Category: U.S.A.

LGBT News

Condemnation of Minnesota Legislation as Harmful to Transgender Students

March 12, 2015

Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 11, 2015. The Transgender Legal defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) denounces yet another attempt to target transgender students for discrimination, this time in Minnesota. Republican state lawmakers introduced identical bills in the Minnesota State House and Senate. HF 1456 and SF 1543 would deny transgender students the ability to play on sports teams … More Condemnation of Minnesota Legislation as Harmful to Transgender Students

MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

March 9, 2015

MEUSA Amicus Brief: Real Voices, Real People, Real Impact  Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 09, 2015. San Francisco/Washington DC – Today, Marriage Equality USA announces that it has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the freedom to marry nationwide and full equality under the Constitution for LGBTQ people. The brief, … More MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

February 17, 2015

Republicans roll off the Hill, while Democrats traverse Mt. Everest By Melanie Nathan, February 17, 2015. Republicans would be calling the Judge who barred President Obama’s Immigration Executive Orders ‘an activist Judge’ – albeit tit-for-tat – indeed he may be – but did the Judge fall into a trap? Do we really think the appeals … More Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

Obama’s Strategy in Refusing to fall for Religion Bait by ISIS

February 16, 2015

The stupidity or aggression of the American Christian Right! By Melanie Nathan, February 16, 2015. The White House has received  criticism for not referencing the religion of the 21 Egyptians who have been beheaded by ISIS.  The victims have been described in media reports as “Coptic Christians.” . Here is the statement released by Press … More Obama’s Strategy in Refusing to fall for Religion Bait by ISIS

OPEN LETTER AS AIDS ACTIVISTS PRESS HRC ON HIV AIDS FIGHT

February 11, 2015

 Open Letter to HRC Calls to Partner on AIDS/HIV Issues By Melanie Nathan, February 11, 2015. February 11, 2015 – New York, NY – The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) released the text of an open letter to Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as a follow up to its protest of HRC´s gala held on … More OPEN LETTER AS AIDS ACTIVISTS PRESS HRC ON HIV AIDS FIGHT

Obama High Horse Reflection Forgot Current Christian Persecution of Global Gays

February 10, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2015. President Obama raised a brow or two when reflecting on extremist violence perpetrated in the name of Islam as not being the only religion used in such egregious a fashion. When the President raised Christianity’s history of tyranny, he failed to reflect on how it is still being used … More Obama High Horse Reflection Forgot Current Christian Persecution of Global Gays

San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

February 10, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2015. Today the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, The San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Learning for Action have participated  in the release of San Francisco’s first ever LGBTQI Violence Prevention Needs Assessment. This report details how members of the San Francisco LGBTQI community experience violence and the availability of … More San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

1AngryOldLesbian.org seeks assistance from the Dalai Lama

February 4, 2015

“It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.” – His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama By Cathy Kristofferson, February 4, 2015 Once again, 1AngryOldLesbian.org will demonstrate outside the National Prayer Breakfast (NPB) early Thursday morning. But this year, we heard news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had agreed to attend! We wondered if His … More 1AngryOldLesbian.org seeks assistance from the Dalai Lama

Report Shows Difficulties Faced by Transgender Homeless Youth

February 2, 2015

Posted by Melanie Nathan, Feb 02, 2015. Washington, D.C. — Youth homelessness in America is nearing epidemic levels, and the problem among the transgender community is disproportionately acute. At least one in five transgender young people have experienced homelessness, and many of them have encountered discrimination, harassment, and abuse in shelters and other services meant … More Report Shows Difficulties Faced by Transgender Homeless Youth

NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

February 2, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2015. The Board of Directors of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is excited to announce that Glenn D. Magpantay is NQAPIA’s new Executive Director. Glenn has been with NQAPIA since the beginning, as one of the organization’s founders. Since 2009, he has served as NQAPIA’s Co-Director of … More NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

Solidarity with ACT UP at Human Rights Campaign D.C. HQ

January 31, 2015

Activists in New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C. target HRC… Santa sent the 1AngryOldLesbian.org (1AOL) elves out again for the second time this first month of 2015 with a lump of coal to the Human Rights Campaign DC flagship in support of the demonstration being orchestrated by ACT UP NY at the HRC … More Solidarity with ACT UP at Human Rights Campaign D.C. HQ

Activists to Protest 1% HRC Elitism and AIDS Neglect

January 29, 2015

New York and San Francisco By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2015. The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) and other HIV activist organizations will converge to protest the neglect of the AIDS crisis by mainstream LGBT organizations at the annual self-congratulatory gala held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City by Human Rights Campaign … More Activists to Protest 1% HRC Elitism and AIDS Neglect

President Obama’s Speech and Impact on Global LGBT Persecution

January 21, 2015

By African HRC, January 21, 2015. The American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is thanking President Barack Obama this morning for his historic inclusion of all LGBT people in last night’s State of the Union address before the US Congress, the American people, and the world. This is the first time that Transgender people … More President Obama’s Speech and Impact on Global LGBT Persecution

HRC Now Accepts Religious Liberty Bigotry

January 11, 2015

by Cathy Kristofferson, January 11, 2015 Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) received their first lump of coal from Santa for 2015. Deliverers of Santa’s naughty list and coal at Christmastime, 1angryoldlesbian.org, returned barely two weeks into the new year following Thursday’s Washington Post article in which HRC’s vice president Fred Sainz gushed over presidential hopeful Jeb Bush’s new … More HRC Now Accepts Religious Liberty Bigotry

One Step Closer for MA Homeless Queer Youth

December 31, 2014

As the Commonwealth enacts law to improve housing and services for homeless youth… By Cathy Kristofferson, December 31, 2014. Two years ago, on January 1st 2013, I posted here on OBLOGDEE about the ongoing plight of homeless queer youth. Every now and then that post gets renewed interest when someone quotes and/or links to it. That happened again … More One Step Closer for MA Homeless Queer Youth

2014’s Most Popular Posts on O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da

December 29, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, December 29, 2014. Out of 506 articles written and posted on O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da during the course of 2014, here are the most popular 36 by reads. The top article about the Ugandan Catholic Church’s Easter message had over 43,000 reads, with 20,000 in its first day of posting. If an article is dated … More 2014’s Most Popular Posts on O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da

On Santa’s Naughty List HRC Gets Coal Delivery

December 24, 2014

…and the letter from Santa tells Chad why! 12/24/2014 By Cathy Kristofferson. Santa Claus asked the members of 1AngryOldLesbian.org (1AOL) if they wouldn’t mind delivering a letter to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and they merrily agreed. Though the weather outside was frightful, their spirits were high as they donned their rainbow Santa hats while listening to the … More On Santa’s Naughty List HRC Gets Coal Delivery

From Congo to Castro UNHCR Resettles Persecuted LGBTI Activist in the U.S.A.

December 16, 2014

Welcome Home Junior! By Melanie Nathan, December 16, 2014. I first met Junior Mayema back in 2011 when I was invited to keynote speak at Cape Town Pride’s Pink Gala in South Africa. At the time Junior, approached me along the Pride parade route. He told me that he was an LGBTI refugee from the … More From Congo to Castro UNHCR Resettles Persecuted LGBTI Activist in the U.S.A.

Witness to Stonewall Uprising, Danny Garvin, Passes Away at 65

December 15, 2014

Posted December 14, 2014. New York, NY—  Danny Garvin, one of the most important witnesses to, and participants in, the legendary Stonewall Uprising in 1969, has passed away at the age of 65. Garvin died on December 9 in New York City. According to Stonewall historian, David Carter, the Stonewall Riots began in the early morning … More Witness to Stonewall Uprising, Danny Garvin, Passes Away at 65

Merkley’s Process for Federal LGBT Equality Must Include All Stakeholders

December 12, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, December 11, 2014 United States Senator Jeff Merkley formally announced at the Center for American Progress that he plans to introduce a comprehensive LGBT civil rights bill in the next Congress. This is excellent news. The LGBT community in the United States America must include a full compliment of stakeholders working together … More Merkley’s Process for Federal LGBT Equality Must Include All Stakeholders

New York City Council Votes to End Discriminatory Birth Certificate Policy

December 8, 2014

Passes Legislation Eliminating Surgery Requirement for Transgender People Seeking to Align Their Birth Certificates with Their True Selves | Action Comes After TLDEF Sues City for Discriminating Against Transgender People Posted by Melanie Nathan, Dec 08, 2014. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) applauds the New York City Council … More New York City Council Votes to End Discriminatory Birth Certificate Policy

Generals Call on Military to Comply with DOD Transgender Rules

November 26, 2014

Retired General and Flag Officers Call on Military Services to Comply with Recent Department Of Defense Rules Affecting Transgender Personnel Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 26, 2014. Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, Major General Vance Coleman, and Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, issued a joint statement today to accompany a new report showing that the Army, Air … More Generals Call on Military to Comply with DOD Transgender Rules

LGBT Organizations Should Not Criticize Obama’s Immigration Move

November 21, 2014

A Statement on President Obama’s Immigration Announcement November 20, 2014, addressed to the  LGBT community of activists and organizations. By Melanie Nathan, of Private Courts, Inc. Conflict Resolution & Human Rights Advocacy Nathan@privatecourts.com Dear LGBTI Activists, Advocates and Organizations, Now that the dust is settling I want to again applaud President Barack Obama for his … More LGBT Organizations Should Not Criticize Obama’s Immigration Move

Transgender Troops | Military Experts Historic International Conference

October 20, 2014

Palm Center and ACLU Host Convening on Lessons Learned from Transgender Service in Foreign Militaries Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 20, 2014. WASHINGTON, DC – Currently serving ​transgender service members from five of the 18 foreign militaries that allow transgender service today gathered alongside U.S. service members in Washington D.C. The gathering, Perspectives on Transgender Military Service … More Transgender Troops | Military Experts Historic International Conference

Call to Kill Obama draws a fine line between inciting violence and free speech

October 1, 2014

“Blessed be Facebook – indeed they look on stripping “drag queens” of free speech to pseudonyms and fostering presidential assassination verbiage! By Melanie Nathan, October 01, 2014. Some countries have laws that imprison people who incite death, especially when the call to murder is directed at a President.  The U.S.A. holds on tight to First … More Call to Kill Obama draws a fine line between inciting violence and free speech

NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

September 29, 2014

New surveys suggest that as many as 9.5 million adults in the US are LGBT | An estimated 124,000 same-sex couples are married and raising more than 30,000 children LOS ANGELES — Two new studies released by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, review findings from four recent large, national, population-based surveys to … More NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

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