Category: Organizations

Global LGBTI refugee organization joins Europe’s premier refugee network

October 16, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 17, 2013. San Francisco, 16 October 2013 – Europe’s leading civil society network for refugees accepted its first LGBTI member, last week. ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration) – is proud to announce that the European Council of Refugees & Exiles (ECRE) Board has voted to accept ORAM into … More Global LGBTI refugee organization joins Europe’s premier refugee network

President Obama to Meet with LGBT Russians During G20 Summit

September 2, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, September 02, 2013. Buzzfeed is reporting that President Obama will be meeting with Russian LGBT activists while in Russia. The President had cancelled a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin while there for the G20 summit. I agree with Buzfeed that Obama may anger the Kremlin further by meeting with Russian … More President Obama to Meet with LGBT Russians During G20 Summit

Outrcry as Petitioners Protest Delayed Justice in Ugandan Minorities Case

July 25, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, July 25, 2013. This week Ugandan Constitutional Court saw protests when, according to the Daily Monitor,  “minority groups stormed the Constitutional Court in Kampala on Tuesday, protesting what they called ‘delayed justice’. The potential landmark case of Jjuuko Adrian v. Attorney General Constitutional Petition No.1 of 2009,  has yet to receive a ruling, … More Outrcry as Petitioners Protest Delayed Justice in Ugandan Minorities Case

Ugandan LGBT Group Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Important Reminders

July 4, 2013

  The anti homosexuality Bill is still in parliament and on the order paper of business to follow. We urge that you continue consulting activists on the ground as we chose to take on a more subtle way of lobbying as spontaneous actions from our partners especially those not from Africa is always met with … More Ugandan LGBT Group Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Important Reminders

Renewed calls for Olympic boycott as gay arrests continue in Russia

July 2, 2013

An action to demonstrate the danger of  the new anti-LGBT laws By Cathy Kristofferson, July 2, 2013 Amidst current graphic protests, there is a renewed call for the boycott of the Sochi Olympics, as gay arrests continue in Russia following President Putin’s signing into law the nationwide so-called “anti-propaganda bill,” banning the so called ‘promotion’ … More Renewed calls for Olympic boycott as gay arrests continue in Russia

Making Love a Crime

June 30, 2013

Report by Amnesty International | Criminalization of Same-Sex Conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa June 28, 2013 This report provides an analysis of the legal environment and wider context of human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent years have seen increasing reports of people being harassed, marginalized, discriminated … More Making Love a Crime

ZERO LGBT protections with $44.9 BILLION in profits

May 29, 2013

Now it is our turn to be heard – read on… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 29, 2013 Once again today, as they have done for the past 14 consecutive years, ExxonMobil shareholders voted down non-discrimination protections for the company’s LGBT employees.  This year the vote was 81-19%, the lowest vote for non-discrimination in all those … More ZERO LGBT protections with $44.9 BILLION in profits

Can there be a new politicized Johannesburg Pride

May 20, 2013

Revamping the dream for an all inclusive politicized Pride By Melanie Nathan. May 20, 2013. This Press Release passed our desk, in what seems to be a follow up to the very controversial events surrounding Johannesburg Pride over this past year and its subsequent cancellation: New Committee to Organise People’s Pride Johannesburg on 5 Oct. … More Can there be a new politicized Johannesburg Pride

Rev. Canon Albert Ogle gives three amazing reasons to celebrate IDAHOT

May 17, 2013

By  Rev. Canon Albert Ogle – SDGLN Contributor As 100 countries celebrate IDAHOT today, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is calling for greater education to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by almost 50 million people living in countries (from a total 1.5 billion) where it is still illegal to be LGBT. In his … More Rev. Canon Albert Ogle gives three amazing reasons to celebrate IDAHOT

On IDAHOT Rainbow Ethiopia calls for defunding of hate that threatens gays LGBTI

May 17, 2013

The threatened LGBTI community, Rainbow Ethiopia HIV and Social Support Services Solidarity Statement on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2013 Posted by Melanie Nathan, May, 17th 2013 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- Rainbow-Ethiopia joins today the global commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. As every year, May 17th represent for us … More On IDAHOT Rainbow Ethiopia calls for defunding of hate that threatens gays LGBTI

Belize Court hears Closing argument in Penal code anti-Sodomy case

May 8, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 08, 2013. Today, on Day Two of  Caleb Orozco and the United Belize Advocacy Movement’s (UBIBAM) constitutional challenge of Belize’s Section 53 anti-sodomy law, lead attorney Christopher Smith‐Hamel SC,  made his closing arguments.  During his closing,  he quoted Bishop Desmond Tutu,  the Anglican humanitarian leader from South Africa: “’Our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters … More Belize Court hears Closing argument in Penal code anti-Sodomy case

San Francisco to protest Pride’s cancellation of Bradley Manning honor

April 28, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 28, 2013. San Francisco, CA – Gay activists have called a protest against the San Francisco Pride Committee for withdrawing of Bradley Manning as an honorary Grand Marshal for this year’s Pride. Bradley Manning, widely known to be gay, had been selected to be one of the Grand Marshals of the … More San Francisco to protest Pride’s cancellation of Bradley Manning honor

Exploitation of binational same-sex couples continues as Immigration Equality continues to fund raise on the back of its failure

April 26, 2013

The group raised $1,765,000 in 2011 of which $1,131,220 was used for salaries and compensation, and increased employees to 20 for what? By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2013. Immigration Equality has failed binational same-sex couples and is now scrambling to stay relevant, with the audacity to create a exploitative lobby event, all leading of course … More Exploitation of binational same-sex couples continues as Immigration Equality continues to fund raise on the back of its failure

WND promoting anti-gay Scott Lively’s revisionist Pink Swastika and the call to kill gays

April 20, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 20, 2013. The News Publication, WND, with an extreme right wing slant describes itself on its about page as  “an independent news company dedicated to uncompromising journalism, seeking truth and justice and revitalizing the role of the free press as a guardian of liberty.” And continues to note: “We remain faithful … More WND promoting anti-gay Scott Lively’s revisionist Pink Swastika and the call to kill gays

Immigration Equality begs on backs of binationals | Failed strategy has its remedy in death of DOMA

April 20, 2013

Begging for money to fund a failed strategy for immigration inclusiveness is a waste of time, money and resources | It is too late because even if UAFA is included in CIR, it will be the demise of DOMA that get binational spouses their green cards. Immigration Equality has always described itself as the preeminent … More Immigration Equality begs on backs of binationals | Failed strategy has its remedy in death of DOMA

San Francisco’s Our Family Coalition Survey Needs You Now

April 17, 2013

PLEASE help spread the word By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2013. Our Family Coalition is a Bay Area organization committed to promoting the equality and well-being of LGBTQ families. The organization  strives to provide programs responsive to the evolving need of the communities they serve. With many challenges ahead,  OFC needs your critical input; they … More San Francisco’s Our Family Coalition Survey Needs You Now

Scotus ruling on Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum concern for human rights cases

April 17, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2013. The  Supreme Court has ruled in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, a case that raised the question of whether corporations could be held accountable for human rights abuses and whether U.S. federal courts can hear claims arising from human rights violations committed abroad under the Alien Tort Statute. The … More Scotus ruling on Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum concern for human rights cases

Topless Protestors in Germany lunge at Putin in Protest at Trade Event

April 11, 2013

European protestors, the group Femen take their protests to an effective extreme – at least I think so – certainly noticeable and passionately expressive. This makes American protests in the vein of Code Pink and GetEQUAL seem tame. I say ‘way to go and thank you FEMEN! By Melanie Nathan, April 10, 2013. A must … More Topless Protestors in Germany lunge at Putin in Protest at Trade Event

USAID announces LGBT Global Development Partnership

April 9, 2013

$11 million, four-year initiative to further LGBT equality worldwide By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Following the United Nations’ historic resolution endorsing LGBT human rights in 2011, President Obama issued a mandate to all agencies involved with foreign aid and development to “enhance their ongoing efforts with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector … More USAID announces LGBT Global Development Partnership

South African Arts Academy guilty of human rights violations by claiming gay cure

April 9, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2013. In January we reported that an Arts School in Bloemfontein, South Africa, claimed in its prospectus that it could cure homosexual students. We reported that a “South African Christian arts academy, Creare Training Centre may be breaking the law by advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, and that … More South African Arts Academy guilty of human rights violations by claiming gay cure

LGBT Groups Challenge Medicare’s Refusal to Provide Healthcare to Transgender Patients

April 2, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 02, 2013. (Washington, D.C., March 29, 2013)—Last week, several national LGBT groups and a cooperating attorney filed an administrative challenge to Medicare’s ban on medically necessary healthcare for transgender patients. Medicare, which provides healthcare to Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with certain qualifying disabilities, currently prohibits all forms … More LGBT Groups Challenge Medicare’s Refusal to Provide Healthcare to Transgender Patients

Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings

March 29, 2013

as the Human Rights Campaign exhibits their typical lack of inclusivity… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 29, 2013. During the SCOTUS trials the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) convinced many in the Facebook world to change their avatars to red.  Following the hearings many activists are seeing a different red now that two incidents – insulting both the … More Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings

God Forbid Equality | Same-Sex Couples’ right to immigration equality attacked by Hispanic Catholic Evangelical Coalition

March 8, 2013

Gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents may lose the possible inclusion in immigration reform that would allow them to apply for visas and green cards – Catholic Hispanic, and Evangelical Coalition says inclusion would  be an Immigration reform deal-breaker. By Melanie Nathan, March 08, 2013. You would think that marginalized group would find … More God Forbid Equality | Same-Sex Couples’ right to immigration equality attacked by Hispanic Catholic Evangelical Coalition

LGBT activists should be fighting for Supreme Court Justice Scalia to recuse himself from DOMA and Prop 8 Cases

February 28, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 28, 2913. Based on this latest news, noting that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has vented his belief through his skeptical questions about a key portion of the Voting Rights Act, a cornerstone of the civil rights movement that brought an end to Jim Crow-era racial discrimination at the polls in … More LGBT activists should be fighting for Supreme Court Justice Scalia to recuse himself from DOMA and Prop 8 Cases

Canadian funding to anti-gay faith based organization in Uganda links to hate speech

February 12, 2013

The Pitfalls of funding Faith Based Organizations without doing your research first By Cathy Kristofferson, February 12, 2013. It has come to light that the Canadian government, through its Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) spearheaded by Minister Julian Fantino, has been funding an anti-gay Evangelical organization – Crossroads Christian Communications – to the tune of … More Canadian funding to anti-gay faith based organization in Uganda links to hate speech

VISUAL AIDS PRESENT POSITIVE ASSERTIONS: FOUR ARTIST SNAPSHOTS

February 7, 2013

At the NYC LGBT Community Center – and Visual AIDS present an interactive slideshow with four on-the-ground LGBT artists: Amos Mac, Devin Elijah, Ivan Monforte and Jessica Whitbred, hosted by Sacha Yanow. By Melanie Nathan, Feb 07, 2013. The Center is proud to partner with Visual AIDS to present Positive Assertions: Four Artist Snapshots, an … More VISUAL AIDS PRESENT POSITIVE ASSERTIONS: FOUR ARTIST SNAPSHOTS

Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

February 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2013. The Defense of Marriage Act  (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and woman only, and so a same-sex American spouse (citizen or resident) cannot petition for a foreign spouse to obtain a green card and citizenship.   That means that married same-sex couples cannot benefit from the same Federal … More Immigration reform and the complexities for same-sex binational couples

Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

January 29, 2013

Lost-n-Found – A do it yourself homeless queer youth shelter By Cathy Kristofferson, January 29, 2013.  Update Feb. 7 2013: Creating Change ’13 Conference session handout. In the fall of 2011 I saw posts online about a new queer youth shelter opening in Atlanta.  Local homeless queer youth were being turned away from shelters and … More Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth