Category: Law

Amnesty International and Uganda’s Discriminatory legislation

October 16, 2014

All Anti- Human rights legislation fuels repression and abuse By Melanie Nathan, October 16, 2014. Recently at a forum held by SFALI, The San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute, a Ugandan Member of Parliament, Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, stressed to the American audience, how important it is for LGBTI and other human rights defenders to address … More Amnesty International and Uganda’s Discriminatory legislation

Ugandan Exiles Protest Anti-Gay Hate by UK Christian Extremist Paul Shinners

October 11, 2014

Watch Video of Protest | If you have the audacity to go to our Country to preach hate, we will show up in your country, as exiles and on your doorstep to remind you that exporting hate is not okay! By Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2014 St. Neots – A large group of Lesbian, Gay, … More Ugandan Exiles Protest Anti-Gay Hate by UK Christian Extremist Paul Shinners

Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman

Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity

October 9, 2014

Willing to die rather than live without authentic identity By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2014. Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman over four years ago, has started a hunger … More Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity

Praying For Gay Ugandan Richard to Win Asylum Appeal

October 7, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, Oct 07, 2014. United Kingdom – Richard M. is a young Ugandan man who fled Uganda after being outed by Red Pepper Magazine. He was apparently falsely accused of promoting homosexuality in the schools. His subsequent asylum journey has been a typical roundabout of hell, exacerbating his abuse. On arrival in the … More Praying For Gay Ugandan Richard to Win Asylum Appeal

Ugandan President Museveni Pens Editorial in New Stance on Anti-Gay Legislation

October 3, 2014

Museveni Changes the words but keeps the tune…..” the man who chases two animals while hunting, ends up with failing to kill any” By Melanie Nathan, October 03, 2014. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni wrote a piece published in two Ugandan News Magazines, indicating that he has new thoughts about the onerous anti-homosexuality legislation, which he … More Ugandan President Museveni Pens Editorial in New Stance on Anti-Gay Legislation

Center for Constitutional Rights, SMUG, Uganda, Scott Lively, LGBT fights criminlaization Anti Homosexuality legislation

The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act is an Anti-Ugandan American Import

September 15, 2014

Wake Up Ugandan Parliament this is an American Bill not a Ugandan Bill – By Melanie Nathan, September 12, 2014. As sources in Uganda reveal that increasing pressure is being brought to bear on the speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, to bring the second Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHA) to Parliament for passage, as a matter of … More The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act is an Anti-Ugandan American Import

Gays from The Gambia need Urgent humanitarian help

September 9, 2014

A President and His Tacit Call to Kill Gays with little to no help for survival By Melanie Nathan, September 09, 2014. Under The Gambian law Homosexual acts are punishable by up to 14 years to include men and woman. However now the law has bee amended to include so called “aggravated homosexuality” with terms … More Gays from The Gambia need Urgent humanitarian help

Shocking Undercover Film Shows Cameroon A Homophobic Hotbed of Arrests

August 27, 2014

Watch as Short Film Exposes Severe Abuses and A Human Rights Disgrace By Melanie Nathan, August 27, 2014. Global Rights, Partners for Justice is doing work for LGBT Human Rights in Africa, bringing into focus the plight of gay people in Cameroon: “In Africa, homosexuality is illegal in 38 of the continent’s 54 countries and … More Shocking Undercover Film Shows Cameroon A Homophobic Hotbed of Arrests

San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute

Ugandan Member of Parliament to meet for Human Rights Town Hall in San Francisco

August 26, 2014

A Courageous and Critical Meeting to help USA LGBT Community Get an Insider’s Perspective San Francisco, August 26, 2014 – The San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute (SFALI) is pleased to announce a Town Hall Forum with Ugandan Member of Parliament, the Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, to be held at The San Francisco LGBT Community Center. … More Ugandan Member of Parliament to meet for Human Rights Town Hall in San Francisco

California Governor Signs Landmark Leno Bill Addressing Smartphone Theft

August 25, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark legislation today addressing the growing epidemic of smartphone theft in California. SB 962, authored by Senator Mark Leno and sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, requires all smartphones sold in California to come pre-equipped with theft-deterring technological solutions to render the devices useless if stolen.

… More California Governor Signs Landmark Leno Bill Addressing Smartphone Theft

LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

August 21, 2014

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 21, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 21, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

August 14, 2014

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 14, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 14, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

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

Uganda to Halt Court Appeal against the Ruling that the Anti-Homosexuality Act is Invalid

August 12, 2014

A new approach to a NEW Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) which seems to stem from the NRM and Museveni’s fear of more international reprisal and rulings of unconstitutionality. By Melanie Nathan, August 12, 2014. From what I can gather, in Uganda, the State will halt its appeal in an attempt to reverse the decision that the … More Uganda to Halt Court Appeal against the Ruling that the Anti-Homosexuality Act is Invalid

Museveni Tells Ugandan Parliament to Calm Down Over A New Anti-Homosexuality Bill

August 12, 2014

Pretends to be the By Melanie Nathan, August 12, 2014. It seems as if President Yoweri Museveni is at it again. Playing the system and being dictator all at once. For years he has had to balance his own interests against that of the country and has used the Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a tool to … More Museveni Tells Ugandan Parliament to Calm Down Over A New Anti-Homosexuality Bill

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

LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

August 11, 2014

Queer Nation and a bunch more of us demand Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  New York, NY (Aug. 11, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other Americans … More LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

August 11, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 11, 2014. The Kenyan Republican Liberty Party has proposed Anti-Homosexuality legislation to stone gays to death in public or to punish with life in prison. A draft Bill has been sent to the National Assembly.  All a great irony since so many Ugandans fled to Kenya, seeking refuge with UNHCR after … More Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

Official Ugandan Constitutional Court Ruling Killing the Anti-Homosexuality Act for Now

August 6, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2014. One can expect that if a Parliament fails to follow basic protocol and procedure and passionate local and International law experts get together using activists as Plaintiff’s, it is unlikely that the law will withstand the test of Constitutionality. That is what happened in the case of the Ugandan … More Official Ugandan Constitutional Court Ruling Killing the Anti-Homosexuality Act for Now

Activists Protest Jamaican Homophobia

August 6, 2014

First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaica’s Buggery Law –  in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom NEW YORK – On the 52nd anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from the United Kingdom, human rights activists renew their calls for the repeal of that country’s buggery law, which effectively criminalizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender … More Activists Protest Jamaican Homophobia

Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

August 1, 2014

Jubilation as the  the Ugandan Court agreed – the AHA is Unconstitutional ! Well done to the Plaintiffs.  Congratulations to the Plaintiff team for your extraordinary courage and your resolve and the credit must go to all those who worked so hard on every front, especially the hard work of the extraordinary legal team – … More Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

Inter Religious Council of Uganda Admits on Court Record to key influence of the Anti-Homosexuality Act

July 31, 2014

A Wake up call to funders and others such as The Catholic Church which supports this organization through memberships, grants or donations. By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2014. The Christian group, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has admitted on the record to its direct participation in the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) of Uganda, by asking to be … More Inter Religious Council of Uganda Admits on Court Record to key influence of the Anti-Homosexuality Act

Christians and Anti-Gay Groups of Uganda Fight To Save Anti-Homosexuality Act

July 30, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 30, 2014. In a further attack against gays, the Christian and anti-gay groups of Uganda are trying a desperate move to try and defeat the Ugandan Human Rights defender Plaintiff’s from succeeding to prove that the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was signed into law in February of this year, is unconstitutional. These … More Christians and Anti-Gay Groups of Uganda Fight To Save Anti-Homosexuality Act

Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

July 24, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2014.The Kenya  Court  has ruled that a transgender advocacy group has the right to official registration The Daily Nation reports in Nairobi Kenya, that the high court in Kenya, in a landmark ruling , ordered the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) coordination board in Kenya to register an advocacy group for transgender people … More Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

UK High Court Finds Detained Fast Track Asylum System Unlawful

July 9, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan, July 09, 2014. In a landmark ruling in a case brought by Detention Action, the High Court has today found that the way the government operates the Detained Fast Track asylum system is unlawful. Read the full judgment here and a summary briefing here. The charity Detention Action challenged the operation … More UK High Court Finds Detained Fast Track Asylum System Unlawful

Zambian men acquitted of homosexuality charge

July 3, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 03, 2014.After over a year of unjust postponements, bail refusals and time spent in jail, waiting for trial, a Zambian magistrate has finally acquitted two men charged with having sexual relations “against the order of nature.” The two men were arrested after being reported to the police by one of Mubiana’s … More Zambian men acquitted of homosexuality charge

Video Proof that UK Christian Extremist Shinners Supported Kill the Gays Bill

June 25, 2014

Paul Shinners lie finally exposed after he tried to accuse me of defamation By Melanie Nathan, June 25, 2014. Since exposing Paul Shinners, the U.K. St. Neots owner of Cornerstone Christian Coffee and Bookstore,  as an Evangelical Christian extremist, who spoke at the Ugandan New Years Eve Rally, commending Ugandans for their legislative stance against … More Video Proof that UK Christian Extremist Shinners Supported Kill the Gays Bill

Ugandan LGBT Community Loses Workshop Lawsuit Against Minister of Justice

June 23, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 23, 2014. Today the LGBT Community in Uganda suffered a blow when the case they had brought in the Ugandan courts against the Attorney General and the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Fr. Simon Lokodo, was dismissed with legal costs awarded against them. The case was brought after the Minister closed … More Ugandan LGBT Community Loses Workshop Lawsuit Against Minister of Justice

Opening of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta

June 19, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 20, 2014. On June 18, 2014, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) opened in Valletta, Malta. U.S. Ambassador to Malta, Gina K. Abercrombie-Winstanley, was joined by Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella and other senior officials from the twelve IIJ founding member nations (Algeria, France, Italy, … More Opening of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta

NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It

June 5, 2014

#ENDAIsNOTequal #DeadENDA #ENDENDA #WTFHRC By Melanie Nathan, June 05, 2014. Washington Blade is reporting that The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)  announced today that it does not support the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act pending before Congress because of the bill’s religious exemption. A schism has developed amongst activists with grassroots pitted … More NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It