Category: U.S.A.

LGBT News

California Governor Signs Landmark Leno Bill Addressing Smartphone Theft

August 25, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark legislation today addressing the growing epidemic of smartphone theft in California. SB 962, authored by Senator Mark Leno and sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, requires all smartphones sold in California to come pre-equipped with theft-deterring technological solutions to render the devices useless if stolen.

… More California Governor Signs Landmark Leno Bill Addressing Smartphone Theft

LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

August 21, 2014

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 21, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 21, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Democrats on Civil Rights

LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

August 14, 2014

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 14, 2014. New York, NY (Aug. 14, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other … More LGBT Activists Target Tammy Baldwin on Civil Rights

LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

August 11, 2014

Queer Nation and a bunch more of us demand Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  New York, NY (Aug. 11, 2014) – In its ongoing effort to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same rights and protections that all other Americans … More LGBT Activists Target Mark Takano on Civil Rights

Did Yoweri Museveni Hire a US Lobby firm to Improve his Image in the West

August 6, 2014

OK LOL – seriously? Is that how dictators hold on these days?  I wonder how those poor women who have sold themselves into prostitution to feed their kids feel about THIS allocation of funds?  If I am wrong please let me know…. By Melanie Nathan, AUG 06, 2014, I have unconfirmed reports that President Yoweri … More Did Yoweri Museveni Hire a US Lobby firm to Improve his Image in the West

Betrayed by Obama – Museveni in OUR White House

August 5, 2014

BY MELANIE NATHAN, AUGUST 05, 2014.   BETRAYAL BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FIRST LADY! My Message to President Obama:  WTF!……. PRESIDENT Obama – I have been a huge supporter of yours. Where are your principles?  – You and the First Lady have now welcomed this gay hating corrupt dictator into OUR White House! “On … More Betrayed by Obama – Museveni in OUR White House

First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaican Homophobia

August 5, 2014

CALL TO ACTION and  ADVISORY – Activists in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom Protest Jamaica’s Buggery Law By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2014. NEW YORK – On August 6, human rights activists from across the globe will protest against the Jamaican government’s continuing inaction on repealing the anti-LGBT buggery law. There will … More First Annual International Day of Action against Jamaican Homophobia

Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy

July 31, 2014

The pink triangle parallel between Nazi Germany and Africa’s Anti-Gay climate By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2014. For me this was a very special San Francisco pride. I had the great honor to be appointed by the San Francisco Pride Board as community grand marshal, in recognition of my global LGBT activism, especially for criminalized … More Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy

From Pride to Pride

July 4, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 03, 2014. Community Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride I had the great honor this year of being appointed by the San Francisco Pride Board as a community Grand Marshal. The popular vote was won by an extraordinary and courageous young woman who I took great joy in getting to know, … More From Pride to Pride

Susan Rice on LGBT Human Rights and Economic Empowerment for Global LGBT Community

June 24, 2014

Ground-Breaking Partnership between National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and USAID to Create Opportunities for LGBT Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries National Security Advisory Rice Announced Agreement at White House Forum on Global LGBT Human Rights By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2014, In a historic announcement, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice announced a $2.7 … More Susan Rice on LGBT Human Rights and Economic Empowerment for Global LGBT Community

LGBT Africans Denied Visas to San Francisco Pride

June 24, 2014

Secretary of State Kerry Pays Lip Service to LGBTI Equality While Denying Pride Visas for LGBTI Africans By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2014. Last Thursday U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was the keynote speaker at the State Department’s GLIFAA Pride event. While the secretary gushed about his department’s accomplishments for LGBTI people and reminded … More LGBT Africans Denied Visas to San Francisco Pride

U.S.A. to announce punitive measures for those Implementing Anti-Gay Law in Uganda

June 19, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 20, 2014. Word has it that later today the United States will make an a long awaited announcement of some action against Uganda for its harsh Anti-Homosexuality Act, signed into law in February by President Yoweri Museveni. The new measures against Uganda are expected to impose punishment on those implementing the … More U.S.A. to announce punitive measures for those Implementing Anti-Gay Law in Uganda

Gearing up for LGBT Family Week 2014

June 15, 2014

Family Equality Council®and COLAGE Set For Family Week, 2014 | Event Brings LGBTQ Parents & Families Together in Provincetown, MA July 26 to August 2 Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 14, 2014.   Family Equality Council®, the national organization which represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer in the … More Gearing up for LGBT Family Week 2014

Activists at DC Pride attack HRC’s Bad ENDA

June 8, 2014

While asking the community to demand no less than full federal equality… By Cathy Kristofferson, June 8, 2014 This week saw the first national organization come out strongly against the flawed Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (ENDA) when the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Thursday announced it “We strongly oppose any religious exemption in ENDA… we will … More Activists at DC Pride attack HRC’s Bad ENDA

NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It

June 5, 2014

#ENDAIsNOTequal #DeadENDA #ENDENDA #WTFHRC By Melanie Nathan, June 05, 2014. Washington Blade is reporting that The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)  announced today that it does not support the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act pending before Congress because of the bill’s religious exemption. A schism has developed amongst activists with grassroots pitted … More NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It

San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal Launches LGBTI Africa Visa Campaign

May 31, 2014

  HOW can we COLOR OUR WORLD WITH PRIDE without our WORLD by our side? #PRIDEVISAS4Africa Criminalizing Homosexuality in Africa – Will not stop our us marching at San Francisco Pride 2014  SAN FRANCISCO – MAY 31, 2014 – Melanie Nathan, a San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal,  has started a campaign to bring approximately … More San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal Launches LGBTI Africa Visa Campaign

Jewish Congregations Join Forces to March in San Francisco Pride Parade

May 29, 2014

Reform Jewish Congregations to March together as one Community on June 29, 2014! By Melanie Nathan, May 29, 2014. For the first time, the 25 Reform congregations in the greater Bay Area will march together in the San Francisco Pride Parade, June 29, 2014.  Reform Jews from across the Bay Area will march together as … More Jewish Congregations Join Forces to March in San Francisco Pride Parade

Civil Rights History lost on Chad Griffin and Rea Carey

May 28, 2014

Senate Historical Office offers a Civil Rights Proponents’ Strategy For Success By Cathy Kristofferson, May 28, 2014 Today the United States Senate Historical Office gave a presentation “Civil Rights Act at 50: Civil Rights’ Proponents Strategy For Success”. This seemed a good lesson the LGBT community needs to learn as we fight discrimination, religious bigotry, and our … More Civil Rights History lost on Chad Griffin and Rea Carey

LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

May 28, 2014

Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 29, 2014. From The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is alive and well in rural America and your government wants to hear from you! In a historic partnership, NCLR has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a new … More LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

May 28, 2014

Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, novelist, civil rights leader and actress whose work defied description under a simple label, has died, her publicist, Helen Brann, said Thursday. She died at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C., Brann said. A professor, singer and dancer, among other things, Angelou’s work spans different professions. She spent her early years … More Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

White House Demonstration Outside Milk Postage Stamp Dedication

May 22, 2014

36 years after Harvey Milk’s death, demo questions whether there is more Obama can do to stamp out discrimination, than issue a postage stamp… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 22, 2014 Today, the White House saw demonstrators lobbying attendees gathered for the first-day-of-issue ceremony of the Harvey Milk postage stamp. Members of the LGBTQ group 1AngryOldLesbian.org urged attendees to … More White House Demonstration Outside Milk Postage Stamp Dedication

The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

May 15, 2014

You might be thinking that hearts and minds have transformed. Society might have evolved on gender identity, but not the military’s old guard. By L.S. Kove, May 15, 2014. The Department of Defense (DoD) is different than the rest of the federal government. Not only is it large enough to swallow the rest whole, but … More The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

May 12, 2014

Center for American Progress  | RELEASE: New Analysis and Infographics Show the Dangerous and Costly Effects of Detainee Bed Quotas Washington, D.C. — New CAP analysis and infographics detail the dangerous and costly toll of the congressionally mandated bed quota on our immigration system. Beginning in 2009, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or … More Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

May 7, 2014

Federal Court Rejects Discrimination Claim Against Catholic Hospital’s Refusal to Cover Same-Sex Spouse Under Employee Benefit Plan and ENDA is in danger Why I am calling on Freedom to Marry, NCLR, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, ACLU, Transgender Law Center,  GetEQUAL to thwart the HRC push for Senate’s ENDA By Melanie Nathan, May 07, 2014. Although both … More Federal Court’s refusal of benefits in Employee Plan shows why religious exemption hurts ENDA

Call to Boycott Barbaric Brute of Brunei Dorchester Hotels

May 6, 2014

Commonwealth urged to suspend Brunei as Planned Sharia law executions violate Commonwealth Charter By Melanie Nathan, May 06, 2014. While activists in the United Kingdom are calling on the Commonwealth to suspend Brunei’s membership because it has introduced stoning to death for consensual, non-violent behavior, including homosexuality, U.S. activists are calling for boycotts of the … More Call to Boycott Barbaric Brute of Brunei Dorchester Hotels

Hilary Rosen: The president needs to sign this damn executive order already

May 5, 2014

…so we can stop talking about it!” By Cathy Kristofferson,May 5, 2014 Uncharacteristic disclaimer: Although the following blog post might appear we have distain and regret regarding this event, we really applaud the magazines for bringing this somewhat substantive crowd together during such a star-studded feel-good discourse-free correspondents dinner weekend. We encourage The Atlantic and … More Hilary Rosen: The president needs to sign this damn executive order already

Ugandan Embassy in D.C. Targeted for Homophobia

April 19, 2014

By Cathy Kristofferson, April 19, 2014 Today, demonstrators, with a mural of eight posters, reminded the Ugandan Embassy in Washington D.C. that their country’s state sponsored homophobia has not been forgotten. As Martin Luther King said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The injustice that is the Anti-Homosexuality Act and the persecution the LGBTI … More Ugandan Embassy in D.C. Targeted for Homophobia

Asylum Seekers Sue Obama Administration to End Unjust Long Waits

April 18, 2014

Department of Homeland Security Routinely Violates Laws Requiring Timely Reasonable Fear Interview Posted by Melanie Nathan April 17, 2014 A lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleging the government violated the law in thousands of cases, with individuals waiting in detention for many months for a ruling on their … More Asylum Seekers Sue Obama Administration to End Unjust Long Waits