Category: NEWS

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender news and perspectives of LGBT community

One Billion Rising protests planned for V-Day to end Violence against Women and Girls

February 12, 2013

V-Day -A Global call to action By Melanie Nathan, Feb 12, 2014. South Africa – On February 14, South Africa will be part of a global movement for change – ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Sonke … More One Billion Rising protests planned for V-Day to end Violence against Women and Girls

Ugandan LGBTI Community braces as Anti-Homosexuality Bill to be Debated in Parliament Tomorrow

February 11, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, Feb 11, 2013. Ugandan LGBTI community is bracing itself for the moment that they knew would come, but hoped would not, as they report that The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, also known as the Kill the Gays Bill, is scheduled for its second debate tomorrow, in Uganda’s Parliament. This could lead to swift passage … More Ugandan LGBTI Community braces as Anti-Homosexuality Bill to be Debated in Parliament Tomorrow

Grammy for Lesbian who beats Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama and other Lesbian

February 10, 2013

OMG and many other of the famed in name… By Melanie’s other personality.. I mean Mel really does NOT write like this… right? Feb 10, 2013. Janis Ian, the lesbian poet /singer, famed for that song about being seventeen or something – happened to beat out Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama and other of famed … More Grammy for Lesbian who beats Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama and other Lesbian

Controversial Journalist Andrew Mwenda on educating Ugandans to counter homophobia

February 9, 2013

Andrew Mwenda is still a great ally and an important voice and I do not purport to understand Ugandans better than he does, however I believe strongly that it is time for people in his capacity to introduce a much more productive and proactive route toward the truth about homosexuality for presentation to Ugandans. View … More Controversial Journalist Andrew Mwenda on educating Ugandans to counter homophobia

GetEQUAL to Protest at White House before President Obama’s State of the Union

February 8, 2013

LGBT Civil Rights Group GetEQUAL asks President Obama to Keep His ENDA First-Term Promise By Melanie Nathan, Feb 08, 2013. On Sunday, February 10 – just two days before President Obama’s State of the Union Address – members of GetEQUAL DC will gather outside the White House to remind President Barack Obama of a first-term … More GetEQUAL to Protest at White House before President Obama’s State of the Union

President Obama Speaks at Event Sponsored by Secretive Group Known as “The Family”

February 7, 2013

 While the President Eschews LGBT Equality he Supports Group Behind “Kill the Gays” Bill in Uganda and GetEQUAL  did not stage  its annual responsive “Breakfast Without Bigotry” which protests  outside the National Prayer Breakfast because Michael Dixon, the lead organizer died suddenly  last week. He died unequal under the law. WASHINGTON, DC — Today President … More President Obama Speaks at Event Sponsored by Secretive Group Known as “The Family”

VISUAL AIDS PRESENT POSITIVE ASSERTIONS: FOUR ARTIST SNAPSHOTS

February 7, 2013

At the NYC LGBT Community Center – and Visual AIDS present an interactive slideshow with four on-the-ground LGBT artists: Amos Mac, Devin Elijah, Ivan Monforte and Jessica Whitbred, hosted by Sacha Yanow. By Melanie Nathan, Feb 07, 2013. The Center is proud to partner with Visual AIDS to present Positive Assertions: Four Artist Snapshots, an … More VISUAL AIDS PRESENT POSITIVE ASSERTIONS: FOUR ARTIST SNAPSHOTS

Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2013. The Defense of Marriage Act  (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and woman only, and so a same-sex American spouse (citizen or resident) cannot petition for a foreign spouse to obtain a green card and citizenship.   That means that married same-sex couples cannot benefit from the same Federal … More Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

David Cecil British Producer detained for Deportation from Uganda

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, Feb. 07, 2013.  3:00 am PST Updated: Feb 12, 2013 –  Sources in Uganda confirm that British play producer David Cecil was deported last night.  Also confirmed by  British foreign office spokesman who told the BBC that Mr Cecil was deported on Monday evening. “We are concerned that he was deported without … More David Cecil British Producer detained for Deportation from Uganda

Valentines day petition to Ugandan Parliament

February 6, 2013

Petitioning Members of the Ugandan Parliament to end the push for anti-gay legislation once and for all A Valentine for Frank Mugisha Imagine a life where your sexual orientation or gender identity can be punished by death, by your own government. This is reality for Frank Mugisha and hundreds of thousands of LGBTI people living in Uganda, … More Valentines day petition to Ugandan Parliament

Ugandan Parliament resumes with anti-gay bill 8th on Agenda

February 5, 2013

Keeping guard over the Kill the Gays Bill By Melanie Nathan, Feb. 05, 2013. By the time the Ugandan Parliament went into holiday recess at the end of last year the Anti-homosexuality bill had not yet seen passage.  At that time the Bill had teetered at number one position on the Order Papers (Agenda) for … More Ugandan Parliament resumes with anti-gay bill 8th on Agenda

South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

February 2, 2013

Claiming the streets in protest for justice By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2013. Today a large group of lesbians, carrying signs and the South African gay flag,  from a variety of Townships around the Cape Town area, took to the streets singing and chanting for justice to draw attention to the issue of corrective rape … More South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

Pastor Scott Lively as pirate | Award winning attorney’s insights into Smug v Lively

February 1, 2013

Straight ally attorney to be honored for equality work at ST. Paul’s dinner – would like to file an Amicus brief in CCR case of  SMUG v. Lively By Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2013. Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, President of St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, recently interviewed Eric Isaacson, a straight attorney and LGBT ally, … More Pastor Scott Lively as pirate | Award winning attorney’s insights into Smug v Lively

Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

January 31, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 31, 2013. Recently we reported on the arrests of two youth human rights defenders from the LGBTI group, Youth on the Rock, who were arrested by police around New Years eve,  on accusations of homosexuality and recruiting people into homosexuality. Yesterday a third person who had been sought by the police … More Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate

January 31, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2013. We have been reporting on the recent debacle between Oxford Union, the debating society, in the U.K. and Scott Lively, where something went suspiciously awry with the invitation to Lively to debate the issue of Gay parenting. In a nutshell, Oxford Union’s debate topic ‘This house would be glad … More Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate

On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

January 29, 2013

The Marin Human Rights Commission By Melanie Nathan, January, 28,2013. Just last week a Commission to which I was appointed a few years ago, The Marin Human Rights Commission,  held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Gala , where we honored a fellow Commissioner, Marna Cohen, with a Lifetime Social Justice award.  Sadly Commissioner Marna … More On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

January 29, 2013

Lost-n-Found – A do it yourself homeless queer youth shelter By Cathy Kristofferson, January 29, 2013.  Update Feb. 7 2013: Creating Change ’13 Conference session handout. In the fall of 2011 I saw posts online about a new queer youth shelter opening in Atlanta.  Local homeless queer youth were being turned away from shelters and … More Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples

January 29, 2013

A path to citizenship for all, if Obama’s plan is followed and the  U.S. Congress includes binational same-sex couples. Posted by Melanie Nathan, Jan 29, 2013. Today, President Barack Obama announced his support for comprehensive immigration reform that would establish a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and make it possible for US citizens in … More President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform. LGBT same-sex couples should not have to go through the trauma of the snub and exclusion by Senators Schumer and McCain et al, even at this early level of negotiations. It has been many years – should we say 20 at least – that … More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

Expectations that Obama to call for inclusion of same-sex couples: UPDATED – CONTRARY TO SPECULATION OBAMA FAILED TO MENTION THE SNUB OF LGBT SAME-SEX BINATIONALS in the McCAIN Schumer immigration reform plan. Maybe it is in his written plan? But Obama does include them in his written Proposal. By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2013, 7.30 … More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

January 28, 2013

Bipartisan bound to snub binationals indicative of failed Immigration Equality strategy, as gays tossed under the bus. By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2013 (nathan@privatecourts.com) A bipartisan group of Senators from both parties revealed today the framework of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, including a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million … More Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

January 27, 2013

Help Youth on Rock Find a Home and a Safe house by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. I reported the unlawful arrest of a young leader from the human rights group in Uganda, Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), around New Year’s Eve, after the break in at SMUG’s offices, where computers containing sensitive information were … More Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

January 27, 2013

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”  Elie Wiesel By Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. Holocaust Memorial Day  is commemorated throughout different parts of the world, each year on Jan. 27, the day of liberation from Auschwitz. It is … More On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

January 27, 2013

This Must Watch Video, on the second anniversary of David Kato’s death,  features David Kato, President Obama,  Politicians, Human Rights Defenders, Pastors, Bahati,  and all sides of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill’s debate Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. This must watch video, by Luis Arellano & Carlos Maldonado is one of the most comprehensive I have seen … More Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil

January 26, 2013

““The U.S. is a chosen country, an evangelical country, and if Americans don’t take God out of there, God won’t leave.”” By Jandira Queiroz, on January 26, 2013 Jandira Queiroz is a research fellow at Political Research Associates and a longtime reproductive and LGBTQ rights advocate in Brazil. From a modest building in a central … More Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil

David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

January 25, 2013

On January 26, 2011 the world received the shocking news of the murder of one of Uganda’s brave LGBTI warriors,  a hero then and still a hero now. By Melanie Nathan, January 25, 2013. David Kato was born to the Kisule clan in its ancestral village of Nakawala, Namataba, Mukono District, in Uganda.  The younger … More David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

January 24, 2013

Uganda’s representative and honorary Consul to Los Angeles is a U.S. Christian broadcaster and happens to be Vice President of TBN By Melanie Nathan, January 23, 2013. It is a much publicized fact that certain Christian Evangelical pastors from the United States, not only influenced the current state of anti-homosexual sentiment in Uganda, but may also … More Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda

January 23, 2013

Gospel of Intolerance: The filmmaker Roger Ross Williams reveals how money donated by American evangelicals helps to finance a violent anti-gay movement in Uganda; though the Video offering may not be without controversy. By Melanie Nathan January 23, 2013. ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS was raised in Pennsylvania, and  grew up in the black church. He exposes … More NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda