Pro Palestinian BDS Betrays South African Constitution and Mandela Legacy

See Video: South African Jews Recite Mourners Kaddish for Mandela By Melanie Nathan, March 13, 2015. When Mandela died the most pious of South African Jews and the most secular of South African Jews all mourned – we had lost Tata Madiba, the man who had brought freedom for all, to South Africa. President Jacob … More Pro Palestinian BDS Betrays South African Constitution and Mandela Legacy

Legislation to Give Homeless Youth Access to High School Equivalency Exams

By Melanie Nathan, March 13, 2015. Homeless youth across California would have greater access to the high school proficiency and equivalency exams under new legislation introduced by Senator Mark Leno. Senate Bill 252 would prohibit the Department of Education or testing companies from charging an exam fee to young people who are homeless. “Exam fees, … More Legislation to Give Homeless Youth Access to High School Equivalency Exams

LGBT Women Are Among Most at Risk of Poverty in America

Groundbreaking report from broad coalition examines poverty and economic vulnerability of LGBT women. Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 13, 2015 Washington, D.C. — According to a new report released by a broad coalition of research and advocacy organizations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, women are among the most at risk of poverty in America. … More LGBT Women Are Among Most at Risk of Poverty in America

Proposed Texas Legislation Attacks Transgender People

By Melanie Nathan, March 13, 2015. The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) strongly denounces new proposed legislation in Texas that singles out transgender people for harsh discrimination. Introduced by Republican State Representative Gilbert Peña on March 10, House Bills 2801 and 2802 come on the heels of a string of bills targeting transgender people, including a prior … More Proposed Texas Legislation Attacks Transgender People

Announcing Legislation for Homeless Youth

SAN FRANCISCO – California State Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, will join homeless youth advocates and other elected officials in San Francisco on Friday to announce important new legislation that gives homeless youth greater access to high school proficiency and equivalency exams. SB 252 would prohibit the Department of Education or testing companies from charging … More Announcing Legislation for Homeless Youth

BDS Protest Triggers Calls to Kill South African Jews

The BDS movement is clearly now a tool for anti-Semitism By Melanie Nathan, March 12, 2015. Threatening to kill South African Jews is surely not the South Africa Mandela would have endorsed. Unfortunately the BDS movement in South Africa is causing anti-Semitic terror.  Reports have emerged from Johannesburg, that Protesters chanted anti-Semitic slogans and threatened … More BDS Protest Triggers Calls to Kill South African Jews

Condemnation of Minnesota Legislation as Harmful to Transgender Students

Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 11, 2015. The Transgender Legal defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) denounces yet another attempt to target transgender students for discrimination, this time in Minnesota. Republican state lawmakers introduced identical bills in the Minnesota State House and Senate. HF 1456 and SF 1543 would deny transgender students the ability to play on sports teams … More Condemnation of Minnesota Legislation as Harmful to Transgender Students

MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

MEUSA Amicus Brief: Real Voices, Real People, Real Impact  Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 09, 2015. San Francisco/Washington DC – Today, Marriage Equality USA announces that it has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the freedom to marry nationwide and full equality under the Constitution for LGBTQ people. The brief, … More MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

Shocking Report Reveals Uganda Police Abuse Gays

 By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2015. A new 27 page report has been published indicating grave violations and human rights abuses in Uganda by Ugandan Police towards people arrested under suspicion of being LGBTI. The report categorically notes that the Ugandan police harass and physically abuse gay (LGBTI) people in custody. Chapter Four Uganda documented … More Shocking Report Reveals Uganda Police Abuse Gays

Justice as Game Ranger in Anti-Gay “Man Up” Camp Found Guilty of Murder

Alex de Koker and Michael Erasmus were found guilty of murder, child abuse and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, by the Vereeniging Regional Court in South Africa, today. By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2015. Finally, after years of uncertainty and trial, Alex de Koker and his henchman Michael Erasmus were found guilty … More Justice as Game Ranger in Anti-Gay “Man Up” Camp Found Guilty of Murder

New California Legislative Efforts to Mitigate Ellis Act Evictions

By Melanie Nathan, February 24, 2015. SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno has introduced new legislation that would help mitigate the negative impacts of Ellis Act evictions in San Francisco. Senate Bill 364 closes a loophole in the Ellis Act that allows speculators to buy rent-controlled buildings in San Francisco and immediately begin the process of … More New California Legislative Efforts to Mitigate Ellis Act Evictions

UNHCR Puts Hold on Registrations of Large Groups of Ugandans

Of Large Groups of Ugandans who claim to have an LGBT Profile By Melanie Nathan, February 20, 2015. I reported at African HRC that unscrupulous people may be conducting scams and taking advantage of LGBTI people who seek to escape their countries of origin. Of the several problems that seem to be happening at this … More UNHCR Puts Hold on Registrations of Large Groups of Ugandans

Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

Republicans roll off the Hill, while Democrats traverse Mt. Everest By Melanie Nathan, February 17, 2015. Republicans would be calling the Judge who barred President Obama’s Immigration Executive Orders ‘an activist Judge’ – albeit tit-for-tat – indeed he may be – but did the Judge fall into a trap? Do we really think the appeals … More Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

Obama’s Strategy in Refusing to fall for Religion Bait by ISIS

The stupidity or aggression of the American Christian Right! By Melanie Nathan, February 16, 2015. The White House has received  criticism for not referencing the religion of the 21 Egyptians who have been beheaded by ISIS.  The victims have been described in media reports as “Coptic Christians.” . Here is the statement released by Press … More Obama’s Strategy in Refusing to fall for Religion Bait by ISIS

Johannesburg Gay Murder Trial Accused Expresses Backhanded Remorse

 By Melanie Nathan, February 12, 2015. Two men involved in the murder of Professor Carl Mischke  turned on each other in court, with each blaming the other for the beating that claimed the University of Johannesburg academic’s life, during an apparent robbery.  At the time of the murder it was speculated that the Professor was … More Johannesburg Gay Murder Trial Accused Expresses Backhanded Remorse

OPEN LETTER AS AIDS ACTIVISTS PRESS HRC ON HIV AIDS FIGHT

 Open Letter to HRC Calls to Partner on AIDS/HIV Issues By Melanie Nathan, February 11, 2015. February 11, 2015 – New York, NY – The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) released the text of an open letter to Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as a follow up to its protest of HRC´s gala held on … More OPEN LETTER AS AIDS ACTIVISTS PRESS HRC ON HIV AIDS FIGHT

Obama High Horse Reflection Forgot Current Christian Persecution of Global Gays

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2015. President Obama raised a brow or two when reflecting on extremist violence perpetrated in the name of Islam as not being the only religion used in such egregious a fashion. When the President raised Christianity’s history of tyranny, he failed to reflect on how it is still being used … More Obama High Horse Reflection Forgot Current Christian Persecution of Global Gays

San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2015. Today the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, The San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Learning for Action have participated  in the release of San Francisco’s first ever LGBTQI Violence Prevention Needs Assessment. This report details how members of the San Francisco LGBTQI community experience violence and the availability of … More San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

1AngryOldLesbian.org seeks assistance from the Dalai Lama

“It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.” – His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama By Cathy Kristofferson, February 4, 2015 Once again, 1AngryOldLesbian.org will demonstrate outside the National Prayer Breakfast (NPB) early Thursday morning. But this year, we heard news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had agreed to attend! We wondered if His … More 1AngryOldLesbian.org seeks assistance from the Dalai Lama

Marin County School Superintendent Pleads for Measles Vaccinations

The greater good of the community demands that we take action to prevent any further spread of the measles in Marin County. By Melanie Nathan, February 04, 2015. I barely write about local issues.  Marin Country, where I live, has become the epicenter of the controversy around Measles and parents who refuse to allow their … More Marin County School Superintendent Pleads for Measles Vaccinations

Report Shows Difficulties Faced by Transgender Homeless Youth

Posted by Melanie Nathan, Feb 02, 2015. Washington, D.C. — Youth homelessness in America is nearing epidemic levels, and the problem among the transgender community is disproportionately acute. At least one in five transgender young people have experienced homelessness, and many of them have encountered discrimination, harassment, and abuse in shelters and other services meant … More Report Shows Difficulties Faced by Transgender Homeless Youth

African Gays Still Suffer as Oscar Nominated Film Sparks Call for Mass UK Pardon

While Mass Pardons Sought in UK, Africans are Still being Arrested Under old Penal Codes Posted by Melanie Nathan, February 2, 2015 While the United Kingdom seeks to right the wrong against homosexuals, its influence in the form of Colonial era Penal Codes, still haunt Africa. The Penal Codes serving to underpin much of the … More African Gays Still Suffer as Oscar Nominated Film Sparks Call for Mass UK Pardon

NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2015. The Board of Directors of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is excited to announce that Glenn D. Magpantay is NQAPIA’s new Executive Director. Glenn has been with NQAPIA since the beginning, as one of the organization’s founders. Since 2009, he has served as NQAPIA’s Co-Director of … More NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

Solidarity with ACT UP at Human Rights Campaign D.C. HQ

Activists in New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C. target HRC… Santa sent the 1AngryOldLesbian.org (1AOL) elves out again for the second time this first month of 2015 with a lump of coal to the Human Rights Campaign DC flagship in support of the demonstration being orchestrated by ACT UP NY at the HRC … More Solidarity with ACT UP at Human Rights Campaign D.C. HQ

HRC Calls in San Francisco Police for LGBT Castro Protest

Peaceful Protest attracts curious tourists, reporters and Castro community By Melanie Nathan, January 31, 2015. About 2 dozen LGBT activists from San Francisco and community members held a vigil outside the San Francisco Human Rights Campaign (HRC) souvenir store in the Castro today. The gathering, which took the form of a sidewalk noon brunch, outside … More HRC Calls in San Francisco Police for LGBT Castro Protest

Activists to Protest 1% HRC Elitism and AIDS Neglect

New York and San Francisco By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2015. The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) and other HIV activist organizations will converge to protest the neglect of the AIDS crisis by mainstream LGBT organizations at the annual self-congratulatory gala held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City by Human Rights Campaign … More Activists to Protest 1% HRC Elitism and AIDS Neglect

South Africa Trial of 2 Men Accused of Raping Lesbian

The guise of so called “corrective” rape against lesbians are hate attacks by men who believe woman are there for their use! By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2015. The trial of two men accused of raping a lesbian, to supposedly “correct” her sexual orientation commenced in the South African city of Port Elizabeth, Wednesday. The … More South Africa Trial of 2 Men Accused of Raping Lesbian

Ugandan Activists David Kato Never to be Forgotten

By Melanie Nathan, January 26, 2015. On January 27, 2011, the most outspoken gay rights advocate in Uganda, at a time when the country’s Parliament was considering a bill to execute gay people, was murdered. Today the LGBTI Ugandan community and global activists around the world, remember David Kato Kitsule  and his untimely passing. Kato  … More Ugandan Activists David Kato Never to be Forgotten

Accused Human Rights Group Reopens in Uganda

Melanie Nathan, January 22, 2015 The Ugandan Refugee Law Project (RLP) which works directly with refugees and asylum seekers in the refugee settlements was suspended on 14 March 2014 following allegations that RLP was promoting homosexuality under the guise of human rights promotion and protection. This suspension was subsequently extended to their offices in Kampala … More Accused Human Rights Group Reopens in Uganda