Help Youth on Rock Find a Home and a Safe house by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. I reported the unlawful arrest of a young leader from the human rights group in Uganda, Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), around New Year’s Eve, after the break in at SMUG’s offices, where computers containing sensitive information were … More Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help
““The U.S. is a chosen country, an evangelical country, and if Americans don’t take God out of there, God won’t leave.”” By Jandira Queiroz, on January 26, 2013 Jandira Queiroz is a research fellow at Political Research Associates and a longtime reproductive and LGBTQ rights advocate in Brazil. From a modest building in a central … More Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil
On January 26, 2011 the world received the shocking news of the murder of one of Uganda’s brave LGBTI warriors, a hero then and still a hero now. By Melanie Nathan, January 25, 2013. David Kato was born to the Kisule clan in its ancestral village of Nakawala, Namataba, Mukono District, in Uganda. The younger … More David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now
By Evelyn Dent, January 22, 2013. Late last year, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. stating that the country should put an end to discriminatory and human-rights-violating government policies that criminalize members of the LGBT community. Under Malaysian law, it is still illegal to engage in … More Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People
Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK – Day of Service, 1/21/13 At HRC and Larkin Street Youth Services, we believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our LGBT youth, who make up 40 percent of homeless and at-risk youth. In our first year participating in MLK Day of Service, … More San Francisco Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK Day of Service
Can Massachusetts be a case study to improve the odds for homeless queer youth? By Cathy Kristofferson, January 09, 2013. The epidemic of homeless queer youth is an issue I’ve followed and advocated for because to me our youth are the most vulnerable among us. They are empowered by our successes and are coming out younger and … More Homeless queer youth | the Massachusetts Special Commission
By Melanie Nathan, December 30, 2012. Amongst its many human rights related missions, Human Rights Watch works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people’s rights, with activists representing a multiplicity of identities and issues. According to their LGBT mission statement they “document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide – including … More UN Watch Calls for Removal of HRW Board member citing Anti-Semitic Remarks
By Melanie Nathan, Dec 28, 2012. SMUG, the LGBTI organization led by Frank Magishu, had its offices broken into and vandalized with almost all office property stolen during the Xmas holiday. It is unknown at this time if the motivation behind the attack was homophobic persecution. However given the anti-gay climate in Uganda and the … More Ugandan LGBT Organization SMUG Office Robbed and Vandalized during Xmas
Sexual Minorities Uganda v. Scott Lively – why you should care, why you should go! By Cathy Kristofferson, December 23, 2012. On Monday January 7th 2013 in Federal Court Springfield, opening oral arguments will be heard for the motion to dismiss the case of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) v. Scott Lively. This is not the … More Why we must attend the SMUG v. Scott Lively Lawsuit in Court January 7, 2013
By Melanie Nathan, December 23, 2012. Scott Lively, the fervently homophobic anti-gay Pastor, currently being sued by the CCR for his direct involvement on persecuting the Ugandan LGBT community. is playing the victim card, yet again. In a post on his blog which he entitles “Year of the Smear,” Lively reveals his wounds. Yes indeed … More Scott Lively’s Year of the Smear 2012
Reflecting on my day with Frank Mugisha By Cathy Kristofferson, GetEQUAL MA ; Photos by Joe Oliverio Now that the Ugandan Parliament has recessed with Speaker Kadaga unable to fulfill her ‘Christmas gift’ promise of passing the Kill-The-Gays bill for her people, the gay community of Uganda along with me and many activists worldwide have … More American Activist Provides Insights after day with Ugandan LGBTI Rights Hero Frank Mugisha
By Kristina Hultman, December 16, 2012 After a few days of climate shock, jetlag and defrosting, an unseasoned warmth took over a cold and frosty Stockholm, when four hundred participants at the ILGA World Conference saw its conclusion today, Sunday 16th, casting 242 votes from over one hundred countries, while warming up to camaraderie of common … More A Report from Stockholm and The ILGA World Conference
SMUG’s Mugisha protests at the place where Scott Lively Case will be heard. By Melanie Nathan, December 08, 2012. Until recently the Ugandan activists, who could face death or life imprisonment in Uganda, were asking international activists to tread cautiously when protesting the impending passage of the Anti-Homsexuality Bill (AHB). Protests have now started ramping … More Ugandan Award Winning Activist Frank Mugisha Joins U.S. Protests
Make It Stop. By Melanie Nathan, Oct 25, 2012. Today I received this e-mail from Heather Cronk, Managing Director of GetEQUAL , who describes herself as a “proud Maryland resident.” Maryland is one of hte states where an anti- same-sex marriage appears on the ballot for next month. Heather describes the Kill the Gays rhetoric … More Petition to Fight Maryland Anti-Gay Pastor’s Kill the Gays Rhetoric
Stonewall Democrats like most LGBT Americans are mortified. Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Mitt Romney today and have now proven once and for all that they are not an organization aligned with the LGBT movement. According to Stonewall Democrats “They are a Republican front group bumbling their way into fooling LGBT voters that it’s OK to … More Disgusting GAY REPUBLICANS
From the bottom of the Continent of Africa to the top of South Africa, a Budget Bus filled with LGBTQI community representatives toiled the bush, the veld, cities and townships, spreading rainbow acts and music, all in the name of full inclusiveness and education against homophobia. The Gay Flag of South Africa, led its annual tour of the country amidst much to contemplate and celebrate, including the approval of the Gay Flag as a national symbol. … More South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia
by Melanie Nathan September 23, 2012. The South African Human Rights Commission deputy-chairperson, Pregs Govender, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council and governments to hold business to account for human rights violations in the world. Speaking in Geneva at the 21st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with the … More South African HRC Urges UNHRC hold Businesses Accountable for Human Rights Violations
Help “PROJECT KNOW” VIDEO got Viral AGAINST THE MINNESOTA MARRIAGE AMENDMENT By Melanie Nathan, September 05, 2012. A group of Minnesotans against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, have come together to form “Project Know.” Fighting for the freedom of LGBT citizens and using the power of social media, the group is urging people to “know to … More Minnesotans Against Marriage Amendment Launch Must Watch Vote No Video
By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. An historic public meeting took place Thursday between the South African majority party, the ANC and the Gay Flag of South Africa (GFSA) an NPO to condemn recent homophobic violence against the LGBTI community in South Africa, as well as the anti-gay commentary by Traditional leaders who are reviewing … More Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA
By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2012. The Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, City Lights Booksellers, and Atlas Leadership Strategies will all be co-sponsoring an evening with Michael Long, author of “I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters” at the Commonwealth Club San Francisco on August 21.This special gathering marks the … More Celebrating Bayard Rustin with Author of “I Must Resist” Michael Long
Activists Question Motives and More harm than good? Anonymous used Photos from My Advocate Article that can hurt the gay man depicted. By Melanie Nathan, August 15, 2012 Ugandan government websites hacked and defaced include the official website of the Office of the Prime Minister. The following is an excerpt from a message posted to … More Anonymous Hacks Ugandan Government in Support of Gay Pride but Uses Harmful Photo
By Melanie Nathan August 08,2012. Watch Ugandan media and officials describe homosexuality as decadence, while Minister Onek vows to clamp down on all non profit organizations that he says hide this promotion of decadence behind so called “human rights.” The ministry has decided it will conduct checks on all NGO’s looking “for suspected culprits.” The … More Hate Speech as Ugandan Minister Onek Vows to Kill NGO’s that Help Gays
South African Gold Coin Exchange, (SAGCE) August 03, 2012 This week, in conjunction with a launch event hosted by The South African Consul General in New York, the South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) introduced the first ever Nelson Mandela gold and silver Medallions into the United States Market. The special release, launched to commemorate … More Celebrating the Launch of Nelson Mandela HIV/AIDS Medallions in the United States
By Melanie Nathan, July 29, 2012 By now you have all read that the inventors of the chicken sandwich, Chick-Fil-A, have gone cuckoo, with clucked anti-gay cluck by owner Dan Cathy, who said the company was “guilty as charged” in its stance against same-sex marriage and equality. He made gay-hate comments which fueled protests by … More Gays can defeat Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy employing true American Values
By Melanie Nathan, July 14, 2012. The Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé will be among the high-level speakers at the official opening of AIDS 2012 which is taking place from 19:00–21:00 on Sunday 22 July in Washington DC. The Conference will bring together the world’s top AIDS researchers, community leaders, and other stakeholders. An … More UNAIDS at Opening of The International AIDS Conference 2012
Observer Reports – NGOs’ gay plans leak, govt furious By Melanie Nathan, June 27, 2012. Ugandan LGBTI activists awoke this morning to a shock when they found that the Ugandan Government had infiltrated their meetings and obtained Minutes outlining their strategies and naming people and organizations in the movement. The Ugandan Newspaper, The Observer reports … More Ugandan Government Spies on GAYS and Steals Documents in Ongoing Persecution
By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2012. Amidst a sea of rainbows, over one million people lined the streets of San Francisco and cheered as Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, the heroic clergyman and LGBT rights ally activist from Uganda, made his way through the San Francisco Pride 2012 route, as its Global Grand Marshall leading a fitting … More A Million Cheers for Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo at San Francisco Pride 2012
First survey of international refugee assistance organizations finds widespread failures to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex refugees. Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2012. San Francisco – As increasing numbers of refugees flee persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) and Indiana University … More World Refugee Day Highlights Failure to Protect LGBTI Refugees
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 11th, 2012 The European Commission has just published a new report, ‘Discrimination against trans and intersex people on the grounds of sex, gender identity and gender expression‘. With it, the European Commission looks into the situation of trans and intersex people for the first time. The European Commission had already … More New EU Commission Report on Transgender and Intersex Discrimination
And shows the Importance of Full Equality and a Welcome to Chad Griffin By Melanie Nathan, June 08, 2012. The Joe Solmonese reign at HRC hailed what many termed an elitist era at the Human Rights Campaign. But still the organization carried the hope of the T shirt button buying masses. While personifying the status … More HRC Turns a Corner – New Youth Study Highlights Struggles of LGBT Youth
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