Tag: LGBT

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

HRC Turns a Corner – New Youth Study Highlights Struggles of LGBT Youth

June 8, 2012

And shows the Importance of Full Equality and  a Welcome to Chad Griffin By Melanie Nathan, June 08, 2012. The Joe Solmonese reign at HRC hailed what many termed an elitist era at the Human Rights Campaign. But still the organization carried the hope of the T shirt button buying masses.  While personifying the status … More HRC Turns a Corner – New Youth Study Highlights Struggles of LGBT Youth

Ashleigh Banfield Slammed by Media Matters for Gay Lifestyle Remark

May 31, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, May 31, 2012. In an article entitled CNN Anchor: Pedophilia, Incest “Often Are Not By Choice,” But Homosexuality Is “Voluntary” Media Matters America took umbrage with remarks made by Ashleigh Banfield as follows:- During the Thursday edition of CNN’s Early Start, co-anchor Ashleigh Banfield reported on comments made by Kansas Pastor Curtis Knapp, … More Ashleigh Banfield Slammed by Media Matters for Gay Lifestyle Remark

Facebook First Social Media Company to receive GLAAD Award

May 31, 2012

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 31, 2012, GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced that Facebook will receive a Special Recognition Award at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented nationally by Ketel One and Wells Fargo, and locally by Southwest Airlines. In March, GLAAD announced … More Facebook First Social Media Company to receive GLAAD Award

South Africa Democratic Alliance Party Mocks South African LGBTI Protests to Protect Rights

May 22, 2012

DA Party Manny de Freitas calls protests Gay Pride Parade and Helen Zille remains silent by Melanie Nathan, May 22, 2012. Pursuant to nationwide protests in South Africa this weekend, the opposing Democratic Alliance (DA) party has failed to issue any official  press statement in support of the South African LGBTI community which held events … More South Africa Democratic Alliance Party Mocks South African LGBTI Protests to Protect Rights

Exxon’s Anti-LGBT Policies Prompts Freedom to Work Campaign

May 22, 2012

Last night, Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work — a national organization working to ban workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans — announced the launch of a new campaign and petition aimed at ExxonMobil’s discriminatory policies against LGBT employees. … More Exxon’s Anti-LGBT Policies Prompts Freedom to Work Campaign

President Obama’s Support for Marriage Equality Applauded

May 9, 2012

By The National Black Justice Coalition Washington, D.C. – May 9, 2012 – Today, President Obama affirmed his support of marriage for loving and committed same-sex couples.The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading Black LGBT civil rights organization, applauded the President for this historic endorsement of the freedom to marry:- “It is an … More President Obama’s Support for Marriage Equality Applauded

Homophobia | Navi Pillay vs Patekile Holomisa

May 8, 2012

WATCH VIDEO The UN  human rights Commissioner’s view of gays vs traditionalist South African view of gays (LGBTI) By Melanie Nathan May 08, 2012 South Africa emerged from the Apartheid era with a “never again” zest; but now that fervor is being tested with members of the South African Parliament, who took oaths to uphold … More Homophobia | Navi Pillay vs Patekile Holomisa

South Africa’s Shocking Constitutional Review of its Sexual Orientation Rights

May 4, 2012

Activists are concerned as decades of lobbying and progress for LGBTI rights in South Africa are under threat. Nelson Mandela: ” Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another” By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2012. Since the end of Apartheid and the … More South Africa’s Shocking Constitutional Review of its Sexual Orientation Rights

Catholic Church UK letter to Schools to Sign Anti Gay Marriage Petition

April 26, 2012

” The Catholic Church has as much right to influence change to secular law as I do to seducing  the Pope during Sunday Mass!” By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2012. The Catholic Church in the UK, including Wales and Ireland, has apparently sent a letter out to high schools to demand that all students sign … More Catholic Church UK letter to Schools to Sign Anti Gay Marriage Petition

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

Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign

March 21, 2012

The Seattle City LGBT Commissions has issued a formal apology, by posting it on Facebook, to the LGBT public and the Israeli AILO group, as can be seen below, for its actions in cancelling an event that in essence served to boycott and silence the visiting group from Israel.

It admits the “pain, offense … More Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign

Greater Seattle Business Association Outraged by Seattle LGBT Commission

March 20, 2012

Reacting to last week’s cancellation of a meeting with Israeli equality delegates,the Greater Seattle Business Association, the largest LGBT chamber of commerce in the United States with over 1000 members, wrote a letter to the City of Seattle LGBT Commission, to express their outrage at the commission’s decision to “silence LGBT voices by cancelling the City Hall event with a delegation of Israeli LGBT civil rights leaders.” … More Greater Seattle Business Association Outraged by Seattle LGBT Commission

Jewish Voices for Peace and the Seattle LGBT Commission Anomaly

March 19, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, March 19, 2012 I often wonder if advisory boards for non-Profit organizations keep a check on what they have tied their names to?  Many are apt to join for an appealing mission statement tied to common causes and very often because a friend or acquaintance pitched the importance. Although I do recognize … More Jewish Voices for Peace and the Seattle LGBT Commission Anomaly

Seattle LGBT Commission’s Boycott of Israeli LGBTI Guests Opens Wounds

March 16, 2012

By Melanie Nathan and Scott Rose, 03/16/2012 Caving to protests by a small anti-Israel and anti-Jewish contingency, using the guise of so called pinkwashing,  the  Seattle City LGBT Commission has silenced the voices of its Israeli LGBT guests  from the coalition Group AILO,  by cancelling, with less than 24 hours notice,  a dialogue event which … More Seattle LGBT Commission’s Boycott of Israeli LGBTI Guests Opens Wounds

Seattle LGBT Commission Shuts Down Israel’s LGBT Voice

March 15, 2012

The unconscionable shutting down of gay, lesbian and transgender voices by our own community cannot be tolerated, for any reason whatsoever – I take blogger’s license – I am sad and disgusted! By Melanie Nathan 03/15/2012 Reports have come in from the Seattle commission’s meeting tonight that in an act of unprecedented cowardice the Seattle … More Seattle LGBT Commission Shuts Down Israel’s LGBT Voice

Seattle University Assistant Law Professor Attempts to Silence Visiting Israeli LGBT Voices

March 14, 2012

Denying dialogue is a means to foster hate … By Melanie Nathan, 03/14/2012 In the midst of a visit to the West Coast by a delegation of Israeli LGBT leaders, is a small group of  US anti-Israel proponents determined to silence the visitors. Leading this effort to silence the equality activists from Israel is  an … More Seattle University Assistant Law Professor Attempts to Silence Visiting Israeli LGBT Voices

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

Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

March 5, 2012

The threats gave the individuals, whose names and ages were listed, four days to stop their behavior or else face the wrath of God, and were to be carried out by the Mujahedin.
According to sources inside Iraq,as reported apparently by IGHLRC, as the result of this new surge of anti-gay violence close to 40 people have been kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered. … More Reports of Iraqi Gays Kidnapped, Tortured and Murdered

Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

March 5, 2012

For the last 2,000 years, Christians have been taught to believe that Apostle Paul condemned homosexuality. But a new discovery documents that he deliberately acknowledged that it does not prevent anyone from entering heaven. This discovery by internationally acclaimed cryptographer Michael Wood removes the final barrier to full societal acceptance of gays and lesbians. … More Christianity | Apostle Paul Accepts Homosexuals

IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

March 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 03/02/2012, Washington, D.C. – On February 24 and 25, 2012 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a meeting of independent experts on “Violence and Impunity against Lesbians, Gays, and Trans, Bisexual and Intersex Persons” (LGTBI). More than 20 experts attended the meeting organized by the IACHR under the auspices of … More IACHR Meeting on Violence and Impunity against LGTBI Persons in the Americas

Gaywheels talk KIA, Porsche, as LGBT Americans may be Driving Unfriendly Vehicles

February 24, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, 02/24/2012 I recently read a report fro Gaywheels site that Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, and Suzuki offer no protections or benefits for their LGBT employees. Of the 37 car companies Gaywheels has surveyed,  33 are gay-friendly (at least to some degree).   While only four are lagging behind, it is unconscionable considering that every single … More Gaywheels talk KIA, Porsche, as LGBT Americans may be Driving Unfriendly Vehicles

Kill The Gays Bahati Says Uganda Will Not be Blackmailed by the West

February 8, 2012

State Department Please take action now – LGBT World time for action now as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is about to Pass the Ugandan Parliament; Is Bahati Booting Gays out of Uganda? No he would rather they languish in prison – he told me so! by Melanie Nathan, 02/08/2012 Today the Ugandan Parliament got one step … More Kill The Gays Bahati Says Uganda Will Not be Blackmailed by the West

Uganda Parliament to Debate Anti-Homosexuality Bill Next Week

February 4, 2012

The Anti-homosexuality Bill has become known as the Kill-The-Gays-Bill and has caused an international outcry. by Melanie Nathan, 02/04/2012 7:00 AM Uganda’s, Anti Homosexuality bill of  2009 is due for debate when parliament resumes business in Uganda next week, according to a source who made contact with me.  This Bill includes the death penalty for … More Uganda Parliament to Debate Anti-Homosexuality Bill Next Week

Deportation to Anti-Gay Uganda | Past and Future of Gay Detainee Joseph Bukombe

February 3, 2012

Editor’s Advocacy Note:   The Obama Administration has indicated via recent memo and speeches the strong support for International LGBT human rights. As an activist in this arena we implore upon the administration to not mince their words and to show action as well here on home turf!  That would include protecting asylum seekers such as … More Deportation to Anti-Gay Uganda | Past and Future of Gay Detainee Joseph Bukombe

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

February 3, 2012

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

United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery

January 30, 2012

LGBT people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have attacked a YouTube video ‘tutorial’ which may depict an attempt to scrub away the gay, under the guise of a title “Be Yourself.” However, from a Western point of view, is the tutorial a mockery of the process of curing homosexuality through a rendition of a … More United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery