Tag: LGBTI

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

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 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

San Francisco Castro Vigil kicks off World Outrage at Gay, Emo, Goth Iraq Massacres

March 14, 2012

“Silence is Complicity! Today we urge the world to show solidarity against the murder of our children. By Melanie Nathan, 03/14/2012 Yes it is raining a much needed rain in San Francisco and with it brings greater tears as we hold a vigil today in the Castro,  starting at 4:00 PM. The group Gays Without … More San Francisco Castro Vigil kicks off World Outrage at Gay, Emo, Goth Iraq Massacres

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

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

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

South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

January 27, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2012 UPDATED Cape Town, January 28, 2012:  The Flag Boys did it! The won best dressed couple – Imagine gay boys dressed in camp Zulu warrior garb, protesting Zulu King’s homophobic remarks, win best dressed couple at H&B Met Red Carpet event! Read our pre-event report …… South African gay … More South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

Uganda | Visiting South African Mbeki Slams Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill

January 22, 2012

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has hit out at Ndorwa West MP David Bahati’s anti-gay Bill, telling a public audience in Kampala that what two consenting adults do in private “is really not the matter of law.” by Melanie Nathan Finally, a South African leader has spoken out publicly and forcefully against the Anti-Homosexuality … More Uganda | Visiting South African Mbeki Slams Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill

LGBTI Refugees hurt if Canada changes Refugee Sponsorship Program

January 16, 2012

Asylum for LGBTI refugees is fraught with hurdles. Canada has been viewed as a country that provides some measure of promise and hope; but now the Canadian government is proposing changes to regulations pertaining to refugee sponsorship, which could have a dramatic impact on LGBTI applications for asylum. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) … More LGBTI Refugees hurt if Canada changes Refugee Sponsorship Program

2012 and My Resolution to Support Barack Obama All the Way!

December 31, 2011

LGBTI rights depend on 2012 – here we come! By Melanie Nathan, Dec 31, 2011 Well in mere hours it will be the year 2012 – I am going to let bygones be bygones! I am holding the Obama administration accountable for the upcoming repeal of DOMA, for the imperative passage of ENDA and for … More 2012 and My Resolution to Support Barack Obama All the Way!

Americans must Heed the Cry of African LGBTI Victims

December 22, 2011

“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

The Israel Uganda Connection: ‘Never Again’ or ‘We Did not Know?’

December 13, 2011

B’Vakashah, which is it going to be? by Melanie Nathan, Dec 13, 2011 Rumor has it that former minister and Israeli career politician Rafael “Rafi” Eitan, now 85 years of age, is trying to do business in Uganda, seeking to start an agricultural enterprise. I wonder if Eitan knows that Ugandans are currently ‘scape-goating’ gays, … More The Israel Uganda Connection: ‘Never Again’ or ‘We Did not Know?’

South African Lesbian Photographer Activist: Zanele Muholi’s Exhibits New Portraits

July 6, 2011

July 06, 2011, by Melanie Nathan, Inkanyiso brings together three new bodies of photographic work: new portraits in the ongoing series Faces and Phases (2010-11); Beulahs (2007-10) and Transfigures (2010-11), and the documentary Difficult Love (2010). As always, Muholi is upfront about her agenda as an activist, seeking to educate the viewer on ‘the complexities … More South African Lesbian Photographer Activist: Zanele Muholi’s Exhibits New Portraits

Apartheid Against LGBTI Americans – A View via the Hate Speech Ruling for South African Envoy to Uganda Jon Qwelane

June 4, 2011

06/02/2011, by Melanie Nathan, When I immigrated to the United States in 1985, I marveled at the U.S. Constitution. It protected everything.   I left a place where it was constitutional to discriminate – in fact it was required that one discern between races when it came to where people could live, who could vote and … More Apartheid Against LGBTI Americans – A View via the Hate Speech Ruling for South African Envoy to Uganda Jon Qwelane

Pride Pride Pride 2011

June 2, 2011

06/02/2011 Melanie Nathan העמוד הרשמי של שבוע הגאווה העירוני. יועלו עדכונים שוטפים על כל האירועים, המסיבות ומה שאסור לפספס במהלך שבוע הגאווה שיתחיל ב -03/06 ויגיע לשיאו במצעד הגאווה ב 10/06 תחת הכותרת ״גאה להיות שווה- צועדים יחד למען שוויון חברתי״. Tel Aviv Pride June 03, 2011 -העמוד הרשמי This is the official page for … More Pride Pride Pride 2011

South Africa Ambassador Jon Qwelane Guilty of Anti-Gay Hate Speech

May 31, 2011

05/31/2011, by Melanie Nathan Back in 2008, Jon Qwelane posted a piece in his column in the Sunday Sun.  Well known to the South African LGBTQI community is the fact that Jon Qwelane, despite protest and outrage, was sent to Uganda as South Africa’s Ambassador to that country. Qwelane, inter alia, writes about the Anglican … More South Africa Ambassador Jon Qwelane Guilty of Anti-Gay Hate Speech

GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item

May 30, 2011

05/26/2011, by Melanie Nathan, San Francisco -Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club in a high school or middle school that brings together LGBTQI and straight students to support each other, provide a safe place to socialize, and create a platform for activism to fight homophobia and transphobia. On June 09, 2011, Geoffrey De … More GSA Network’s San Francisco Event BIG Ticket – Secret Auction Item