By Melanie Nathan, September 24, 2014. Jerusalem pride finally took place this year after two prior cancellations attributed to the summer Gaza war. The march took place a few days before Rosh Hashana, heralding the Jewish New Year 5775. Notwithstanding the drop in attendance, it is quite a feat that the organizers were able to … More Jerusalem Pride 2014 a Success
By Melanie Nathan, August 12 2014, Israel has decided that the law of return includes non-Jewish same sex spouses. Directly form the Haaretz report: The Law of Return, which gives Diaspora Jews and non-Jewish family members the right to immigrate to Israel, also applies to legally married same-sex spouses, Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday. … More Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration
Over 10,000 turn out for South African Rally to Support Israel Posted by Melanie Nathan, Aug 05, 104. Johannesburg – Aug 04- 2014. On Sunday, more than 12,000 South Africans, representing a broad spectrum of society, came together to stand united in solidarity with Israel, while condemning the use of terror by Hamas against the citizens of … More South African Rally for Israel Speaks Peace in Face of Years of Rising Anti-Semitism
By Melanie Nathan, May 15, 2014. In a PinkNews Exclusive, it is reported that The British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) announced it will no longer have its awards dinner at the London Dorchester hotel owned by the Sultan of Brunei – due to his country’s new rule on stoning gays and adulterers to death. The … More Prestigious Awards Cancels Gala Venue owned by Sultan of Brunei
By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2014. Ukrainian and Israeli media are reporting actions that smack of Nazi Germany as Jews in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, where pro-Russian militants have taken over government buildings, were told it is complusory to “register” as Jews and pay special taxes with the Ukrainians who are trying to make … More Jews Persecuted with Orders to Register in Ukraine
by Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2014. A memorial honoring gays and lesbians persecuted by the Nazis during World War II has been unveiled in Tel Aviv. The memorial depicts a pink triangle, the symbol gays were forced by the Nazis to wear in concentration camps. The memorial’s dedication is in Hebrew, English and German: “In … More Gay Holocaust Memorial Unveiled in Tel Aviv
Good evening — I just addressed the nation about the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Over the past two years, what began as a series of peaceful protests against the repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad has turned into a brutal civil war in Syria. Over 100,000 people have been killed. In that time, we … More Statement on Syria by U.S. President Barack Obama
But wait – watch out – what if we get our grubby queer hands on her? By Melanie Nathan, September 08, 2013 Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko is the highest-ranking female politician in Russia, the former governor of Saint Petersburg and the current Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. She also hates gays. Valentina … More Russian Anti-Gay Parliamentarian Wants to Talk to United States Congress About Syria
Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 17, 2013. Two men were arrested in January after a series of incidents in London saw members of the public harassed by self-styled vigilantes who posted footage of their activities online. One included a clip showing a man being subjected to homophobic abuse. The incidents are believed to be linked … More The part of London that is not safe for Gays and Jews
By Melanie Nathan, June 06, 2013. In a dramatic and long awaited development Israeli Police have arrested 3 suspects in the Tel Aviv 2009 gay youth center shooting, that left 2 dead and 10 injured. It is believed that the motivation for the killings was based on personal revenge, according to a report by Eli Senyor … More Arrests in 2009 Tel Aviv Gay Youth Center Shootings
The Southern city of Eilat saw big crowds as it kicked off the events set for pride in Israel, which is expected to attract a total of 20,000 tourists to Tel Aviv Pride month. By Melanie Nathan, May 31, 2013. Meir Ohayon reports from Israel that “Hundreds of Eilat residents and members of the lesbian, … More Israel celebrates peaceful Eilat Pride Parade
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 18, 2013 The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia – IDAHO, IDAHOT, IDAHOBIT or however you like it – annually celebrated on May 17, was conceived in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990. This year over 100 … More IDAHOT Around the World | The good, the bad, and the ugly
$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
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” Elie Wiesel By Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated throughout different parts of the world, each year on Jan. 27, the day of liberation from Auschwitz. It is … More On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World
Israel’s politicians give an unprecedented pledge to legislate pro gay laws Representative of Israeli political parties promise more action on LGBT rights during a panel debating the upcoming elections and gay rights 06 January 2013 | By Dan Littauer, Shabi Gatenio During a political panel organized by the Aguda, Israel’s largest LGBT rights group, representatives … More Israeli Politicians Vow Equality
Yossi revisited with Israeli director Eytan Fox Israeli director Eytan Fox’s Yossi & Jagger (2002) was one of the most memorable of gay films, a tale of truly star-crossed lovers—soldiers in the Israeli army. It ended heartbreakingly with the death of Jagger, and for anyone who has ever wondered what became of his partner, Fox’s … More New Israeli Gay Film Follows Yossi and Jagger
To protest claims same-sex marriage will destroy the Jewish people Mock gay weddings preformed outside Tel Aviv’s Rabbinical court in protest of a ring-wing religious candidate stating that they would destroy the Jewish people 04 January 2013 | By Dan Littauer, Andrew Potts, VIA GAYSTAR News Following a statement by a religious right-wing electoral candidate … More Israel MP performs gay marriages as protest
Release Posted by Melanie Nathan, NOVEMBER 27, 2012. The UK publisher Routledge has issued a public apology to Peter Tatchell for 20 “misrepresentations and distortions” and “inaccurate allegations” made by the former Human Rights Watch programme director, Scott Long. The full and unreserved apology to Peter Tatchell and the LGBT human rights group OutRage! has … More Publisher issues apology to Peter Tatchell for Scott Long Distortions
Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 22, 2012. Hamas is a Palestinian fundamentalist Islamic terror organization and is considered such by the governments of the U.S., Israel, the U.K., and the European Union. During the last 10 days, over half of Israel’s population, about 5 million people, suffered from rockets launched from Gaza into Israel. Gaza is ruled by Hamas. Hamas Terrorists Firing Rockets … More Who is Hamas
Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest Advisory: Since the beginning of the year, more than 800 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel, a record amount since the end of Operation Cast Lead (January 2009). This peak is similar to the attacks that occurred in 2007-8. More than 125 missiles and … More Israel bombarded by rockets and mortars assassinates Hamas leader
Eleven transgender people arrested in Kuwait morality campaign -and counting, as even private parties are not safe. On 10 December 2007, the Kuwaiti parliament passed a bill proposed by Islamic MPs that amended article 198 of penal code so that anyone ‘imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex’ could be jailed for … More Kuwait Police Target Transgender People with Eleven Jailed
Protecting Medicare and Social Security, fighting for good jobs and a clean environment, standing up for women’s rights and equality are Jewish values. By Melanie Nathan, October 21, 2012. When Anne Romney had the audacity to tout her husband’s religious escapade as ‘The Mission,’ as if akin to serving in the U.S. military, she gave … More Why Jews Should NOT Vote for Mitt Romney
Posted by Melanie Nathan, Oct 06, 2012. A Wider Bridge and Hillel UW will host a screening of “The Invisible Men” and a discussion with its director, Israeli filmmaker Yariv Mozer. The film won the Special Jury Award at Tel Aviv’s international documentary film festival “ Doc Aviv 2012” in and the Outstanding Documentary Feature … More Seattle to Screen Film about Palestinian Gays Fleeing to Israel
Dr Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of the UNAIDS Programme said “Every individual should have the right to freedom of movement, regardless of their HIV status. UNAIDS is opposed to any restriction imposed on people living with HIV and restricting movement only on the basis of their HIV status. These restrictions are discriminatory.”
… More AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans
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
By Melanie Nathan, April 30, 2012. While the United States has yet to publish its annual (2011) Human Rights Report, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued its 392 page report on human rights today and the LGBT section can be found at page 68 as follows:- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights The Government is … More United Kingdom Publishes New Human Rights Report
By Melanie Nathan, April 19, 2012 The Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) released its latest publication entitled ‘Rainbow Bridges: A Community Guide to Rebuilding the Lives of LGBTI Refugees and Asylum Seekers. ‘ This is the first guide of its kind directed at the United States lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and affirming … More ORAM Releases New Publication to help LGBT Refugees and Asylees
By Melanie Nathan, April 06, 2012. A new Israeli law is trying to fight the spread of eating disorders by banning underweight models from local advertising and requiring publications to disclose when they use altered images to make women and men appear thinner. The law, passed late Monday, appears to be the first attempt by … More Israel Passing Law Against Skinny Models
Incompetency of the Seattle LGBT Commission highlighted by the Council member questions at the end of the discussion in Video By Melanie Nathan Watch the apology and the dramatic and emotional testimony given by leaders from the Seattle LGBT and Jewish community to the Seattle City Council ( Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee … More Video Seattle City Council Meeting LGBT Commission Regarding their Discrimination Against Israeli LGBT Guests
The Seattle City LGBT Commissions has issued a formal apology, by posting it on Facebook, to the LGBT public and the Israeli AILO group, as can be seen below, for its actions in cancelling an event that in essence served to boycott and silence the visiting group from Israel.
It admits the “pain, offense … More Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign
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