Official San Francisco Pride 2014 Mainstage Speakers Announced

June 11, 2014

 Official SF Pride Mainstage Speaker line-up: Janet Mock – Roberta Kaplan – Melanie Nathan , and MC – Marga Gomez and Liam Mayclem June 2014, San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committee is excited to announce the 44th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration (SF Pride), … More Official San Francisco Pride 2014 Mainstage Speakers Announced

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

AOL Tech Guru Seeks Justice for Gay Brother’s Killing

June 6, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan June 6, 2014 Journalist Susan Donaldson James has encapsulated the astounding story behind a documentary film to be be shown in the U.S.A., throughout June, on the World Channel, associated with PBS, as part of series of programs for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride month. The story reflects Internet pioneer … More AOL Tech Guru Seeks Justice for Gay Brother’s Killing

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

Another Lesbian Denied Asylum Under Threat of Immediate Removal back to Uganda

June 4, 2014

UPDATED:  July 31, 2014. Harriet Nakigudde has just won her appeal. She has won asylum in the United Kingdom after a hard fought battle by activists and amazing attorneys and a compassionate and experienced barrister who came to her aid. This highlights the cruelty of the UK system – that puts already traumatized people through hell … More Another Lesbian Denied Asylum Under Threat of Immediate Removal back to Uganda

Ugandan Government Investigates Refugee Law Project

June 3, 2014

HERE IS AN UPDATE BY RLP: Letter to the Media; Re: Incorrect Allegations of RLP Closure by Government Dear Friends and Colleagues, Re:  Incorrect Allegations of RLP Closure by Government Greetings from the Refugee Law Project (RLP). We are saddened by a number of reports in the media and social networks to the effect that … More Ugandan Government Investigates Refugee Law Project

Zambian men still in jail while homosexuality case delayed

June 2, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 02, 2014. Two men of Kapiri Mposhi appeared in court, yet again, for allegedly practicing homosexuality. The case which has taken well over a year, should have been concluded on Friday with a judgment from the magistrate. Instead he was unavailable and the Court heard that he was unprepared to issue … More Zambian men still in jail while homosexuality case delayed

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

Jewish Congregations Join Forces to March in San Francisco Pride Parade

May 29, 2014

Reform Jewish Congregations to March together as one Community on June 29, 2014! By Melanie Nathan, May 29, 2014. For the first time, the 25 Reform congregations in the greater Bay Area will march together in the San Francisco Pride Parade, June 29, 2014.  Reform Jews from across the Bay Area will march together as … More Jewish Congregations Join Forces to March in San Francisco Pride Parade

North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

May 29, 2014

Founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Joseph and Jane Clementi, Will Receive the Honor By Melanie Nathan, May 30, 2014.   Maplewood, N.J.- North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State will be awarding the inaugural “Outstanding Ally Award” at its fourth annual Pride Festival on Sunday, June … More North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

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

LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

May 28, 2014

Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 29, 2014. From The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is alive and well in rural America and your government wants to hear from you! In a historic partnership, NCLR has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a new … More LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

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

Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

May 28, 2014

Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, novelist, civil rights leader and actress whose work defied description under a simple label, has died, her publicist, Helen Brann, said Thursday. She died at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C., Brann said. A professor, singer and dancer, among other things, Angelou’s work spans different professions. She spent her early years … More Poet Maya Angelou Passes Away Aged 86

First Open Lesbian Cabinet Minister in Africa

May 27, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 27, 2014. Lynne Brown, 52, is the first openly lesbian cabinet minister in South Africa’s history and also the first on the continent. South African president, Jacob Zuma, has appointed Brown who is now the country’s first openly lesbian (LGBTI) cabinet minister, a move thought also to be a first in … More First Open Lesbian Cabinet Minister in Africa

LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

May 26, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 26, 2014. On Saturday a group of 25 LGBTQ activists protested controversial Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller as she received an honorary degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. The activists, who chanted “Gay rights Portia!” for two hours, were at one point called “trash” by some Lafayette graduates and … More LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

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

Life or Death to Save Lesbian Aidah from UK Deportation to Uganda Please Sign Now

May 21, 2014

#SAVEAidah Her fast track deportation is set for mere days ahead – May 24 |  we received a desperate request for help from her team here in the UK.  I am meeting with them in London today. They want to hear from you NOW and there is no time to waste! UPDATED MAY 23: LAST … More Life or Death to Save Lesbian Aidah from UK Deportation to Uganda Please Sign Now

A Must See | Uganda The State of Persecution

May 16, 2014

From Torment to Tyranny   162 Incidents of known persecutory actions targeting LGBT Ugandans, reported between December and May, 2014,  indicating an enormous rise in state sponsored persecution of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Ugandans, proving absolutely that the impact of Uganda’s newly enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act is causing grave life threatening injustices. This has been exacerbated … More A Must See | Uganda The State of Persecution

What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

May 16, 2014

Updated 7/9/2014. This post had been removed to archives private because it is an OLD post dated May 16, 2014, and its is being misused by some as a reference for a current Relief Fund , which it is not. It referred to an older relief fund campaign which has since closed. A new relief … More What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act

Prestigious Awards Cancels Gala Venue owned by Sultan of Brunei

May 15, 2014

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

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

Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

May 14, 2014

An Embarrassment to Zuma By Melanie Nathan, May 14, 2014. Armed robbers boarded a tour bus and robbed 30 American students at gun point in Pretoria, South Africa. The students, from a Maryland university, on a trip to South Africa will return home early. No one was injured during the robbery according to Stevenson University. … More Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

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

Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

May 12, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2014. South African world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, is marrying her fellow athlete, Violet Raseboya. Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya had been subjected to gender testing. She was then withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her … More Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend

Eurovision Win by Drag Artist is an F U to HOMOPHOBE PUTIN

May 10, 2014

By Melaie Nathan, May 10, 2014 Congratulations Queen Conchita the Eurovision winner for Austria’s victory – its a first in 48 years! And she won despite Ukraine and Russian attempts to ban the bearded drag artist. The 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria and Conchita Wurst. Her entry ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ … More Eurovision Win by Drag Artist is an F U to HOMOPHOBE PUTIN