Category: POLITICAL VIEWS

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

Iceland Receives 5 LGBT Refugees from Africa While Pipleine to USA is slow

June 8, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 08, 2014 Iceland is set to receive approximately 5 LGBT refugees, including one lesbian, from Uganda, Cameroon and Zimbabwe. The Committee on Refugees made the recommendation, accepted by the foreign minister and the minister of welfare. Each of the individuals made application to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The municipalities of … More Iceland Receives 5 LGBT Refugees from Africa While Pipleine to USA is slow

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

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

Urgent Stop Ugandan Foreign Minister from Becoming President of UN General Assembly

May 28, 2014

Call to Urgent Action Show your outrage — “Let us tell the United Nations that we do not reward Homophobic countries with positions of global leadership,” Melanie Nathan By Melanie Nathan, May 28, 2014. Uganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa is set to become President of the UN General Assembly on 17 June – unless you … More Urgent Stop Ugandan Foreign Minister from Becoming President of UN General Assembly

Africa’s First Openly Gay Member of Parliament

May 24, 2014

A must read interview and a testament to progress By Melanie Nathan, May 24, 2014. South Africa has just gone through an election and there is some good news for the LGBT community. Wednesday’s swearing in of the members of parliament, for South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament,  was an especially historic occasion; it featured the … More Africa’s First Openly Gay Member of Parliament

Homophobic Jamaican Queen Ifrica Axed from Concert

May 24, 2014

Council Member Dromm and Jamaican LGBT activists call for cancellation of Queen Ifrica concert in Queens and Amazura Concert Hall complies Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 24, 2014. On May 23rd New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm and Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand (JAHS) protested in front of Amazura Concert Hall in Jamaica, Queens, calling for … More Homophobic Jamaican Queen Ifrica Axed from Concert

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

Outrageous lies by Ugandan Government regarding the Anti-Gay Laws

May 8, 2014

And Lies about Gays not being Persecuted  as Uganda tries to squirm out of aid cuts they once said they did not care about By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. The Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs is attempting to avert Ugandan fears that the international community will cut aid to Uganda and has allegedly provided … More Outrageous lies by Ugandan Government regarding the Anti-Gay Laws

Ugandan men first to face trial after passage of harsh anti-gay laws

May 8, 2014

The World is Watching the Making of Martyrs until all Anti-homosexuality laws are decriminalized By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. No matter the outcome, their lives will forever be tarnished, at least in Uganda. However with their faces splashed across world press, many  may come to regard them as martyrs, a symbol for the oppressed … More Ugandan men first to face trial after passage of harsh anti-gay laws

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

Police Descend on Bekkersdal The ANC Embarrassment

May 4, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2014. It reminds me largely of the “old” pre-Apartheid South Africa: — Township – a filthy dumping ground languishing in stark contrast to nearby spotless suburbs – no services- the stench of poverty – and then the ultimate reminder THE large police presence – challenging – the obnoxious scent of … More Police Descend on Bekkersdal The ANC Embarrassment

South African Government Launches Historic Program to Attack Homophobia

April 30, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, April 29, 2014. Back in 2011, when South Africa was exposed internationally for horrific amount of rapes and murders perpetrated on the lesbian community in so called “corrective” or “Curative” rape attacks, Minister Jeff Radebe was taken to task, and now some years later the climate may be set for change. This … More South African Government Launches Historic Program to Attack Homophobia

Did the Ugandan Ambassador Wonekha Lie About NTA Partnership to Boost Tourism

April 24, 2014

NTA denies it has a Partnership with Uganda to Boost Tourism creating suspicion that Ambassador lied in Embassy Post By Melanie Nathan, April 24, 2014. The Ugandan Ambassador to the United States, Hon Oliver Wonekha,  posted a headline and article on the Ugandan Embassy website declaring a partnership between NTA, National Tour Association, of North America, … More Did the Ugandan Ambassador Wonekha Lie About NTA Partnership to Boost Tourism

Anti-Gay Uganda’s Ambassador Partners with National Tourism Association NTA in U.S.A.

April 23, 2014

To try and attract more U.S. tourism | NTA ignores plight of LGBTI Ugandans By Melanie Nathan, April 22, 2014. Given the current state of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and the profound anger at Uganda’s state institutionalized homophobia, causing horrific persecution of the LGBTI community in Uganda, we are shocked that the National Tour Association (NTA), … More Anti-Gay Uganda’s Ambassador Partners with National Tourism Association NTA in U.S.A.

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

Protest at South African Embassy in D.C. Slams Zuma for Failing on Gay Rights

April 17, 2014

Zuma is seen as condoning the new homophobic laws of Uganda, while assaulting the principles of South Africa’s Constitution. By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2014. Today a group of American activists targeted the South African Embassy in Washington D.C., to protest President Jacob Zuma’s recent comments that he supports the Ugandan Governments sovereign right to … More Protest at South African Embassy in D.C. Slams Zuma for Failing on Gay Rights

Ethiopia Cancels Anti-Gay Rally and Drops Proposed Bill

April 16, 2014

By Cathy Kristofferson, April 16, 2014 The AP is reporting plans to hold a mass anti-gay rally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have been cancelled. The two religious groups planning the rally announced last week it would be held on April 26th. The government-affiliated Addis Ababa Youth Forum and a religious group associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported an … More Ethiopia Cancels Anti-Gay Rally and Drops Proposed Bill

A Compelling Call for San Franciso Employee Retirement to Divest from Anti-Gay Russia

April 10, 2014

Gary Virginia, of Gays Without Borders and President of the Board of San Francisco Pride provided this compelling speech in San Francisco Posted by Melanie Nathan, April 10, 2014. Gary Virginia of Gays without Borders and President of San Francisco Pride provided this public comment today regarding Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Supervisor’s efforts to get … More A Compelling Call for San Franciso Employee Retirement to Divest from Anti-Gay Russia

HIV AIDS Services Raided by Ugandan Police in War on Gays

April 4, 2014

 More LGBT Ugandans placed at risk of death while Project left with no choice but to suspend activities By Melanie Nathan, April 4, 2014. According to a Ugandan Government spokesperson, and confirmed by an OBLOGDEE source at the scene, as well as AP reports, the Ugandan police raided The Makerere University Walter Reed Project in … More HIV AIDS Services Raided by Ugandan Police in War on Gays

HRC Boots Activist Protesting ENDA’s Broad Religious Exemptions

March 21, 2014

Lesbian Avenger film screening event makes perfect backdrop for ENDA religious exemption protest By Cathy Kristofferson, March 21, 2014 Last week, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced a $2 million campaign to push for the House Vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (ENDA). This campaign partnership with Americans for Workplace Opportunity (AWO) is similar to … More HRC Boots Activist Protesting ENDA’s Broad Religious Exemptions

Molokov Mitchell Senate Campaign Manipulates Via Gay Hate Denials

March 20, 2014

Molokov “cocktail” Mitchell throws Bomb at Liberals while pretending NOT to be participating in Kill the Gays of Uganda! While Molokov purports not to want to meddle, he is adept at using persecuted gay and LGBTI Ugandans as a weapon and tool for his own political gain. He is using the plight of Ugandans now … More Molokov Mitchell Senate Campaign Manipulates Via Gay Hate Denials