UCSF to Honor Three With Chancellor’s Award for GLBT Leadership

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, Three members of the UCSF community will be awarded the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and/or Transgender (GLBT) Leadership on Monday, June 13. Included is my friend and fellow activist on immigration equality issues, Chris Waddling of the grassroots organization OUT4Immigration.  Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, will present awards … More UCSF to Honor Three With Chancellor’s Award for GLBT Leadership

California Eleven Bills Authored by Senator Mark Leno Pass Senate Floor

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, SACRAMENTO – Eleven bills authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) – the openly gay California State Senator from San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma Counties- passed the Senate this week and will proceed to the Assembly. The measures include legislation that allows farmers in California to cultivate hemp, a bill that … More California Eleven Bills Authored by Senator Mark Leno Pass Senate Floor

GetEQUAL North Carolina LGBT Activists Arrested at State Capitol

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan RALEIGH, NC – Following GetEQUAL NC’s — a direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization; “Rally in Raleigh” today — an event to protest the anti-gay Senate Bill 106 — local gay activists were arrested for disrupting the legislative session in progress when they demanded full legal recognition … More GetEQUAL North Carolina LGBT Activists Arrested at State Capitol

California Assembly Passes Anti-LGBT Bullying Bill for Colleges and Universities

06/02/2011, By Melanie Nathan, Sacramento – Yesterday, the California State Assembly passed the Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education bill (AB 620) in a 51-24 vote. Introduced by Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would help reduce bullying and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students … More California Assembly Passes Anti-LGBT Bullying Bill for Colleges and Universities

CA Legislation to Close Gap between Marriage and Domestic Partnership Advances

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan Sacramento – Yesterday, the California State Senate passed legislation that would eliminate a statutory difference and inequity between marriage and domestic partnerships. Authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California, the Domestic Partnership Equality Act (SB 651) passed in a 23-15 vote. Specifically, the bill would eliminate … More CA Legislation to Close Gap between Marriage and Domestic Partnership Advances

CA State Senate First Bill in Nation to Include Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Same-Sex Relationship Status in Two Statewide Government Surveys

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, Sacramento – Authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would enable the state to gather vital data about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; no that yesterday, the California State Senate passed the Survey Data Inclusion Act (SB 416). This requires the state … More CA State Senate First Bill in Nation to Include Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Same-Sex Relationship Status in Two Statewide Government Surveys

Pride Pride Pride 2011

06/02/2011 Melanie Nathan העמוד הרשמי של שבוע הגאווה העירוני. יועלו עדכונים שוטפים על כל האירועים, המסיבות ומה שאסור לפספס במהלך שבוע הגאווה שיתחיל ב -03/06 ויגיע לשיאו במצעד הגאווה ב 10/06 תחת הכותרת ״גאה להיות שווה- צועדים יחד למען שוויון חברתי״. Tel Aviv Pride June 03, 2011 -העמוד הרשמי This is the official page for … More Pride Pride Pride 2011

California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote.

o6/01/2011, by Melanie Nathan Sacramento-Yesterday, the California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote. Authored by Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would eliminate an exemption in state law that enables insurance companies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Under California law, insurance companies and … More California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote.

Au Pair – New Lesbian Book Bound to be a Classic

06/01/2011, by Melanie Nathan Falling madly in love, even when you know that by loving you risk all you have…it could happen to anyone! So is the premise of this extraordinary journey, by an author into a realm of truth; one which may have, like many, remained unexplored, even when wrenched by voracious desire. The … More Au Pair – New Lesbian Book Bound to be a Classic

D.C. Capital Pride Announces Jennifer Holliday

06/01/2011, by Melanie Nathan Washington, D.C., June 1, 2011 – Capital Pride announced that Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday will replace Kelly Rowland as the Capital Pride Festival’s headlining entertainer. Jennifer Holliday is best known for her debut single, the Dreamgirls showstopper and Grammy Award-winning R&B/Pop hit, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” “We … More D.C. Capital Pride Announces Jennifer Holliday

Moscow Pride: Police Attack Genderqueer Activist Anna Komarova – First Interview

05/30/2011, Melanie Nathan,  4.03 PM (PST) Moscow: One of the most courageous voices of GayRussia, a group that organizes direct LGBTQI action, is Anna Komarova.   Anna, a genderqueer activist was one of the eighteen LGBTQI rights protesters arrested, as they tried to stage the banned Moscow Gay Pride parade on Saturday.  All were roughly manhandled … More Moscow Pride: Police Attack Genderqueer Activist Anna Komarova – First Interview

GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item

05/26/2011, by Melanie Nathan, San Francisco -Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club in a high school or middle school that brings together LGBTQI and straight students to support each other, provide a safe place to socialize, and create a platform for activism to fight homophobia and transphobia. On June 09, 2011, Geoffrey De … More GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item

NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) presented its highest honors to five trailblazers, including country singer Chely Wright, in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at its 34th Anniversary Celebration … More NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

South Africa; Shocking Photos of Corrective Rape Victim

By Melanie Nathan, April 05, 2010 ‘The Victim Millicent Gaika contacted me via a caregiver; I was shocked to receive this and more photos.  They may not be reproduced without my permission The Face Of Corrective Lesbian Rape In South Africa 4/5/10-by Melanie Nathan This is the face of South African lesbian who was beaten … More South Africa; Shocking Photos of Corrective Rape Victim

THE LGBTQI PINK PRINT – A Liberation Plan for Gay USA

Simplicity in the name of a movement By   MELANIE NATHAN, April 10, 2010 What happened to our LGBTQI movement?  Since 1970, post Stonewall ?   We have a quest for gay marriage rights, we have a quest for social security, we have a quest for immigration equality, to serve openly in the military, to … More THE LGBTQI PINK PRINT – A Liberation Plan for Gay USA

Bi-nationals – Take Back your Right to your FIGHT

Dear Friends,   Since June of this year I have been critical about Immigration Equality’s strategy – in promoting our UAFA  through inclusion in Comprehensive Immigration reform (CIR) as a priority strategy.   My sense of logic told me that by doing so they would be ‘shooting us in the foot’- as they would in effect limit … More Bi-nationals – Take Back your Right to your FIGHT

reBlog from lezgetreal.com: SkyWest Treating Calfornia Same-Sex Marriages As Unequal

11/01/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire Marriages stemming from the time when California accepted and recognized same-sex marriages are not being recognized as being actual marriages according to a married gay couple in California.lezgetreal.com, SkyWest Treating Calfornia Same-Sex Marriages As Unequal, Oct 2009 You should read the whole article.

Judge refuses to throw out Prop 8 Challenge- while arraigning anti-same sex marriage Rhetoric

a Federal Judge in San Francisco asked the backers of California’s voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriage to explain how allowing gay couples to wed threatens straight marriages. Much to my personal delight the lawyer for the supporters of Prop 8, Charles Cooper acknowledged he did not know. … More Judge refuses to throw out Prop 8 Challenge- while arraigning anti-same sex marriage Rhetoric

I AM HERE WITH YOU IN THAT FIGHT and yet I give as much as the law allows?

I was skeptical about President Obama’s speech and yet hopeful. The short version of this post is that I was generally pleased. Of course I could highlight what was left out and the uncertainties that remain for our full equality, yet my ‘glass half full’ beckons and I succumb! Admittedly, the strongest language yet from … More I AM HERE WITH YOU IN THAT FIGHT and yet I give as much as the law allows?

AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

“Hun, we live in a world where peoples are often so full of fear which is usually because of ignorance, – there are all sorts of different families – but they have usually only experienced their own. The unknown teririfies them; so they lash out in this way. What you heard on that ad, was unfair and contorted, but that is how the people who are against the idea of same-sex marriage think they can get other people to join their way of thinking.”

I provided more reassurance as best I could. A few more questions and answers later we arrived at school, and went on with the next two weeks, during which time HC and my four year old accompanied me to various “NO ON 8” rallies; “no on 8, no on 8,” a battle cry still performed by my 4 year old whenever she sees the number 8, whether in the market, at school or in the movies.

More AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

Please Mr. President No Mere Nods – we have our Vehicle to Repeal DOMA Now!

Re-BLOG and as amended- Lezgetreal -770 views   on this post In your acknowledgment herein-below of our de facto existence is it not time to equate with more than a mere nod, with our de jure rights? Now that Rep. Jerrold Nadler has provided the vehicle, by way of Respect for Marriage Bill- you have the opportunity, … More Please Mr. President No Mere Nods – we have our Vehicle to Repeal DOMA Now!

reBlog from lezgetreal.com: Please Mr. President No Mere Nods; we have our Vehicle to Repeal DOMA Now!

I wrote this for LGR BLOG today:                                               In your acknowledgment herein-below of our de facto existence is it not time to equate with more than a mere nod, with our de jure rights?lezgetreal.com, Please Mr. President No Mere Nods – we have our Vehicle to Repeal DOMA Now!, Sep 2009 You should read the whole … More reBlog from lezgetreal.com: Please Mr. President No Mere Nods; we have our Vehicle to Repeal DOMA Now!

Breaking – President Clinton retracts on DOMA and its Impact on Immigration Equality

I predict more will come forward and if one looks at the tally, and I can report more later, it is apparent that some who have already in this short spate of time signed on RMA were not signed on to Uniting American Families Act, the immigration legislation. this is the uplift we need. Imagine if our in fact marriages were in fact recognized by the law – hence our relationships – at this level. DADT -ENDA-HATE CRIMES-UAFA- all will be psychologically rolled into this one BIG ENDORSEMENT! … More Breaking – President Clinton retracts on DOMA and its Impact on Immigration Equality

Shirley Tan -Jay Mercado and the Twins visit the White House

When all was lost and there was no “next step” for Shirley Tan, about to be deported  within mere weeks, Molly McKay of Marriage Equality called my office to see if I could be of assistance.   Unfortunately Shirley’s was a losing case and she was told that there was nothing anyone could do to help … More Shirley Tan -Jay Mercado and the Twins visit the White House