Tag: Africa

Mandela Day Celebrated in Protest by the South African LGBTI Community

July 18, 2012

By Melanie Nathan. July 18, 2012. At precisely noon today, South Africa sang Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela. Thousands of  school children sang in classrooms and South Africans walked out of stores onto the streets, as car radios blared, all singing in unison,  celebrating Nelson Mandela day. However this was a somber day for South … More Mandela Day Celebrated in Protest by the South African LGBTI Community

The South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Launch of Nelson Mandela HIV/AIDS Medallion

July 18, 2012

“AIDS in no longer a disease; it is a human right’s issue,” President Nelson Mandela – South Africa Celebrates Nelson Mandela Day. By Melanie Nathan, July 18, 2012. Capturing the legacy of one of the most influential icons in the world, The South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) and The Scoin Shop (Scoin) has announced … More The South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Launch of Nelson Mandela HIV/AIDS Medallion

Where Law Meets Reality |Forging African Traditional Justice

July 13, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 13, 2012.If anyone would like to review this for my BLOG, please let me know. I have yet to read it. It looks like an important topic that we could all learn a lot from, especially the context of LGBTI lives. I wonder if it makes reference to LGBTI issues at … More Where Law Meets Reality |Forging African Traditional Justice

Congresswoman Requests Secretary Clinton to Deny US Entry to Anti-GAY Ugandan Giles Muhame

July 11, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 11, 2012. SAN FRANCISCO – Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, a Democrat  who represents Marin and Sonoma Counties in California has requested that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton deny Giles Muhame of Uganda, a VISA to the United States for being one “of the worst human rights violators in the world.” Giles Muhame, … More Congresswoman Requests Secretary Clinton to Deny US Entry to Anti-GAY Ugandan Giles Muhame

AIDS 2012 Announces IAS Research Prizes

July 11, 2012

International AIDS Society and Partners Recognize Outstanding Researchers from Around the World at AIDS 2012 By Melanie Nathan, July 11, 2012 The International AIDS Society (IAS) today announced nine winners of four prestigious scientific awards to be presented during the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) to be held in Washington, D.C. , 22–27 July. … More AIDS 2012 Announces IAS Research Prizes

Ugandan Activists Fight in Court Against Minister Lokodo’s Anti-Gay Persecution

July 8, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2012. Ugandan Activists are fighting back after the Ugandan Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo closed down a private meeting of LGBTI community at a luxury resort in Entebbe, accusing the group of illegally “promoting” homosexuality. Four members of the LGBTI community in Uganda sued the … More Ugandan Activists Fight in Court Against Minister Lokodo’s Anti-Gay Persecution

Ugandan Minister Launches Crusade Against Human Rights and LGBT NGO’s

June 20, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, June 20, 2012. Uganda’s persecution of its LGBTI community is heating up with recent lashing out on the part of one Minister who has decided to take the law into his own hands by breaking up peaceful lawful meetings and trying to de-register NGO’s. Ugandan Fr. Simon Lokodo, a catholic priest with … More Ugandan Minister Launches Crusade Against Human Rights and LGBT NGO’s

Uganda Gay Activsts Arrested in Unlawful Police Raid at Private Hotel Meeting

June 18, 2012

See shocking Video as Gay Activists and foreign visitor allies  unlawfully persecuted in Ugandan raid at hotel denotes a great danger for any group holding a peaceful meeting in Uganda Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2012. Police have unlawfully raided a gay rights meeting in Kampala Uganda and arrested LGBTI activists.  The group of sexual minority … More Uganda Gay Activsts Arrested in Unlawful Police Raid at Private Hotel Meeting

World Refugee Day Highlights Failure to Protect LGBTI Refugees

June 18, 2012

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

San Francisco Pride Announces Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo as Global Grand Marshal

June 9, 2012

Watch our Video Interview where Bishop Christopher talks about Desmond Tutu and the exporting of Hate by American Evangelicals to Africa By Melanie Nathan, June, 09, 2012. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Disani Christopher Senyonjo is on tour of the U.S.A. and will be this year’s Global Grand Marshall, as San Francisco Pride recognizes the contributions … More San Francisco Pride Announces Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo as Global Grand Marshal

United Kingdom Petitioned not to deport lesbian Linda Nakibbuka to Anti Gay Uganda

June 2, 2012

Posted by Melanie Nathan.  June 02, 2012 A  campaign has been launched by the Movement for Justice, for the life of Linda Nakibbuka, an Ugandan lesbian at risk of deportation from United Kingdom to Uganda, a nation where both female and homosexual activity is illegal. The petition was launched to try and stop the deportation … More United Kingdom Petitioned not to deport lesbian Linda Nakibbuka to Anti Gay Uganda

AIDS 2012 | Preparing for XIX International AIDS Conference Washington D.C.

May 27, 2012

Secretariat announces two off-site conference hubs for sex workers and people who use drugs |Record number of abstracts submitted Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 26, 2012/ Thursday 10 May, 2012 (Geneva, Switzerland, and Washington, D.C., USA)— The International AIDS Conference is the largest gathering of professionals working in the field of HIV, including people living … More AIDS 2012 | Preparing for XIX International AIDS Conference Washington D.C.

UN Report Warns of Gaps to meet 2015 HIV AIDS Targets

May 8, 2012

Despite ongoing progress in combating HIV and Aids, the report warns that considerable gaps remain, including access to HIV services, discrimination against Aids patients and gender inequality. GENEVA —The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has issued his first report on HIV to the UN General Assembly since the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS. In … More UN Report Warns of Gaps to meet 2015 HIV AIDS Targets

South African Traditional Leaders Insult Gay Community with Consitutional Review

May 7, 2012

Explanation and Comments by Mr. Gay South Africa By Melanie Nathan, May 07,2012. On Friday last week I reported that the  South African Constitution  has been lauded for its lead on the entrenchment of anti-discrimination rights that renders it one of the few in the world to protect sexual orientation and gender identity in its … More South African Traditional Leaders Insult Gay Community with Consitutional Review

Ugandan President Museveni tries to Down Play Kill the Gays Bill

April 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, April 19, 2012. The Ugandan President Museveni was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour where  he down played the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, otherwise known as the ‘Kill the Gays Bill,’ by asserting it applies to exhibitionism only. Whether the man is ill informed or  an out and out liar, he was unprepared for a persistent … More Ugandan President Museveni tries to Down Play Kill the Gays Bill

ORAM Releases New Publication to help LGBT Refugees and Asylees

April 19, 2012

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

Mr. GAY World 2012

April 8, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, April 08, 2012 Congratulations to New Zealand  for winning Mr. Gay World 2012, held this past week in South Africa and culminating in a packed finale. Yes my prediction was correct after seeing the man’s man, Andreas Derleth, win the sports challenge, I knew he would be first. Now the contestant from … More Mr. GAY World 2012

Africa | Zambian Law Student Beaten Perceived Gay

April 7, 2012

Calling for a more calculated course to curb Africa’s anti-gay human rights path while  admonishments seem to cause backlash By Melanie Nathan, April 07, 2012 Educated people know that being gay is not a lifestyle it is simply a state of being. It is a concomitant of one’s makeup, a birth right,  if you will. … More Africa | Zambian Law Student Beaten Perceived Gay

Uganda Cannot Sweet Talk Kony 2012 when it wants to Kill Gays

March 17, 2012

Perhaps Prime Minster Mbabazi should be fair and at the same time alert such celebrities, that if they just happen to be gay, homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender, setting foot on Ugandan soil may render them guilty of a crime and subject to death penalty or life in prison; that is if the current Kill the Gays Bill passes into law. Kony 2012 no promo please Amama … More Uganda Cannot Sweet Talk Kony 2012 when it wants to Kill Gays

U.S. Federal Lawsuit Filed by Uganda Sexual Minorities Group vs Scott Lively

March 14, 2012

A Ugandan gay rights group filed suit against notorious American evangelist, Scott Lively, in federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, accusing him of violating international law by inciting the persecution of homosexuals in Uganda. According to an Article by Laurie Goodstein in the New York Times … More U.S. Federal Lawsuit Filed by Uganda Sexual Minorities Group vs Scott Lively

Oslo Declaration on Criminal Prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure

March 13, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/13/2012 Groups working  around the world to end inappropriate criminal prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure, potential exposure and non-intentional transmission,  came together in Oslo, Norway on 13 February 2012 to create the Oslo Declaration on HIV Criminalization. The Declaration provides a clear roadmap for policymakers and criminal justice system actors to ensure a … More Oslo Declaration on Criminal Prosecutions for HIV/AIDS non-disclosure

Will Ugandan David Bahati’s Political Aspiration Fool a Nation

March 10, 2012

Now while we abroad are screaming foul on behalf of the local LGBTI coalitions and community, we may well be playing into Bahati’s hands on a local level, as he has so much internal support we may actually be serving to enhance the unity. Yet I do believe still this could backfire as the more intelligent and less ambitious start to realize that this is nothing but the political aspirations of one man using an entire community to meet his needs. Maybe just maybe some local brave hero will expose him! Someone who is not afraid to display intellect and speak truth. … More Will Ugandan David Bahati’s Political Aspiration Fool a Nation

Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

March 6, 2012

Tomorrow the UN debates Human Rights for LGBT people By Melanie Nathan, 03/06/2012, For us in the USA, “gay rights” is associated with the debate over equality and is about whether LGBTI people should be allowed to marry, adopt, serve in the military, be subject to baseless firing from jobs. Yet others in the World … More Muslim Groups Oppose United Nations stand on Human Right To Sexuality

South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive

February 29, 2012

Allegedly tested for HIV without consent, found positive and subsequently dismissed, detained and deported, a South African journalist is attempting to take his case against Qatar to the International Labour Organization (ILO) to change the country’s HIV travel and employment laws. … More South Africans Outraged as Journalist Deported by QATAR because HIV-Positive