A Reflective Mothers Day – Five Generations in My Maternal Line on Five Separate Continents Mothers

May 13, 2018

Standing with refugees, asylum seekers immigrants, and orphans because it is persecutory and tragic to separate families… This Mother’s day as we stand with refugee and asylum seeking mothers and the orphans who do not have mothers, I reflect on the tragedy of my own family and how the Trump Administration is working policy to … More A Reflective Mothers Day – Five Generations in My Maternal Line on Five Separate Continents Mothers

HAVANA PRIDE

May 12, 2018

With thanks to San Francisco LGBTQ activist, Michael Petrelis, and his successful fundraising quest to take rainbow flags and regalia to Cuba for Havana Pride, we present the result in this pictorial from his social media: Havana Pride 2018 Melanie Nathan My e-mail commissionermnathan@gmail.com Support our work at African Human Rights Coalition Check out my … More HAVANA PRIDE

New Yorker: “Taking Children From Their Parents is a Form of State Terror”

May 12, 2018

My family was once on the rough end of America’s immigration law, when faced with the threat of my same-sex spouse having to go back to her country of origin.  Because of DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) LGBT people could not marry with federal immigration rights to sponsor a same-sex spouse to remain in … More New Yorker: “Taking Children From Their Parents is a Form of State Terror”

Oklahoma Governor Signs Dangerous Anti-LGBT Child Welfare Bill Into Law

May 11, 2018

Governor gives go-ahead to legalize discrimination WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin today signed SB 1140 into law, codifying discrimination against legally married same-sex couples and others looking to adopt, and imperiling the well-being of youth in the state’s child welfare system. The new law will permit taxpayer funded adoption agencies to turn away same-sex … More Oklahoma Governor Signs Dangerous Anti-LGBT Child Welfare Bill Into Law

Marin: Nicasio Gets Broadband; Funding for Bolinas

May 10, 2018

Spigot opens for fiber-optic web connections for rural Marin San Rafael, CA – Marin County’s broadband connections to West Marin are growing. With some County of Marin technical assistance, residents of Nicasio are receiving home service via 100 percent fiber-optic connections and enjoying reliable internet service for the first time. And a similar project for Bolinas … More Marin: Nicasio Gets Broadband; Funding for Bolinas

ICYMI: “A family is torn apart: Siblings fight to save their home after their parents are deported.”

May 10, 2018

How many of these stories am I going to have to post? Washington, DC – Three siblings in Bridgeton, NJ are struggling to keep their family home after their parents were deported. In late 2017, mother and father Humberta and Oscar Campos were deported to Mexico, after years of living in the United States under … More ICYMI: “A family is torn apart: Siblings fight to save their home after their parents are deported.”

Horrific Nazi Tactic Raid Nets 32 Fathers by ICE Agents in Eastern Iowa

May 10, 2018

Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested 32 men on what they described as administrative immigration violations during a raid early Wednesday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials wouldn’t confirm where the raid took place, but at about 11 a.m. Iowa State Patrol officers blocked off the entrance to MPC Enterprises — Midwest Precast Concrete — … More Horrific Nazi Tactic Raid Nets 32 Fathers by ICE Agents in Eastern Iowa

Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter

May 9, 2018

Twitter has officially recognized Swahili as a language. Well that does not mean that Twitter has yet added Swahili to language settings. Though the social media platform now recognizes Swahili words and offers translation of the widely spoken and written East African language. Since last week, Twitter started detecting the language in tweets and subsequently … More Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter

Trump Admin Family Separation Policy Initiated by Sessions and Nielsen Draws Fire

May 9, 2018

Washington, DC – In response to the announcements by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen that their new “zero tolerance” strategy means that infants and toddlers will be separated from their parents, a range of voices –  from editorial boards, to mothers and children staging walkout protests when DHS … More Trump Admin Family Separation Policy Initiated by Sessions and Nielsen Draws Fire

WaPo: “U.S. embassy cables warned against expelling 300,000 immigrants. Trump officials did it anyway.”

May 8, 2018

Washington, DC – This evening, Washington Post’s Nick Miroff, Seung Min Kim and Joshua Partlow report that, despite warnings from experts contained in U.S. embassy cables, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 300,000 immigrants. These decisions are aimed at expelling legal immigrants with deep family, business, work and community ties in America. The … More WaPo: “U.S. embassy cables warned against expelling 300,000 immigrants. Trump officials did it anyway.”

The Cruel America of Trump and Sessions: Where Children are Torn from Loving Parents

May 8, 2018

Separating Children from Parents as a deterrent to immigration? This is OUR America!?! How could we? My great grandmother was ‘forced’ to separate from her two youngest children when faced with her “Sophie’s choice” during the anti-Jewish Pogroms of Eastern Europe, sending two small children to an orphanage in a remote corner of the globe, … More The Cruel America of Trump and Sessions: Where Children are Torn from Loving Parents

Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

May 7, 2018

May is National Foster Care Month – Orientation scheduled to inform, dispel myths about foster care San Rafael, CA – Marin County has 85 children in out-of-home care, also known as foster care, and nearly 35 percent of them are placed in homes outside of Marin. The Marin County Recruitment Collaborative seeks more homes in Marin so … More Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

Trump has “Already Told 1 Million Immigrants Who Had Legal Protections To Get Out”

May 7, 2018

Washington, DC –  Elise Foley of HuffPost puts the latest disturbing news about the end of TPS for Hondurans into a larger context, explaining in a new must-read article “more than a million people in total who have been living and working legally in the U.S. who, thanks to Trump, now face an uncertain future, … More Trump has “Already Told 1 Million Immigrants Who Had Legal Protections To Get Out”

WAPO: “The Trump administration’s new plan to punish legal immigrants”

May 7, 2018

“In the administration’s plan, working-class immigrants would be penalized if they claimed practically any benefit for which they qualified — even the earned-income tax credit, which is used by tens of millions of American workers and whose effect is to promote employment.” >Washington, DC –  For all the focus on Trump’s assault on undocumented immigrants … More WAPO: “The Trump administration’s new plan to punish legal immigrants”

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film festival Announces Lineup

May 5, 2018

 FULL LINEUP FOR 28TH EDITION RUNNING MAY 24 – JUNE 3. Brett Haley’s HEARTS BEAT LOUD to close festival; World Premiere of Christiaan Olwagen’s CANARY selected as Centerpiece Gala. TORONTO, ON – May 4, 2018 – The 28th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, revealed its … More Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film festival Announces Lineup

Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

May 3, 2018

Advocates call on Gov. Mary Fallin to veto discriminatory bill WASHINGTON – At the eleventh hour, lawmakers in Oklahoma approved a bill that would allow adoption agencies receiving taxpayer funding to discriminate against legally married same-sex couples and LGBTQ youth, among others. The bill, SB 1140, was approved by both the House and Senate chambers … More Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

California Bill to Establish June as Pride Month Passes Committee

May 2, 2018

SACRAMENTO—Legislation to establish June as Pride Month in statute passed the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization by a vote of 15-0. Assembly Bill 2969 is authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, and co-authored by all members of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. AB 2969 is supported by … More California Bill to Establish June as Pride Month Passes Committee

America Say Hi To Africa – there are floods…. and other stuff…

May 1, 2018

Some international news … absolved from cabin fever – you know that insular stuck in MERICA feeling – read: Thousands strand in flood: Central Somalia has experienced heavy rains which have flooded parts of the country. The resultant effect has been the displacement of thousands. The United Nations estimates that almost half a million people … More America Say Hi To Africa – there are floods…. and other stuff…

Marin Probationers Arrest May have Saved lives

April 30, 2018

Public safety workers and the friends and family members of those at risk for overdose are being encouraged to carry naloxone. San Rafael, CA – Two probationers who have histories of being hospitalized for opiate abuse were booked into Marin County Jail following arrests that Marin County Probation Department officials said might have saved their … More Marin Probationers Arrest May have Saved lives

Top 10 Reasons why we should STFU about the pillory on Sarah Huckabee Sanders

April 30, 2018

Will everyone please just stop talking about how poor ‘ol Sarah Huckabee Sanders was affronted at the White House Correspondent dinner this weekend. STFU! Here are 10 TOP reasons why! 10. The White House Correspondents dinner traditionally is a roast where people can be expected to be made fun of – that is its tradition. … More Top 10 Reasons why we should STFU about the pillory on Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Marin County, Community Should Take Hard Look at Equity

April 27, 2018

San Rafael, CA – Marin County’s poorest residents have much different needs from their local government than those more financially fortunate. For instance, there aren’t as many construction permits filed for home additions in some ZIP codes, and there aren’t as many applications for food assistance in others. The County of Marin knows that there … More Marin County, Community Should Take Hard Look at Equity

Condemnation as Trump ending TPS for Nepalis

April 26, 2018

ADHIKAAR CONDEMNS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO END TEMPORARY – PROTECTED STATUS (TPS) FOR 9,000 NEPALIS; CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ACT New York, N.Y. – TODAY, the Trump Administration announced that it is terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Nepal. The termination will take effect June 24, 2019. The TPS program has benefited 14,791 Nepalis … More Condemnation as Trump ending TPS for Nepalis

Some News Americans May Not Be Interested In

April 25, 2018

Cameroon is not an ideal place for journalists to thrive in, due to laws that constantly threaten their freedom and independence, a recent report by a media rights group has said. Imagine that!  The 2018 Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders said Cameroonian authorities have imposed a climate of fear and self-censorship on … More Some News Americans May Not Be Interested In

Why Sacramento State LGBTQI Community Should Welcome the President of Ghana

April 24, 2018

Our responsibility as American LGBTQI on the global front is to first and foremost follow the lead and direction of the Ghanaian gay community … In writing this response to “EDITORIAL: Sac State shouldn’t break bread with repressive leaders – Persecution of LGBTQ, …….”,  and the Article of Claire Morgan, Managing editor, published in the online Sacramento State student … More Why Sacramento State LGBTQI Community Should Welcome the President of Ghana

Prosecutor: Not talking to your kids about their body is parental malpractice

April 24, 2018

In light of child abuse prevention month – well, let every day be child abuse prevention day! That said:- Florida state prosecutor Stacey Honowitz who has supervised the Child Sex Crimes unit for 27 years, said child sexual assault has become an epidemic. “I had a 3-year-old in my office the other day, three and … More Prosecutor: Not talking to your kids about their body is parental malpractice

Colorado Congressman Silent on Children Separated from Parents

April 23, 2018

What is Congressman Coffman Doing for the Children? –  Trump Administration Separating Hundreds of Children from their Parents WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday evening, a New York Times report detailed how the Trump Administration is separating hundreds of children from their parents at stations along the southern border. The practice is part of the Administration’s larger agenda of targeting, separating, and deporting … More Colorado Congressman Silent on Children Separated from Parents

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Urges Trump Admin To Extend Nepali Temporary Protected Status  

April 23, 2018

Trump Administration to Decide By April 25th |Whether to Protect or Deport 9k Nepali Immigrants New York, NY – A TimesLedger piece highlights New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s push to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepali TPS holders, who will learn on or before April 25th if the Trump Administration will extend or terminate the program.The … More NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Urges Trump Admin To Extend Nepali Temporary Protected Status  

Time to Purge that Medicine Cabinet for Safety’s Sake

April 20, 2018

Prevent misuse and abuse on Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28 San Rafael, CA – The opioid abuse crisis is a national phenomenon these days – there’s even a White House webpage devoted to it – but it’s been lingering in Marin County for decades. One in four Marin adults needs help for substance … More Time to Purge that Medicine Cabinet for Safety’s Sake