Ugandans May be Back Peddling on Anti-Gay Bill

Stephen Tashobya, chair of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Ugandan Parliament, declines to promise to return the bill to Parliament within the 45 day period required by Parliament rule and he declined to comment about any pressure from the Executive branch to stall the bill. Stephen Tashobya, chair of the Legal and Parliamentary … More Ugandans May be Back Peddling on Anti-Gay Bill

AFER VIDEO | Prop 8 Unconstitutional AFER Press Conference Highlights

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2012. Proposition 8, the 2008 measure that stripped same-sex couples of the right to marry in California, has now been found by two Federal Courts to be unconstitutional! Prop 8 discriminates against same-sex couples in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This week a majority from … More AFER VIDEO | Prop 8 Unconstitutional AFER Press Conference Highlights

Uganda’s Homophobic Parliament vs Concerned Spiritual leaders | Return of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill |

“If you are Lesbian, when you come to Uganda to entice our young people to join you in the immoral vice of homosexuality, we shall arrest you….” Y. Bihande by Melanie Nathan, 02/10/2012 This week the Ugandan Parliament got one step closer to legalizing persecution in its country.  David Bahati, the MP from Nordwa province … More Uganda’s Homophobic Parliament vs Concerned Spiritual leaders | Return of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill |

Video Ugandan Parliament Erupts into Applause as Anti-Homosexuality Bill Introduced

Ugandan  Parliament erupts in applause as Government pretends to distance itself from the kill the Gays Bill  by Melanie Nathan, February 09, 2012 We have been reporting for the past ten days about Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality bill of  2009 which has been reintroduced in its original form into the Ugandan 9th Parliament.   This Bill includes … More Video Ugandan Parliament Erupts into Applause as Anti-Homosexuality Bill Introduced

Kill The Gays Bahati Says Uganda Will Not be Blackmailed by the West

State Department Please take action now – LGBT World time for action now as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is about to Pass the Ugandan Parliament; Is Bahati Booting Gays out of Uganda? No he would rather they languish in prison – he told me so! by Melanie Nathan, 02/08/2012 Today the Ugandan Parliament got one step … More Kill The Gays Bahati Says Uganda Will Not be Blackmailed by the West

Uganda Kill The Gays Bill is read in Parliament Today | Conversation with Bahati

By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2012, Further to my earlier report and now according to Warren Throckmorton Helen Kawesa, Uganda’s Parliamentary spokesperson informs  today that David Bahati’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill is on the agenda to be tabled for a first reading in today’s session of Parliament. Throckmorton’s post reads:- Kawesa said, “The bill will go through a … More Uganda Kill The Gays Bill is read in Parliament Today | Conversation with Bahati

California Braces for Prop 8 Ruling | List of Pro Same-sex Marriage Events

Breaking News Prop 8 Ruling TOMORROW morning | Events Planned . February 6th, 2012 COMMUNITY EVENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO ON DAY NINTH CIRCUIT ANNOUNCES PROP 8 DECISION Please join same-sex couples, LGBTIQ people, friends, family, and clergy for 2 events on the day that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announces its decision regarding Proposition … More California Braces for Prop 8 Ruling | List of Pro Same-sex Marriage Events

National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR hires New Deputy Director

by Melanie Nathan, Feb. 06, 2012, 10.20 am. After a long and thorough national search for a new deputy director, NCLR is announcing that they have found the perfect fit in Arcelia Hurtado,  who is one of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys. Hurtado will be joining NCLR staff in April as the new deputy … More National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR hires New Deputy Director

Uganda Parliament to Debate Anti-Homosexuality Bill Next Week

The Anti-homosexuality Bill has become known as the Kill-The-Gays-Bill and has caused an international outcry. by Melanie Nathan, 02/04/2012 7:00 AM Uganda’s, Anti Homosexuality bill of  2009 is due for debate when parliament resumes business in Uganda next week, according to a source who made contact with me.  This Bill includes the death penalty for … More Uganda Parliament to Debate Anti-Homosexuality Bill Next Week

Deportation to Anti-Gay Uganda | Past and Future of Gay Detainee Joseph Bukombe

Editor’s Advocacy Note:   The Obama Administration has indicated via recent memo and speeches the strong support for International LGBT human rights. As an activist in this arena we implore upon the administration to not mince their words and to show action as well here on home turf!  That would include protecting asylum seekers such as … More Deportation to Anti-Gay Uganda | Past and Future of Gay Detainee Joseph Bukombe

Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

For White House Briefing:- Young leaders note, I encourage all concerned with LGBT rights in America and globally to consider the question of  the criminalization of being gay as it impacts our LGBTI brothers and sisters and gender free persons on the continent of Africa…. Melanie Nathan by Melanie Nathan, 02/03/2012 Black History Month is … More Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

NLGJA Benefit Hosts | Soledad O’Brien & Jane Velez-Mitchell

Hosts for New York Benefit by Melanie Nathan,  02/03/2012 Washington, D.C. – Today the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) announced that CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell will co-host the 17th annual New York Benefit. “Headlines & Headliners” will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012, from 6:30-9:30pm at the Mitchell Gold … More NLGJA Benefit Hosts | Soledad O’Brien & Jane Velez-Mitchell

Susan G. Komen Cancer Apologizes and now will Fund Planned Parenthood

Statement falls short of the truth! Will Susan G. Komen ever be the same? The spin falls short for progressives like me and I will have a hard time trusting their motives again… oh what a shame! by Melanie Nathan, February 03, 2012 Smiling faces, pink T-Shirts and pink balloons and the festive atmosphere of … More Susan G. Komen Cancer Apologizes and now will Fund Planned Parenthood

U.S. Deputy Sec. of State talks Human Rights to Uganda’s President Museveni

US subtle warnings… diplomacy reigns supreme as US supports the African Union events this past month.. By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2012 US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns has concluded his week-long visit to Africa in Ethiopia, venue of the 18th African Union Summit, the US State Department said in a statement obtained by … More U.S. Deputy Sec. of State talks Human Rights to Uganda’s President Museveni

Uganda Embarks Upon Aggressive HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan includes Circumcision

To include the 2008 Circumcision Plan The Ugandan government has launched a new HIV/AIDS prevention strategy and plan for the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by 2015.  The Program  Manager at the AIDS Control Programme (ACP) Zainab Akol said under the plan, measures are to be adopted to include a more cost-effective … More Uganda Embarks Upon Aggressive HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan includes Circumcision

AIDS ACTION ALERT | Protect the Health of All People Living with HIV/AIDS

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has issued this important alert; and your comments are needed: Posted by Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2012 In 2014, thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS will have access to private insurance—many for the first time—thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and to the … More AIDS ACTION ALERT | Protect the Health of All People Living with HIV/AIDS

South Africa Lesbian Killers| Zoliswa Gets Justice at Last

Lesbian Murderers Receive 18 years and Magistrate sets hate crimes acknowledgment precedent by Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2012. A cheer rang out and the crowd sang and danced outside the Khayelitsha Courthouse, Cape Town, South Africa, the scene of over thirty postponements in a murder trial that shocked the world, taking five years to meter … More South Africa Lesbian Killers| Zoliswa Gets Justice at Last

HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines

HUD has officially announced publication of the final rule entitled Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today new regulations intended to ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of … More HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines

United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery

LGBT people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have attacked a YouTube video ‘tutorial’ which may depict an attempt to scrub away the gay, under the guise of a title “Be Yourself.” However, from a Western point of view, is the tutorial a mockery of the process of curing homosexuality through a rendition of a … More United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery

New HIV/AIDS Analysis | Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”

Includes Other Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) | The report examines the progress and shortcomings of PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the UNGASS reporting system, managed by UNAIDS, and draws on data collected from on-the-ground researchers in eight countries: China, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Viet Nam. NEW YORK, January 18, … More New HIV/AIDS Analysis | Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”

New AIDS Research | Examine Risks with Long-Term ARV Use

New research finds no evidence of increased risk of all-cause and non-AIDS death with long-term ARV use.. Antiretroviral drugs are medications for the treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily HIV. When several such drugs, typically three or four, are taken in combination, the approach is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART. The American … More New AIDS Research | Examine Risks with Long-Term ARV Use

South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2012 UPDATED Cape Town, January 28, 2012:  The Flag Boys did it! The won best dressed couple – Imagine gay boys dressed in camp Zulu warrior garb, protesting Zulu King’s homophobic remarks, win best dressed couple at H&B Met Red Carpet event! Read our pre-event report …… South African gay … More South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

Teen Suicide Note | Excerpts from GAY U.S.A. the Movie, SDGLN and Huffington Post Gay Voices

The eulogies effectively conveyed the message that EricJames had sought to impart, when he noted so succinctly in his final written words: “My pain is not caused because I am gay. My pain was caused by how I was treated because I am gay.” Never before had the sound of ‘Edge of Glory’ been so … More Teen Suicide Note | Excerpts from GAY U.S.A. the Movie, SDGLN and Huffington Post Gay Voices

One year Memorial in Uganda for our Murdered Comrade David Kato

Ugandan LGBTI activists are holding a day of remembrance and services for brother David Kato , the outspoken LGBTI activist who was brutally murdered last year. Kato known to be  the most vocal gay rights advocate in Uganda, a country where homophobia is so severe that Parliament is considering a bill to execute gay people.  … More One year Memorial in Uganda for our Murdered Comrade David Kato

Oakland | An Evening Dedicated to Lesbian Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

OAKLAND – California,  and a night of poetry, music, and celebration. This event will be featuring local lgbtiqqaa poets of color, and will be dedicated to the poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Interweave and GLBT Historical Society is bringing this important event to Oakland and judging by the program and participants it promises to be … More Oakland | An Evening Dedicated to Lesbian Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

South Africa DASO Controversial Nude Interracial Ad Campaign | The Gay Version

A campaign by the student wing of South Africa’s official opposition party is just perfect for a country that has an all inclusive Constitution; and so why the big deal?  Well the Ad has caused a storm and depicts a black woman embraced by a white man. Judging by the social network comments, it would … More South Africa DASO Controversial Nude Interracial Ad Campaign | The Gay Version

Unprecedented Ruling on Immigrants’ Right | Freedom from Arbitrary Detention

Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 20, 2012 District Court Rules that “Arriving Aliens” May Not Be Subjected to Prolonged Detention Without a Hearing To Determine Whether Detention Is Justified SAN DIEGO — A district court today ruled that the Department of Homeland Security may not detain an immigrant for a prolonged period without proving that … More Unprecedented Ruling on Immigrants’ Right | Freedom from Arbitrary Detention

Zulu King Homophobic Spit on South African Constitution | President Jacob Zuma Stands by in Silence

I am calling on President Jacob Zuma to condemn homophobic remarks on Center stage in harsher terms; his feeble attempt at reprimand does not make leadership grade! By Melanie Nathan – January 23, 2011 Johannesburg – Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has criticized people who engage in same sex relationships, labelling them as “rotten”, according … More Zulu King Homophobic Spit on South African Constitution | President Jacob Zuma Stands by in Silence