Category: U.S.A.

LGBT News

President Zuma returns the Favor to Qwelane – A Defense on a Silver Platter

June 6, 2011

06/06/2011 By Melanie Nathan Johannesburg – South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda, Jon Qwelane, will apply for rescission of a judgment in which he was found guilty of hate speech, his lawyers said on Monday.  The known homophobic envoy, a recent President Jacob Zuma (response to favors) appointee to anti-gay Uganda, will not come home from … More President Zuma returns the Favor to Qwelane – A Defense on a Silver Platter

Olympian Gary Hall to “Swim for Equality” in San Francisco Bay

June 6, 2011

06/06/2011, by Melanie Nathan San Francisco- On Sunday, June 26, swimmers from throughout the country will swim 1.2 miles in the San Francisco Bay to raise critical awareness and funds for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in California. The event, benefiting Equality California, will challenge experienced swimmers to a course from Alcatraz Island … More Olympian Gary Hall to “Swim for Equality” in San Francisco Bay

Out Lesbian Alison Nathan will have her Confirmation Hearing

June 6, 2011

06/06/2011, by Melanie Nathan Out Lesbian federal court nominee Alison Nathan will have her confirmation hearing Wednesday, June 8. President Obama nominated Nathan March 31 to a seat on the U.S. District Court for Southern New York, which covers Manhattan. Nathan, as an attorney at the Wilmer Cutler, Pickering Hale and Dorr law firm, represented … More Out Lesbian Alison Nathan will have her Confirmation Hearing

Petition Plea to Senator Feinstein – Green Cards – Special Visa – Same-Sex Spouses

June 4, 2011

06/04/2011, Posted by Melanie Nathan, Note: This letter has been submitted by OUT 4 Immigration, whom I consider to be the most sincere and miraculous group in the LGBT community with regard to the plight of same-sex couples who have no immigration equality under the federal law of the U.S.A. Dear Senator Feinstein — For … More Petition Plea to Senator Feinstein – Green Cards – Special Visa – Same-Sex Spouses

Apartheid Against LGBTI Americans – A View via the Hate Speech Ruling for South African Envoy to Uganda Jon Qwelane

June 4, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, When I immigrated to the United States in 1985, I marveled at the U.S. Constitution. It protected everything.   I left a place where it was constitutional to discriminate – in fact it was required that one discern between races when it came to where people could live, who could vote and … More Apartheid Against LGBTI Americans – A View via the Hate Speech Ruling for South African Envoy to Uganda Jon Qwelane

UCSF to Honor Three With Chancellor’s Award for GLBT Leadership

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, Three members of the UCSF community will be awarded the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and/or Transgender (GLBT) Leadership on Monday, June 13. Included is my friend and fellow activist on immigration equality issues, Chris Waddling of the grassroots organization OUT4Immigration.  Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, will present awards … More UCSF to Honor Three With Chancellor’s Award for GLBT Leadership

California Eleven Bills Authored by Senator Mark Leno Pass Senate Floor

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, SACRAMENTO – Eleven bills authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) – the openly gay California State Senator from San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma Counties- passed the Senate this week and will proceed to the Assembly. The measures include legislation that allows farmers in California to cultivate hemp, a bill that … More California Eleven Bills Authored by Senator Mark Leno Pass Senate Floor

GetEQUAL North Carolina LGBT Activists Arrested at State Capitol

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan RALEIGH, NC – Following GetEQUAL NC’s — a direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization; “Rally in Raleigh” today — an event to protest the anti-gay Senate Bill 106 — local gay activists were arrested for disrupting the legislative session in progress when they demanded full legal recognition … More GetEQUAL North Carolina LGBT Activists Arrested at State Capitol

California Assembly Passes Anti-LGBT Bullying Bill for Colleges and Universities

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, By Melanie Nathan, Sacramento – Yesterday, the California State Assembly passed the Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education bill (AB 620) in a 51-24 vote. Introduced by Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would help reduce bullying and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students … More California Assembly Passes Anti-LGBT Bullying Bill for Colleges and Universities

CA Legislation to Close Gap between Marriage and Domestic Partnership Advances

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan Sacramento – Yesterday, the California State Senate passed legislation that would eliminate a statutory difference and inequity between marriage and domestic partnerships. Authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California, the Domestic Partnership Equality Act (SB 651) passed in a 23-15 vote. Specifically, the bill would eliminate … More CA Legislation to Close Gap between Marriage and Domestic Partnership Advances

CA State Senate First Bill in Nation to Include Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Same-Sex Relationship Status in Two Statewide Government Surveys

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, Sacramento – Authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would enable the state to gather vital data about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; no that yesterday, the California State Senate passed the Survey Data Inclusion Act (SB 416). This requires the state … More CA State Senate First Bill in Nation to Include Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Same-Sex Relationship Status in Two Statewide Government Surveys

Pride Pride Pride 2011

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011 Melanie Nathan העמוד הרשמי של שבוע הגאווה העירוני. יועלו עדכונים שוטפים על כל האירועים, המסיבות ומה שאסור לפספס במהלך שבוע הגאווה שיתחיל ב -03/06 ויגיע לשיאו במצעד הגאווה ב 10/06 תחת הכותרת ״גאה להיות שווה- צועדים יחד למען שוויון חברתי״. Tel Aviv Pride June 03, 2011 -העמוד הרשמי This is the official page for … More Pride Pride Pride 2011

California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote.

June 1, 2011

o6/01/2011, by Melanie Nathan Sacramento-Yesterday, the California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote. Authored by Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would eliminate an exemption in state law that enables insurance companies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Under California law, insurance companies and … More California State Senate passed the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act (SB 757) in a 24-13 vote.

D.C. Capital Pride Announces Jennifer Holliday

June 1, 2011

06/01/2011, by Melanie Nathan Washington, D.C., June 1, 2011 – Capital Pride announced that Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday will replace Kelly Rowland as the Capital Pride Festival’s headlining entertainer. Jennifer Holliday is best known for her debut single, the Dreamgirls showstopper and Grammy Award-winning R&B/Pop hit, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” “We … More D.C. Capital Pride Announces Jennifer Holliday

Ugandan Woman Branded by Iron for being a Lesbian faces deportation from United Kingdom

May 31, 2011

05/31/2011, by Melanie Nathan The Guardian UK is reporting a case similar to many others, which we have reported upon in the past. The Asylum claim of a Ugandan lesbian, attacked by three men in her home country, has been refused by UK immigration authority.  In fear of  fraud, the UK authorities have been known … More Ugandan Woman Branded by Iron for being a Lesbian faces deportation from United Kingdom

South Africa Ambassador Jon Qwelane Guilty of Anti-Gay Hate Speech

May 31, 2011

05/31/2011, by Melanie Nathan Back in 2008, Jon Qwelane posted a piece in his column in the Sunday Sun.  Well known to the South African LGBTQI community is the fact that Jon Qwelane, despite protest and outrage, was sent to Uganda as South Africa’s Ambassador to that country. Qwelane, inter alia, writes about the Anglican … More South Africa Ambassador Jon Qwelane Guilty of Anti-Gay Hate Speech

GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item

May 30, 2011

05/26/2011, by Melanie Nathan, San Francisco -Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club in a high school or middle school that brings together LGBTQI and straight students to support each other, provide a safe place to socialize, and create a platform for activism to fight homophobia and transphobia. On June 09, 2011, Geoffrey De … More GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item

NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

May 30, 2011

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) presented its highest honors to five trailblazers, including country singer Chely Wright, in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at its 34th Anniversary Celebration … More NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

The Apartheid State of Arizona – Precedent for LGBT Immigration Equality in California?

April 25, 2010

http://lezgetreal.com/?p=32025 Please Visit this Article on Blog at http://www.lezgetreal.com Example number 1:- I am a white US citizen – I was born in a foreign Country.  My work sends me to Arizona for a conference.  I have a profoundly different accent.  I walk into a store to purchase chewing gum. I ask the store clerk … More The Apartheid State of Arizona – Precedent for LGBT Immigration Equality in California?

THE LGBTQI PINK PRINT – A Liberation Plan for Gay USA

April 22, 2010

Simplicity in the name of a movement By   MELANIE NATHAN, April 10, 2010 What happened to our LGBTQI movement?  Since 1970, post Stonewall ?   We have a quest for gay marriage rights, we have a quest for social security, we have a quest for immigration equality, to serve openly in the military, to … More THE LGBTQI PINK PRINT – A Liberation Plan for Gay USA

Mixner’s Twenty Top Lesbians in US Politics – But Where is the Messiah?

April 17, 2010

4-17-10 –  By Melanie Nathan; David Mixner has produced a great article, where he asserts his choice of 20 most powerful lesbian leaders in American Politics.But who may I ask has with with vigor and resolve led us to  “Amend the Civil Rights Act- to include Sexual orientation.” Indeed a worthy list – and truly … More Mixner’s Twenty Top Lesbians in US Politics – But Where is the Messiah?

Lezgetreal Calls on Movie Industry to Boycott Florida

March 9, 2010

Image via Wikipedia I wrote this letter  today: Dear Stephen Precourt, Gay Rights Advocates Call for Boycott of Filming in Florida – http://lezgetreal.com/?p=27912 Please get rid of your hate clause in the Bill for  film tax credit increase.    Hollywood is pro LGBT equality and Gay people will continue to be portrayed  in the positive light … More Lezgetreal Calls on Movie Industry to Boycott Florida

Outrage – Zuma Appoints Homophobic Ambassador to UGANDA

January 18, 2010

 I wrote this LGR today Please Write Secretary of State Clinton and Ask her to Lodge a Formal Complaint:- Janaury 18, 1.56 pm PST: By Melanie Nathan;   As an ex-pat just when I was thinking I would send a letter to  South Africa’s President Zuma to ask if would kindly intervene and take a leadership … More Outrage – Zuma Appoints Homophobic Ambassador to UGANDA

First same-sex couple to Marry in Latin America

December 28, 2009

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina  Two men were the first same-sex couple to marry in Latin America, although they had to find a location that would be open to a such a marriage.   The ceremony took place South of Buenos Aires, in Ushuaia, a remote seaside fishing village that is closer to Antarctica than Buenos Aires during … More First same-sex couple to Marry in Latin America

A Binational Xmas Wish in A letter to President Obama

December 25, 2009

  by me on LGR please read the whole thing Mr. President, with great respect, I am mentioning this during the holiday season because this time for many is fraught with sadness, fear and pain.  Exiled Americans, who are with their spouses, cannot come home to spend Xmas with extended families and if they do, they have … More A Binational Xmas Wish in A letter to President Obama

reBlog Lezgetreal : Kalamazoo Churches Pull Out Of Charity Over One Church’s Support For LGBT Rights

December 18, 2009

“Nice People The Jones’”  ………………….   if you get my drift…. Three churches in Kalamazoo, MI have chosen to leave Martha’s Table, a charity which provides services and meals for those in need. The reason why they are leaving is simple- the church, First Congregational, that houses the charity is inclusive of the LGBT Community, and … More reBlog Lezgetreal : Kalamazoo Churches Pull Out Of Charity Over One Church’s Support For LGBT Rights

reBlog from Liberty: Senator Gillibrand’s alert – PASSING Immigration Reform.. Poltical Hot Potato

December 2, 2009

back to the future   Are we still waiting for Barney Frank to have his day with DADT before pushing for the very  legislation that serves as the essence of who we are ? The critical repeal of Defense of Marriage Act? (DOMA;) the  legislation that denies our relationships, with the one that calls for its … More reBlog from Liberty: Senator Gillibrand’s alert – PASSING Immigration Reform.. Poltical Hot Potato