Tag: Kenya

Hillary Clinton Policy Plan does not go far enough for Global LGBT needs

December 19, 2015

December 19, 2015 Melanie Nathan, Executive Director, African HRC Candidate for the Democratic U.S. Presidential nomination, former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has outlined a comprehensive LGBT policy plan for domestic and global LGBT issues. While we at African Human Rights Coalition are grateful to Secretary Clinton for her recognition of the plight of … More Hillary Clinton Policy Plan does not go far enough for Global LGBT needs

Ugandan Journalist Refugee Arrives in Miami After Speaking Against the Anti Gay Legislation

November 26, 2015

After much courage and hardship we welcome Andrew Ssebulime, a young hero, to America. An extraordinary journey by a resilient young man. Now our hope is that the Miami community will embrace Andrew and make him feel welcome! By Melanie Nathan, November, 25, 2015. A  journalist, who fled Uganda in fear of his life, has … More Ugandan Journalist Refugee Arrives in Miami After Speaking Against the Anti Gay Legislation

BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

November 10, 2015

While Failing to Note that the Choices are Few to None! By Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. Here is a BBC TV report for which I provided consultation.  I have posted the BBC transcript report here.  The TV version with pictures can be seen on the BBC website. The report  while providing crucial exposure, leaves … More BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

Did President Obama Snub Uganda because of its Anti-Homosexuality Stance?

July 29, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 29, 2015. The Ugandan media has named the issue of homosexuality as a reason President Obama may have snubbed Uganda by not visiting that country while on his recent trip to Africa.  The President visited only two countries; Ethiopia and Kenya. I think that President Obama did not overlook Uganda. I … More Did President Obama Snub Uganda because of its Anti-Homosexuality Stance?

Obama tells African Union Nobody should be president for life

July 28, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 28, 2015. United States President Barack Obama concluded his visit to Africa today after speaking at the African Union’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. This was the first time a sitting US president addressed the AU. President Obama asserted that Africa would not advance if its leaders refuse to … More Obama tells African Union Nobody should be president for life

Obama Defies Kenya Anti-Homosexuality Stance by Speaking for Equality

July 25, 2015

And warns that treating people unequally leads to bad things By Melanie Nathan, July 25, 2015. At a news conference held in in Nairobi with U.S. President Barack Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, both spoke in agreement on all issues, except that of gay human rights.  President Obama responded to the question with brazen … More Obama Defies Kenya Anti-Homosexuality Stance by Speaking for Equality

President Obama Arrives in Kenya in Climate of Anti-Gay Sentiment

July 24, 2015

 By Melanie Nathan, July 24, 2015. United States President Barack Obama has arrived in Kenya on the first visit to that country, since serving as US president. During his two-day visit the President will hold talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and other top officials.  Arriving in  Kenya, where his father was born, he was … More President Obama Arrives in Kenya in Climate of Anti-Gay Sentiment

Consortium Reports Violations against LGBT People in Uganda Implicating Police

July 23, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2015. A new revealing report on persecution and discrimination against Uganda’s LGBTI community has been released by the Consortium on Monitoring Violations Based on Sex Determination, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation. The report refers to 89 verified documented violations in 2014 in Uganda. That was the year the Anti-Homosexuality Act … More Consortium Reports Violations against LGBT People in Uganda Implicating Police

Kenyans March Against Gays Warning Obama No Gay Talk

July 6, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 7, 2015. Kenyan anti-gay protesters took to the streets in Nairobi Monday, warning US President Barack Obama not to speak about gay rights when he visits Kenya, “the country of his ancestors,” later this month. (As the Ugandan Monitor put it!) The march today, was organized by the Evangelical Alliance of … More Kenyans March Against Gays Warning Obama No Gay Talk

Kenyan Attorney General Appeals NGLHRC Registration Case

May 19, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, May 19, 2015. The Kenyan Court’s groundbreaking decision which ruled in favor of the regstering the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) as an NGO under the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Board Act,  is now being appealed by the Kenyan Government. The Attorney General for Kenya and interested parties filed a … More Kenyan Attorney General Appeals NGLHRC Registration Case

Playbill Kenyan Slaughter Stars Scott Lively, Matthew McLaughlin with Mohammed Kuno

April 4, 2015

The inhumanity is all the same By Melanie Nathan, April 4, 2015. Slaughtered by extremists – Here lies 148 students and teachers….. What kind of human slaughters another unarmed human in cold blood?  A bullet to each head? What kind of human calls for the bullet to the head of all Christians? What kind of … More Playbill Kenyan Slaughter Stars Scott Lively, Matthew McLaughlin with Mohammed Kuno

UNHCR Puts Hold on Registrations of Large Groups of Ugandans

February 20, 2015

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

UNHCR Delays Persecuted Ugandan Journalist Who Supported Gays

December 5, 2014

In the face of much evidence this United Nations delay is dangerous and inexplicable. Ugandan gays and those perceived as gay, are targets while refugees in Kenya and their cases must be expedited. By Melanie Nathan, December 05, 2014. After you have finished reading this story, I ask you to consider this question:  Should Andrew … More UNHCR Delays Persecuted Ugandan Journalist Who Supported Gays

Gay Refugee Couple from Uganda Land Safely in Canada

November 27, 2014

A Thanksgiving story – with a special thanks to those who contributed to the Relief Fund that has helped many survive unspeakable hardship By Melanie Nathan, November 26, 2014. Its been a long hard road for Kayizzi Joseph Kizito and his partner of one and half years, Rashid, a young gay couple from Uganda, who … More Gay Refugee Couple from Uganda Land Safely in Canada

Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

August 11, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 11, 2014. The Kenyan Republican Liberty Party has proposed Anti-Homosexuality legislation to stone gays to death in public or to punish with life in prison. A draft Bill has been sent to the National Assembly.  All a great irony since so many Ugandans fled to Kenya, seeking refuge with UNHCR after … More Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

July 24, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2014.The Kenya  Court  has ruled that a transgender advocacy group has the right to official registration The Daily Nation reports in Nairobi Kenya, that the high court in Kenya, in a landmark ruling , ordered the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) coordination board in Kenya to register an advocacy group for transgender people … More Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

Setting the record straight – false rumors about my part with LGBT refugees in Kenya

July 2, 2014

This post serves to correct one of the many untruths being spread on the internet about my work: Unlike some would have you believe, Melanie Nathan did not tell people from Uganda or anywhere else in Africa to seek refuge in Kenya: In fact the opposite is what occurred. I am in possession of many … More Setting the record straight – false rumors about my part with LGBT refugees in Kenya

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

Gays in Kenya Protest Against Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill

February 10, 2014

As Kenyan’s stand poised to be one of the few countries in the region to consider tolerating diversity with a wider acceptance of LGBT people, By Melanie Nathan, February 1o, 2014. While gays and lesbians around the world are protesting the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, Uganda’s Kuchus are seeing solidarity and support expressed by … More Gays in Kenya Protest Against Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill

Uganda detains second British citizen associated with play containing gay character

February 26, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2013. A  Second British man has now been arrested and is being held in a prison in Uganda after appearing in the play The River and the Mountain, which used a gay character in a story that speaks of corruption and other issues in Uganda. Keith Prosser was arrested by … More Uganda detains second British citizen associated with play containing gay character

Kenyan Media Plays the Anti-GAY Card in US Ambassador’s Resignation

July 1, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, July 01, 2012. Several media outlets in Kenya are reporting that the US ambassador to Kenya, Scott Gration, was forced to resign his post because of the pro LGBTI equality stance of the U.S. Government. In a statement, Major Scott Gration, who has only held the position for a year, said he … More Kenyan Media Plays the Anti-GAY Card in US Ambassador’s Resignation

Kenya Gays Call Boycott of U.S. Embassy Pride Event

June 22, 2012

Melanie Nathan, June 22, 2012. Kenyan activists are divided, some up in arms, over the recent announcement that the US Embassy in Nairobi will be holding a Gay Pride event, said to be the first of its kind, to bring together local LGBT activists and dignitaries to celebrate Gay Pride Month. While on the surface … More Kenya Gays Call Boycott of U.S. Embassy Pride Event

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

December 14, 2011

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?

HIV and the next generation -weighing up sons’ satisfaction versus daughters’ safety

August 25, 2009

Circumcision will be discussed this week at the C.D.C.’s National H.I.V. Prevention Conference in Atlanta, which will be attended by thousands of health professionals and H.I.V. service providers. When I visited South Africa in 2000, I remember reading an article in the Johannesburg newspaper – the financial section- which predicted that HIV virus would infect … More HIV and the next generation -weighing up sons’ satisfaction versus daughters’ safety

Just a reminder that there is more to this world than mere America

May 14, 2009

  Who will Jacob Zuma make South Africa’s first lady? The ANC leader launched legal action last year after a Zapiro piece depicted him about to rape the female figure of Justice, while his political allies looked on. Burma’s Suu Kyi ‘to face trial’ Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to be charged … More Just a reminder that there is more to this world than mere America