Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

Speech at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva By Melanie Nathan, 02/29/2012 The Human Rights Council in Geneva  has heard it from Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations who  reiterated this week that homophobia is incompatible with Commonwealth values. This sends a signal from the top that persecution based on sexuality … More Commonwealth Secretary General Condemns Homophobia

Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

By Melanie Nathan, 02/28/2012, JOHANNESBURG -Great excitement hit the gay community in South Africa Monday, when the first ever gay Billboard went up in South Africa, near Melrose Arch on M1 South in Johannesburg. Much to the awe of the empowered LGBTI community in South Africa, the tone is set to ready the country for … More Historic Mr Gay World Billboard Erected in Central Johannesburg

Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

“You see, the mere mention of benefits for same-sex couples on a website, or the mere mention of inclusion of LGBT people in corporate diversity hiring policies, are tantamount to the “promotion” of homosexuality in Uganda, under the AHB!” Melanie Nathan, 02/27/2012, Last week I received a phone call from the folks at Change.org asking … More Barclays Citibank 160,000 People Sign Petition to Speak out Against Kill the Gays in Uganda

Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell

Calling Leaders who believe in Justice and Equality Weak is direct insult to Mandela! Melanie Nathan, 02/26/2012 Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe ended his 88th birthday celebrations with a message for the youth of his country and the rest of Africa, asking them to shun Western values, homosexuality and greed. All this in the context of … More Insulting Mandela While Zimbabwe President Mugabe Tells West to go to Hell

Barclays Bank Must Speak out Against Criminalization of Homosexuality in Uganda and Africa

Or stop being hypocrites by displaying diversity programs on your websites….  LGBT people who work for Barclays worldwide should be asking their employers to speak out against criminalization of homosexuality before it is too late!  This applies to all doing business in Africa! By Melanie Nathan, February 21, 2012, (I first wrote this piece on … More Barclays Bank Must Speak out Against Criminalization of Homosexuality in Uganda and Africa

Mr Gay World Includes Finalists from Criminalizing African Countries

Historic participation as Africa continues draconian criminalization of homosexuality by Melanie Nathan, February 21, 2012 For the first time black Africans will participate in the Mr. Gay World contest being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, sending a  powerful message of hope to LGBTI people in Africa and the rest of the World. The delegates representing … More Mr Gay World Includes Finalists from Criminalizing African Countries

Uganda’s Homophobic Parliament vs Concerned Spiritual leaders | Return of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill |

“If you are Lesbian, when you come to Uganda to entice our young people to join you in the immoral vice of homosexuality, we shall arrest you….” Y. Bihande by Melanie Nathan, 02/10/2012 This week the Ugandan Parliament got one step closer to legalizing persecution in its country.  David Bahati, the MP from Nordwa province … More Uganda’s Homophobic Parliament vs Concerned Spiritual leaders | Return of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill |

Video Ugandan Parliament Erupts into Applause as Anti-Homosexuality Bill Introduced

Ugandan  Parliament erupts in applause as Government pretends to distance itself from the kill the Gays Bill  by Melanie Nathan, February 09, 2012 We have been reporting for the past ten days about Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality bill of  2009 which has been reintroduced in its original form into the Ugandan 9th Parliament.   This Bill includes … More Video Ugandan Parliament Erupts into Applause as Anti-Homosexuality Bill Introduced

Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

For White House Briefing:- Young leaders note, I encourage all concerned with LGBT rights in America and globally to consider the question of  the criminalization of being gay as it impacts our LGBTI brothers and sisters and gender free persons on the continent of Africa…. Melanie Nathan by Melanie Nathan, 02/03/2012 Black History Month is … More Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing

Gay Zambia | Constitutional Recognition of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

by Charles Zambia, Guest Writer “Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in Zambia live in constant fear of detention, discrimination in education, employment, housing, and access to services, and extortion – all buttressed by the existence of sections 155 – 157 of the Penal Code and the lack of specific legal protections for LGBT people under Zambian … More Gay Zambia | Constitutional Recognition of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

LGBTI South Africa | Human Rights Conference Deals with Homophobia and Health Issues

PRETORIA – The Aids and Rights Alliance of Southern Africa (Arasa)  addressed a meeting of Human Rights Defender organizations to discuss human rights issues with a focus on LGBTI issues and how to improve resources for health and responses to homophobia. The two day meeting, in Pretoria, South Africa, began today and brings together human … More LGBTI South Africa | Human Rights Conference Deals with Homophobia and Health Issues

Gays as Accidental Anti-Gay Tourists in Africa – The Lioness and the Wallet

By Melanie Nathan, 01/05/2012 When we as Western tourists go to Africa, we go to view nature – to visit tribal villages, to see the dance and hear song; we sit eagerly at waterholes waiting for the lioness to pounce the unsuspecting deer, while the landscape and the vast bush yields to the pristine African … More Gays as Accidental Anti-Gay Tourists in Africa – The Lioness and the Wallet

Americans must Heed the Cry of African LGBTI Victims

“Actions speak louder than words!” by Melanie Nathan Dec 22, 2011. SAN FRANCISCO – Shorty after Secretary Clinton and President Obama spoke out about LGBTI Global human rights, the bloggers and press began to buzz with statements and comments from those impacted by the speech and memo, respectively.  The most sought after statements came from … More Americans must Heed the Cry of African LGBTI Victims

UNHCR Issues Report Highlighting Violence Based on Sexual Orientation

by Melanie Nathan, Dec 15, 2011 UN  High Commissioner for Human Rights:   “ Repeal laws used to criminalize individuals on grounds of homosexuality for engaging in consensual same-sex sexual conduct, and harmonize the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual conduct. “ The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) today released the … More UNHCR Issues Report Highlighting Violence Based on Sexual Orientation

What is Kofi Annan Doing About LGBTI Human Rights In Africa?

by Melanie Nathan, December 14, 2011 Back in August  2003, then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan came out in favour of  marriage equality.  LGBTI Africans knew they had a friend in Kofi Annan, who attended part of a LGBTI activist conference held at the United Nations which demanded that international treaties such as the … More What is Kofi Annan Doing About LGBTI Human Rights In Africa?

Ghana Minister of Education to Eradicate Homosexuality Through Education

By Melanie Nathan, Dec 14, 2011, I read an Article in an African internet publication known as the The MAIL – written by BELINDA ENYONAM HENYA (Cut and pasted) and noted the seriousness of what could either be a case of misreporting, muddled message or pure ignorance and perhaps all of the above! This is … More Ghana Minister of Education to Eradicate Homosexuality Through Education

Mr Gay South Africa and Mr Gay Namibia Speak Out After Brutal Attack

by Melanie Nathan, via Mr. Gay South Africa™ East London, South Africa   December  09, 2011 – Following my earlier article about a physical attack on Mr. Gay Namiibia. Lance Weyer, a representative councillor of the Buffalo City Municipality, which includes East London, Bisho and King William’s Town, issued a statement relating to the physical … More Mr Gay South Africa and Mr Gay Namibia Speak Out After Brutal Attack

STOP NIGERIA NOW!

“When governments legitimate persecution – they provide the license for genocide! ” –  Melanie Nathan, International Human Rights Advocate… Nigerian Senate Votes for an Anti-Gay Law by Peter Tatchell  Sweeping criminalization contravenes Article 42 of the Nigerian constitution Same-sex marriage and civil unions to be banned 14 years jail for participants, 10 years jail for … More STOP NIGERIA NOW!

Food for Thought! Muammar Gaddafi is Still in the Refrigerator!

Winning Africa Over by Melanie Nathan, October 23, 2011, Muammar Gaddafi was shot and killed. His body was taken to Misrata to the west of Sirte, where a doctor’s examination disclosed that the deposed leader had been shot in the head and abdomen.  It was decided to keep his body “for a few days”, NTC … More Food for Thought! Muammar Gaddafi is Still in the Refrigerator!

Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

August 30 is International Day of the Disappeared. Only thirteen countries have ratified the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; twenty are needed to bring it into force.  Among those which have not yet signed are the United States and the United Kingdom. I picked up the Blog of a South … More Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

In the meantime I say “jolly well done young lady!” Gender Identity Test for South African Teen World Champ Athlete, Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya, an 18-year-old South African, dominated the women’s 800 meters in Berlin on Wednesday at the 2009 World Championships. While she ought to be track and field’s newest star, instead, in less than the time it took to win the race, 1:55.45 minutes, the accomplishment produced a hail of speculation, one ominously oozing with … More In the meantime I say “jolly well done young lady!” Gender Identity Test for South African Teen World Champ Athlete, Caster Semenya

Precursor to Future Obama Visit to South Africa

Post Apartheid South Africa where -the poverty is apalling; the crime is outrageous, the suffering is disgusting, the corruption is voluminous, Unemployment forty percent – HIV-AIDS – one in five!   Jacob Zuma what now?    asks Melanie Nathan. The  protest poster says “AWB was better than ANC”  and appeared in The Star Newspaper, Johannesburg, South Africa, “A strong … More Precursor to Future Obama Visit to South Africa