Category: Organizations

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

Amnesty Hand Delivers Human Rights Report To Ugandan PM

October 24, 2014

See Video with examples of Police and Public Violence because of Repressive Laws By Melanie Nathan, October 24, 2014. On October 16, we reported that Amnesty International concluded a report on repressive and discriminatory legislation enacted over the last 18 months in Uganda that has led to increasing state repression, violence, homophobic and gender-based discrimination. … More Amnesty Hand Delivers Human Rights Report To Ugandan PM

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

Amnesty International and Uganda’s Discriminatory legislation

October 16, 2014

All Anti- Human rights legislation fuels repression and abuse By Melanie Nathan, October 16, 2014. Recently at a forum held by SFALI, The San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute, a Ugandan Member of Parliament, Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, stressed to the American audience, how important it is for LGBTI and other human rights defenders to address … More Amnesty International and Uganda’s Discriminatory legislation

Praying For Gay Ugandan Richard to Win Asylum Appeal

October 7, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, Oct 07, 2014. United Kingdom – Richard M. is a young Ugandan man who fled Uganda after being outed by Red Pepper Magazine. He was apparently falsely accused of promoting homosexuality in the schools. His subsequent asylum journey has been a typical roundabout of hell, exacerbating his abuse. On arrival in the … More Praying For Gay Ugandan Richard to Win Asylum Appeal

United Nations HRC Passes Resolution Condemning LGBT Discrimination

September 26, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, September 26, 2014. 25 September 2014 – Bringing homophobia and transphobia to an end is “a great human rights cause,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday, adding that the fight against discrimination “lies at the core of the mission of the United Nations.” In his video message to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and … More United Nations HRC Passes Resolution Condemning LGBT Discrimination

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

Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

August 1, 2014

Jubilation as the  the Ugandan Court agreed – the AHA is Unconstitutional ! Well done to the Plaintiffs.  Congratulations to the Plaintiff team for your extraordinary courage and your resolve and the credit must go to all those who worked so hard on every front, especially the hard work of the extraordinary legal team – … More Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional

LGBT Activists Target Congressional Democrats for Federal Civil Rights Legislation

July 31, 2014

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation  By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 1204. Continuing to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same legal rights and protections that all other Americans currently have, Queer Nation is targeting Rep. Mike Michaud … More LGBT Activists Target Congressional Democrats for Federal Civil Rights Legislation

Inter Religious Council of Uganda Admits on Court Record to key influence of the Anti-Homosexuality Act

July 31, 2014

A Wake up call to funders and others such as The Catholic Church which supports this organization through memberships, grants or donations. By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2014. The Christian group, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has admitted on the record to its direct participation in the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) of Uganda, by asking to be … More Inter Religious Council of Uganda Admits on Court Record to key influence of the Anti-Homosexuality Act

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

Why I am Happy that Ugandan Foreign Minister is Now President of the United Nations

June 14, 2014

He is compelled to enagage with civil societies and now lets compel him to hear LGBTI truths | Let us bombard him with appointments! By Melanie Nathan, June 14, 214. Much to the horror of the world’s LGBTI community, the United Nations has gone ahead with designating Ugandan Sam Kahamba Kutesa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, … More Why I am Happy that Ugandan Foreign Minister is Now President of the United Nations

North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

May 29, 2014

Founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Joseph and Jane Clementi, Will Receive the Honor By Melanie Nathan, May 30, 2014.   Maplewood, N.J.- North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State will be awarding the inaugural “Outstanding Ally Award” at its fourth annual Pride Festival on Sunday, June … More North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

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

What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

May 16, 2014

Updated 7/9/2014. This post had been removed to archives private because it is an OLD post dated May 16, 2014, and its is being misused by some as a reference for a current Relief Fund , which it is not. It referred to an older relief fund campaign which has since closed. A new relief … More What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

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

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

Shocking Hypocrisy of HRC in Fight Against Religious Bigotry

March 24, 2014

Despicable contradiction – does he take us for idiots? By Melanie Nathan, March 24, 2014. I must say I am in a state of shock at the hypocrisy of the latest HRC (Human Rights Campaign) fund raising ploy.  The fundraiser is focused on fighting religious bigotry because, as they say, our enemies are “Using religion … More Shocking Hypocrisy of HRC in Fight Against Religious Bigotry

Pussy Riot Disrupts Russian Orchestra in San Francisco

March 4, 2014

See Video: Pussy Riot Disrupts Russian Orchestra in S.F. With Rainbow Flag By Michael Petrelis Cross-posted As I was unable to attend this protest due to my travels, we are most fortunate to have a report from one of the organizers, Michael Petrelis: The St. Petersburg Philharmonic’s performance on Monday, March 3 at Davies Hall … More Pussy Riot Disrupts Russian Orchestra in San Francisco

Amnesty International on Museveni’s Signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

February 24, 2014

Uganda: Rights and freedoms under attack with new legislation Posted by Melanie Nathan AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT AI Index: AFR 59/005/2014 24 February 2014 President Yoweri Museveni’s approval by assent of the Anti-Homosexuality Act confirms the Ugandan government’s increasing use of legislation to diminish fundamental rights and freedoms secured under Uganda’s Constitution and in regional … More Amnesty International on Museveni’s Signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Gays to protest Sochi Olympic opening at Russian Consulate

January 31, 2014

 GAY PROTESTERS WILL RETURN TO RUSSIAN CONSULATE  | February 6 Queer Nation Demo To Mark Opening of Sochi Olympics Vladimir Putin’s Anti-Gay Laws and State-Sanctioned Anti-Gay Violence at Issue Posted  by Melanie Nathan New York, NY (January 30, 2014) — Members of the gay activist group Queer Nation and others who oppose the Russian government’s … More Gays to protest Sochi Olympic opening at Russian Consulate

Chasing Chad

January 23, 2014

Human Rights Campaign’s Chad Griffin Heading to Sochi Olympics or simply playing footsie with the rest of the 1%? This what Michael Petrelis reports on January 23, 2014 on his BLOG at http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2014/01/human-rights-campaigns-chad-griffin.html “Recent history may provide clues about a potential action or two in the near future for the Human Rights Campaign and its new-found … More Chasing Chad

Capitol Hill Briefing on Asylum as LGBT Persecution Escalates

January 6, 2014

What you can do to help LGBT Asylum Seekers – PLEASE SIGN THE CRITICAL PETITION BELOW By Melanie Nathan, January 6, 2014. Faith Network Capitol Hill Briefing on Asylum as LGBT Persecution Escalates | LGBT-FAN and the LGBT Congressional Caucus address needs of LGBT asylum seekers On January 8th, there will be a  Faith Network … More Capitol Hill Briefing on Asylum as LGBT Persecution Escalates

President Obama Urged to Expand Russian Human Rights Violators on Magnitsky List

January 3, 2014

See Our Open Letter January 3, 2014 Several  prominent human rights, political, community & non-profit organizations, activists and journalists are urging President Obama to reconsider his administration decision, asking the President to expand the Magnitsky List, designed to ban Russian human rights violators from entering the US, and having all their assets at US financial … More President Obama Urged to Expand Russian Human Rights Violators on Magnitsky List

NOM fails to present public tax returns at deadline

November 17, 2013

By melanie Nathan, Nov 17, 2013. We all know that cashing in can be a lucrative enterprise for those who have declared war on marriage equality in the United States. National Organization for Marriage (NOM) under the leadership of Brian Brown, in the footsteps of Maggie Gallagher, is one such organization. Rights Equal Rights (RER), under … More NOM fails to present public tax returns at deadline

European Union Court of Justice rules lesbian and gay asylum seekers can’t be told ‘go home and hide’

November 7, 2013

By Oram, November 07, 2013. Lesbian and gay asylum seekers in the European Union can no longer be told to go home and pretend they’re straight. The European Union Court of Justice ruled Thursday, November 7th, that ‘voluntary discretion’ is not an acceptable rationale for rejecting asylum claims based on persecution grounded in sexual orientation. … More European Union Court of Justice rules lesbian and gay asylum seekers can’t be told ‘go home and hide’