 2017 have been sentenced by the High Court in Lusaka, Zambia to 15 years imprisonment. Japhet Chataba, 28, a carpenter of Ndeke Township, and Steven Samba, of Kasenshi in Kapiri Mposhi. The Judge ruled that the men had committed an “act against … More Zambia Jails Gays for 15 Years and US Ambassador Calls Out Hypocrisy
“When you live in a homophobic country its is impossible to report even a violent crime perpetrated against you because you will be the one who is arrested!” Ugandan Gay Man A day ago Let’s Walk Uganda (LWU), a local LGBTQI support group was attacked by a screaming mob at the organization’s headquarters. Although a prominent … More Ugandan Police Arrest Victims of Mob Attack and Force Anal Exams
African Human Rights Coalition is calling Trump out – first published HERE. The reality for LGBTQI refugees is that right now the homophobia engendered by state sanctioned persecution through criminalization of homosexuality in over 60 countries renders Trump Nationalism a dangerous and exclusionary escapade! African Human Rights Coalition Calls Out Trump’s UN Speech While I … More Trump UN Speech Spews Hypocrisy through the reality for LGBTQI Refugees
Dear Friends, As we head toward a momentous milestone for O-Blog-Dee-O-BLog-Da, I am posting this to thank you for your ongoing and kind support. A special thanks to the subscribers who for $18.63 per annum each, so kindly contribute to the expenses. At the time of writing this O-Blog-Dee-O-BLog-Da has had 988,953 reads which means … More Celebrating This Blog as we Head to One Million
With special thanks to the featured asylum seekers and refugees Mari, Cheyenne, Junior and Subhi, for having the courage and fortitude to tell your stories before you had barely landed! Dear Friends, This week I had the great honor of accepting the OUTFEST Los Angeles 2019 juried Best Feature Documentary award for the Film UNSETTLED … More Tom Shepard’s UNSETTLED Wins Prestigious OUTFEST, Los Angeles Award
A young LGBTQI Ugandan has been brutally attacked and murdered in Gombe, Uganda. According to sources in Kampala Fahad Ssemugoma, 22, known as Legit’ Ferhd Kawere, described by some as gay and as transgender fell victim to violent mob violence at the hands of Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) riders. There are many rumors spreading on social media … More Justice Sought for Young Brutally Murdered LGBTQI Ugandan
Such a life never dies ….. much loved …. forever remembered….. Johnny – our legend- deep sadness prevails this day – even with profound and happy memories helming his magnificent legacy There will never be another Johnny Clegg Music, dance, language – The courageous cross pollination- a part of that which brought South Africa to its … More Deep Sadness Prevails this Day – Tribute to Johnny Clegg
Dear POTUS You Have Violated My First Amendment Rights Unblock me Now! I sent this e-mail and published this letter via Twitter and Facebook today- addressed to Donald trump and putting him on notice that the Court has upheld my First Amendment Rights, that he is not above the law and that he had better … More My Letter to Trump to Abide Court Order – Unblock Me on Twitter
AN ODE(ious):To the 4th July AN ODE(ious):To the 4th July It is UNCONSCIONABLE to have war veterans living homeless on the street, many with PTSD unattended, while Trump rolls tanks down DC at a cost of many a million of dollars. Apparently the DC streets will have to be repaired afterwards as they are not … More UNCONSCIONABLE July 4th
As excitement mounts in San Francisco this week heading into the 49th San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee Parade and Festival, George Ridgely, Executive Director of the organization, will be saying goodbye. George’s last Pride celebration at the helm of the largest Pride festival in the world will hail five years of robust fiscal health … More George Ridgely Perfectly Pride
I am so honored to be named for the Excellence in Blogging Award: Melanie Nathan for “LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya,” www.oblogdee.blog and congratulations to all the award recipients with thanks for the important work. This is truly an honor, and most especially because it recognizes the subject matter which I … More I am Named for Excellence in Blogging Award as NLGJA Announces 2019 Excellence in Journalism Award Recipients
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 05 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 05, below: For the past ten years I have … More MASK 05: Mistreatment of Lesbian Asylum Seeker Reveals Corrupt South African Officials
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 03 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 03, below: For the past ten years I have … More Mask 03: Gay Refugee Plight Screams for Humanitarian Basics
San Rafael, CA – With encouragement from the federal government, the County of Marin has entered into a new agreement designed to improve local fair housing choice and result in more affordable housing options for its most financially strapped residents. At its hearing of May 7, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to enter … More Marin County steps up Fair Housing – Is it enough?
Today is International Women’s Day #IWD2019: We celebrate and stand in solidarity with all women, noting their tenacity and fortitude, especially those who courageously survive violence and defy patriarchy. At African HRC with global lesbians and transgender women our family, we continue to fight for the basic human right to autonomy of mind and body. Here … More Honoring Lesbian Survivors on International Women’s Day #IWD 2019
San Francisco, CA (December 20, 2018) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new Migration Protection Protocols (MPP) announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this morning. Under this new policy, asylum seekers arriving at the United States’ southern border will be forced to wait in Mexico for the duration … More Condemnation of New Illegal Migration Protection Protocols
In a victory for LGBTIQ equality and same-sex couples in South Africa, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament has adopted a Civil Union Amendment Bill. The Parliamentary Committee’s adoption of the Bill is a major step in the proposed legislation’s journey to becoming law. Our friends at Mamba Online are reporting this fantastic news … More Victory for South Africa’s LGBTQ Community as Parliamentary Committee Adopts Critical Amendment
I dedicate my VOTE to my Daughters and all the Daughters of America! Hello friends – as we approach November 06, 2018, and many of you are voting via mail-in ballots, here are my California endorsements and recommendations for this critically important election. Firstly you will note my Statewide ballot – which pertains to all … More OK DUDES MY NOV 06 2018 CALIFORNIA VOTE
By Melanie Nathan. Kanye West’s trip to Uganda has been excruciatingly tone deaf. Not only did he hand out oversized shoes to orphans and relish photo-ops with one of Africa’s longest-serving oppressive autocratic rulers, but the rapper also seemed willing to turn his back on fellow rapper Bobi Wine, as well as the socio-economic issues facing his … More Kanye West is Tone Deaf in Uganda
By Melanie Nathan, JUST SAY NO! “I know one thing for sure that if he is nominated to SCOTUS American woman will riot and burn this place down – and you can decide whether that is metaphorical or literal – let us see! So regardless Patriarchy, your days are numbered!” Melanie Nathan. When Donald Trump … More Brett Kavanaugh is a Conduct Unbecoming Liar and should not be on ANY Court Bench
Standing with refugees, asylum seekers immigrants, and orphans because it is persecutory and tragic to separate families… This Mother’s day as we stand with refugee and asylum seeking mothers and the orphans who do not have mothers, I reflect on the tragedy of my own family and how the Trump Administration is working policy to … More A Reflective Mothers Day – Five Generations in My Maternal Line on Five Separate Continents Mothers
“The enormous damage is palpable” -Melanie Nathan, Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition Tonight we celebrate the 4th Circuit decision to uphold the BAN on Trump’s Muslim travel ban and the denial of Trump’s second failed Executive Order which also sought to suspend the entire US Refugee Program. Trump lost because in America it is unconstitutional … More After 4th Circuit Appeal Loss by TRUMP America Must hold Him and Republicans Accountable
‘THE VILLAGE VOICE PRIDE AWARDS’ The Village Voice Pride Awards to honor LGBTQ local and global heroes contributing to the community’s growth, at VIP gala, June 21 New York, NY—May 3, 2017—The Village Voice announced today the launch of ‘The Village Voice Pride Awards,’ which recognizes local and global heroes in the LGBTQ movement. The … More Village Voice Partners with NYC Pride to Launch Awards
By Melanie Nathan, March, 29, 2017. Last night Women’s March San Francisco launched the first in a series of panel discussions: “We Marched. We Rallied. Now What?” And it was a great success. The event was held at the JCC, San Francisco and was attended by over 150, mostly women. The panelists included: Amina from … More Women’s March San Francisco Panel Series – We Marched We Rallied Now What?
Quoting the NBC Article by Julie Compton: African LGBTQ refugees hoping to come to the United States got the news they had hoped for Thursday night — they would not have to remain in countries where they face persecution or even death. The news came after a three-judge federal appeals court panel refused to reinstate President … More Court Decision Allows LGBTQ Refugees to Continue Entering U.S.
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