Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

Tomorrow the UN debates Human Rights for LGBT people By Melanie Nathan, 03/06/2012, For us in the USA, “gay rights” is associated with the debate over equality and is about whether LGBTI people should be allowed to marry, adopt, serve in the military, be subject to baseless firing from jobs. Yet others in the World … More Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

The threats gave the individuals, whose names and ages were listed, four days to stop their behavior or else face the wrath of God, and were to be carried out by the Mujahedin.
According to sources inside Iraq,as reported apparently by IGHLRC, as the result of this new surge of anti-gay violence close to 40 people have been kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered. … More Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

For the last 2,000 years, Christians have been taught to believe that Apostle Paul condemned homosexuality. But a new discovery documents that he deliberately acknowledged that it does not prevent anyone from entering heaven. This discovery by internationally acclaimed cryptographer Michael Wood removes the final barrier to full societal acceptance of gays and lesbians. … More Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

Cape Town With Love and Pride Pictures and Reflections

SOUTH AFRICA KEYNOTE SPEECH – CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2011 MELANIE NATHAN 03/02/2011 Greetings, comrades, lesbians, gays, queers, LGBTQI people, allies, and everyone in between. It is a great honor for me to be here tonight -thanks to my fellow bloggers, Marriage Equality USA MEUSA, and my family and friends back home in the US for … More Cape Town With Love and Pride Pictures and Reflections

IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

By Melanie Nathan, 03/02/2012, Washington, D.C. – On February 24 and 25, 2012 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a meeting of independent experts on “Violence and Impunity against Lesbians, Gays, and Trans, Bisexual and Intersex Persons” (LGTBI). More than 20 experts attended the meeting organized by the IACHR under the auspices of … More IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive

Allegedly tested for HIV without consent, found positive and subsequently dismissed, detained and deported, a South African journalist is attempting to take his case against Qatar to the International Labour Organization (ILO) to change the country’s HIV travel and employment laws. … More South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive

Anti-Homosexuality Law in St. Petersburg Mobilizes International Gay Lesbian Community

Today, lawmakers in St. Petersburg adopted a bill that would impose fines of up to $16,700 for the “promotion of homosexuality.” The bill, if signed in to law by the City Governor in the next 14 days, will criminalize reading, writing, speaking or reporting on anything related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. … More Anti-Homosexuality Law in St. Petersburg Mobilizes International Gay Lesbian Community

Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

Speech at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva By Melanie Nathan, 02/29/2012 The Human Rights Council in Geneva  has heard it from Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations who  reiterated this week that homophobia is incompatible with Commonwealth values. This sends a signal from the top that persecution based on sexuality … More Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

By Melanie Nathan, 02/28/2012, JOHANNESBURG -Great excitement hit the gay community in South Africa Monday, when the first ever gay Billboard went up in South Africa, near Melrose Arch on M1 South in Johannesburg. Much to the awe of the empowered LGBTI community in South Africa, the tone is set to ready the country for … More Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

“You see, the mere mention of benefits for same-sex couples on a website, or the mere mention of inclusion of LGBT people in corporate diversity hiring policies, are tantamount to the “promotion” of homosexuality in Uganda, under the AHB!” Melanie Nathan, 02/27/2012, Last week I received a phone call from the folks at Change.org asking … More Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

Ugandan President Museveni Warns Obama and Cameron on Promotion of Homosexuality

My Response to the Ugandan President’s London Interview as noted in Ugandan Daily Monitor. By Melanie Nathan, 02/26/2012 The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni says Uganda “does not persecute gays, but resents promotion of gay activities.” According to the Uganda Monitor, this is the first time the President, who was in London for a one-day … More Ugandan President Museveni Warns Obama and Cameron on Promotion of Homosexuality

Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell

Calling Leaders who believe in Justice and Equality Weak is direct insult to Mandela! Melanie Nathan, 02/26/2012 Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe ended his 88th birthday celebrations with a message for the youth of his country and the rest of Africa, asking them to shun Western values, homosexuality and greed. All this in the context of … More Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell

While Nelson Mandela’s Health an Issue Uganda and Liberia forge Apartheid

What would Madiba have said and done about the Anti-homosexuality Bills in Uganda and Liberia? Melanie Nathan , February 25, 2012 While Liberia and Uganda are forging their anti-homosexuality agendas, former South African President Nelson Mandela, 93, who has not been available for some time to advise on ANC policy, was rushed to hospital with … More While Nelson Mandela’s Health an Issue Uganda and Liberia forge Apartheid

Kentucky | Feds step up Enforcement of Hate Crimes

U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey has issued an alert to those who intend to commit hate crimes in Central and Eastern Kentucky, with a simple message: “Don’t.” To those who might consider attacking people because of their race or sexual orientation, “They need to understand that they’re playing with fire, that it won’t be tolerated,” … More Kentucky | Feds step up Enforcement of Hate Crimes

Kentucky Pastor’s Affirming Gays and Lesbians Splits from Baptist Association

By Melanie Nathan, February 25, 2012, In an article by Jim Warren posted on Kentucky.com, Lexington’s Central Baptist Church withdrew from the Elkhorn Baptist Association after its minister’s supportive position on gay and lesbian issues was questioned by a pastor in another association church. The article goes on to note that Rev. Mark Johnson, pastor … More Kentucky Pastor’s Affirming Gays and Lesbians Splits from Baptist Association

Gaywheels talk KIA, Porsche, as LGBT Americans may be Driving Unfriendly Vehicles

By Melanie Nathan, 02/24/2012 I recently read a report fro Gaywheels site that Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki offer no protections or benefits for their LGBT employees. Of the 37 car companies Gaywheels has surveyed,  33 are gay-friendly (at least to some degree).   While only four are lagging behind, it is unconscionable considering that every single … More Gaywheels talk KIA, Porsche, as LGBT Americans may be Driving Unfriendly Vehicles

Ugandan Law Society Speaks out Against The Bahati Anti-Homosexuality Bill

By Melanie Nathan, February, 23, 2012 The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has warned that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, if enacted into law in its current state, would institutionalize discrimination against those ‘who are, or thought to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender’ and have noted that it would be contrary to human rights. The Bill … More Ugandan Law Society Speaks out Against The Bahati Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Immigration Equality Fails Binational Same-Sex Couples Again

Immigration Equality Seeks to blame Obama Administration for its own ineffectiveness and fainting mission By Melanie Nathan, February 23, 2012 Andrew Harmon at the Advocate reports that The Obama Administration held talks with LGBT groups on January 30, and the “big ask” was rejected.  “While the administration has taken affirmative steps in recent months to … More Immigration Equality Fails Binational Same-Sex Couples Again

Speaker Boehner Wastes Taxpayers Money as he Loses to Lesbian in Ruling

By Melanie Nathan, February 22, 2012. San Francisco – Speaker Boehner had made an attempt to fight the Karen Golinski’s case in her quest to seek health care benefits from the court when her Federal employer had declined to provide them, citing the Defense of Marriage Act as reason for its denial. The speaker lost … More Speaker Boehner Wastes Taxpayers Money as he Loses to Lesbian in Ruling

Barclays Bank Must Speak out Against Criminalization of Homosexuality in Uganda and Africa

Or stop being hypocrites by displaying diversity programs on your websites….  LGBT people who work for Barclays worldwide should be asking their employers to speak out against criminalization of homosexuality before it is too late!  This applies to all doing business in Africa! By Melanie Nathan, February 21, 2012, (I first wrote this piece on … More Barclays Bank Must Speak out Against Criminalization of Homosexuality in Uganda and Africa

California Senator Mark Leno’s BIll Should Help Thwart Religious Freedom Fears

CA Senator Mark Leno Introduces Bill Reaffirming Religious Freedom . SB 1140 reinforces that no clergy member will be required to perform any marriage that is against his or her belief system. So maybe the religious right can stop whining about lesbian and gay civil rights to marriage equality. by Mel Nathan, February 21st, 2012 … More California Senator Mark Leno’s BIll Should Help Thwart Religious Freedom Fears

Liberia New Anti-Homosexuality Bill Text | Death for Gays and Lesbians

First viewing of proposed text of bill. By Melanie Nathan,  2/21/2012 Expressed many times on my blog, is the fear that David Bahati’s Kill the Gays Bill, currently before the Ugandan Parliament, could well spread to other parts of Africa , as it is accompanied by the promotion of much anti-gay rhetoric and myth.  It … More Liberia New Anti-Homosexuality Bill Text | Death for Gays and Lesbians