Tag: LGBTQ

Burkina Faso: First Known Conviction Under New Anti-LGBTQ Law

December 2, 2025

Raises Alarming Human Rights Concerns By Melanie Nathan, Dec 02, 2025. The African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) has received confirmation of a case in Burkina Faso in which a foreign national was convicted under the country’s newly enacted anti-LGBTQ provisions. According to publicly available information released by the Burkina Faso Ministry of Justice, the individual … More Burkina Faso: First Known Conviction Under New Anti-LGBTQ Law

This Isn’t “Over There”: Why LGBT Africa Matters to America

October 16, 2025

The Policy, hate and laws we export—and ignore—boomerang back to our schools, courts, hospitals, and democracy. We cannot be silent! By Melanie Nathan, Oct 16, 2025 As Americans debate our own culture wars, and watch our democracy fail, a quiet crisis continues to unfold across Africa, destined to reflect our own doom: LGBT people are … More This Isn’t “Over There”: Why LGBT Africa Matters to America

Antisemitism on Melrose: When Hate Prevails in West Hollywood

August 21, 2025

Jewish Man asked to leave MAURO CAFE on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood  By Melanie Nathan, August 21, 2025. This past month, I have watched with alarm as antisemitic incidents increase and flood social media. Many are captured on video, but one cannot help but ask: how many go unrecorded, unseen, and unacknowledged? One recent … More Antisemitism on Melrose: When Hate Prevails in West Hollywood

Zohran Mamdani’s alleged Ugandan Extravaganza Adds to Political and Ethical Questions

August 2, 2025

Zohran Mamdani’s alleged Ugandan Extravaganza Adds to the Political and Ethical Questions raised by his failures on Antisemitism: By Melanie Nathan, August 02, 2025. What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander—but when it comes to Zohran Mamdani, the double standard is glaring. The political values he champions in the United States—equity, … More Zohran Mamdani’s alleged Ugandan Extravaganza Adds to Political and Ethical Questions

Bay Area Reporter Hit Job on San Francisco Pride is Dangerous and Shameful

April 13, 2025

By Melanie Nathan, April 13, 2025 (Updated 4/14) The San Francisco based Bay Area Reporter, published “SF Pride reportedly denies request to name deported gay makeup artist honorary grand marshal” by John Ferrannini, Assistant Editor , Friday, April 11, 2025. Dramatic headline for a big non-drama that became a big drama on demand! Why am … More Bay Area Reporter Hit Job on San Francisco Pride is Dangerous and Shameful

AHRC Calls on WorldPride for Answers to Boycott Questions

April 4, 2025

By Melanie Nathan, April 03, 2025 – First Published at African Human Rights Coalition website here. Last month African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) called for a global boycott of the 2025 venue for WorldPride, based on safety issues, especially involving the risk of detention to foreign visitor attendees when entering our borders, and also as … More AHRC Calls on WorldPride for Answers to Boycott Questions

Hannah Einbinder’s Irresponsible Visibility through HRC Gala Award Speech

March 31, 2025

By Melanie Nathan, March 30, 2025. I had a visceral reaction to Hannah Einbinder’s 7+ minute visibility award acceptance speech at Human Rights Campaign’s Los Angeles gala last week. Several things struck me, pointing mostly to the infringement of the platform, resulting in subpar representation of real life for Queers, couched in the performative and … More Hannah Einbinder’s Irresponsible Visibility through HRC Gala Award Speech

Ghanaian Artists push to “Kill the Bill” Amidst Calls by Religious Leaders for President to sign it

January 2, 2025

BY MELANIE NATHAN, JAN 02, 2025 On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ghana, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel, dismissed petitions challenging the constitutionality and procedural validity of the  “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024′ (commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill). Since February 2024, the Court avoided ruling … More Ghanaian Artists push to “Kill the Bill” Amidst Calls by Religious Leaders for President to sign it

Presbyterians Urge Signing of Harmful Anti-LGBTQI+ Law in Ghana

December 24, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, December 23, 2024. “Sign this Anti-LGBTQ Bill” said this man of God, the Church Moderator of Ghana’s Presbyterian Church, urging the current President, Akufo-Addo, of Ghana, to give: “a ‘Birthday Gift’ to Presbyterians before Leaving office” The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, called … More Presbyterians Urge Signing of Harmful Anti-LGBTQI+ Law in Ghana

Ghana’s Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

December 18, 2024

Supreme Court of Ghana Dismisses Challenge Against Anti-LGBTQ Bill, Citing Prematurity: On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ghana, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel, dismissed petitions challenging the constitutionality and procedural validity of the ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024’ (commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill). … More Ghana’s Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

New Anti-LGBTQ GHANA Law can set an American up for Extradition

December 17, 2024

By Melanie Nathan. Dec 17, 2024 If fully enacted, this will be an actual problem for Americans especially in a Trump Era, as my personal example will show. On February 28, 2024 the Ghanaian Parliament passed a new anti-LGBTQ+ law which has not been signed into law yet by President Nana Akufo-Addo, having stalled his … More New Anti-LGBTQ GHANA Law can set an American up for Extradition

Ghana’s LGBTQI+ Political Pawns Flee Country in Wake of Violence

December 3, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, December 02, 2023 On December 07, 2024, Ghana will elect a new President. On December 18, the Ghanaian Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on a controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill that passed Parliament in February, 2024. All the while LGBTQI+ Ghanaians, typical to country conditions all across Africa, are the scapegoats for dueling … More Ghana’s LGBTQI+ Political Pawns Flee Country in Wake of Violence

ILGA Goes Full Antisemitic Complicit in Cancelling LGBTQI Jews

October 29, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, October 29, 2024 ILGA WORLD issued the below statement refusing the Israeli member organization, The Aguda the right to  submit Tel Aviv as a host city for a vote for the World Conference 2026-2027. In doing this, ILGA also decided to suspend the member organization. African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) is the … More ILGA Goes Full Antisemitic Complicit in Cancelling LGBTQI Jews

Ghana’s Supreme Court Upholds Old Anti Gay Penal Code as Constitutional as Violence Persists

July 24, 2024

Supreme Court Upholds Law Against Unnatural Carnal Knowledge By Melanie Nathan, July 24, 2024, Ghana’s Penal Code inherited during the Colonial era which Criminalizes anal and oral Sex, and mostly directed against LGBTI people who engage in same-sex intimacy, has been upheld as Constitutional by the Supreme Court in Ghana. The Supreme Court has ruled … More Ghana’s Supreme Court Upholds Old Anti Gay Penal Code as Constitutional as Violence Persists

NLGJA announces the recipients of its 2024 Excellence in Journalism Awards

July 23, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists announced the recipients of its 2024 Excellence in Journalism Awards and recognized exemplary work produced in 2023. The highest individual awards, Journalist of the Year and Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for the LGBTQ+ Journalist of the Year, have been awarded to Steven Romo and H.L. … More NLGJA announces the recipients of its 2024 Excellence in Journalism Awards

Queers for Palestine weaponized while Palestinian Hamas orders LGBTQ Kill List

July 22, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, July 22, 2024. While Pro Palestinian and Pro Hamas agitators, and organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace, JVP, continued to enlist U.S. College students, promoting the notion that Israel’s only interest in providing same-sex and LGBTQI+ equality was to “PINK WASH” alleged human rights abuses, they succeeded in creating a climate … More Queers for Palestine weaponized while Palestinian Hamas orders LGBTQ Kill List

Trump’s Running Mate J.D. Vance ensures a Presidential Ticket for Killing LGBTQI Rights

July 21, 2024

The record of J.D. Vance, the looming Project 2025 , and Trump revenge, which fosters Heritage Foundation and Evangelical homophobia, yields the perfect storm – a symbiotic convergence of draconian ideals and agenda that will send all LGBTQI+ rights into the sewers! Lucy Middleton, writing for CONTEXT ask: What is Trump running mate J.D. Vance’s … More Trump’s Running Mate J.D. Vance ensures a Presidential Ticket for Killing LGBTQI Rights

Nigeria Ratifies Samoa Agreement stirs Anti-LGBTQI+ Hostility

July 6, 2024

Nigeria Signs Samoa Agreement triggering Anti-LGBTQI+ Panic By Melanie Nathan, July 05, 2023 In recent years Africa has seen a trend to heighten anti-homosexuality legislation, especially in the East and West African regions, with only few countries decriminalizing, and those mostly in the Southern part of Africa. Nigeria has one of the worst anti-Homosexuality laws … More Nigeria Ratifies Samoa Agreement stirs Anti-LGBTQI+ Hostility

A Deal with the Devil unfolds as UNHCR Spats with Rwanda impacting the Lives of LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers

June 24, 2024

Amidst the UNHCR Spat, the UK Should not be sending LGBTQI+ Refugees to Rwanda at the very least, perhaps refoulement in and of itself in a deal with the devil? By Melanie Nathan, June 22, 2024. The British plan to deport refugees to Rwanda has been mired in legal challenges. Lawyers representing the UN High … More A Deal with the Devil unfolds as UNHCR Spats with Rwanda impacting the Lives of LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers

U.S. State Dept Human Rights Report Confirms Kenya Fails and Abuses LGBTI Refugees and Asylum Seekers

April 22, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, April 22, 2024 The U.S. State Department Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor released its 2023 Human Rights report for all countries today, including the Kenyan Human rights report for 2023.. Last year African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) reported that Kenya, despite its international commitment to the Refugee Convention, had defied … More U.S. State Dept Human Rights Report Confirms Kenya Fails and Abuses LGBTI Refugees and Asylum Seekers

COURAGE BY MAN MARCHING THE STREETS OF GHANA AGAINST ANTI LGBT LAW

April 18, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, April 18, 2024 A Ghanaian man marched in the streets of Ghana, flanked by a police officer, in a powerful courageous one-man protest against one of the harshest anti-LGBTQI laws on the planet, let alone the African continent. The man, reportedly Mr. Texas Kadir Moro took a stand against the new legislation … More COURAGE BY MAN MARCHING THE STREETS OF GHANA AGAINST ANTI LGBT LAW

Ghana Supreme Court Challenge to Anti LGBT Bill Saves President but Injures LGBTQI+ People

March 5, 2024

By Melanie Nathan, March 05, 2024 The President of Ghana has found himself in a quandary. On his desk sits a a most odious Anti-Homosexuality Bill known as The Proper Human Sexuality and Family Values Bill, passed a week ago by Ghana’s parliament. Navigating an election year, while trying to appease global aid funders, ward … More Ghana Supreme Court Challenge to Anti LGBT Bill Saves President but Injures LGBTQI+ People

Ghana Welcomes New Anti LGBT Law while USA becomes host to GHANA Independence day concert in Ohio

March 3, 2024

Ghana Welcomes New Anti LGBT Law while USA becomes host to GHANA Independence day concert in Ohio – First reported HERE By Melanie Nathan, March 03, 2024 By way of one example, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) have expressed their gratitude and joy following the passage of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights … More Ghana Welcomes New Anti LGBT Law while USA becomes host to GHANA Independence day concert in Ohio

Kakuma Camp Block 13 Accountability for Closure of RSD in Kenya

January 24, 2024

by Melanie Nathan, January 23, 2024 African Human Rights Coalition calls out – LIES FRAUD FAILED SELF-SECURITY WHILE RSD AT A STANDSTILL FOR LGBTQI+ REFUGEES IN KENYA- and now with many  LGBTQI+ Ugandan (and other) refugees migrating to South Sudan in the hope that UNHCR will provide protection while the Sudanese provide refugee mandates. Let … More Kakuma Camp Block 13 Accountability for Closure of RSD in Kenya

Can the Pope’s news stand on Same-Sex Relationships help shift Ugandan Judges and Ghanaian MPs.

December 18, 2023

Ugandan Judges and Ghanaian Parliamentarians can you hear the Pope By Melanie Nathan, December 18, 2023. According to AP news, Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to … More Can the Pope’s news stand on Same-Sex Relationships help shift Ugandan Judges and Ghanaian MPs.

A Personal Tribute to Senator Dianne Feinstein

September 29, 2023

By Melanie Nathan, September 29, 2023 Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the U.S. Senate and the longest-serving senator from California, has died at age 90. Feinstein’s death leaves vacant her powerful Senate seat, requiring Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a temporary successor. The Democratic senator’s decades-long career was studded with major legislative achievements on … More A Personal Tribute to Senator Dianne Feinstein

How the United States Failed UGANDA’s LGBTQI Community

April 22, 2023

By Melanie Nathan, April 22, 2023. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni issued a press statement (see below) in his decision not to assent to the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, otherwise known as The Kill the Gays Bill, sending the legislation back to Parliament for amendment. Thereafter he is likely to sign the Bill into law. … More How the United States Failed UGANDA’s LGBTQI Community

Pennsylvania LGBTQI+ Call to Action: HB 300 for LGBTQ Protection Coming to a Vote in Pennsylvania

April 21, 2023

On Monday the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee will hold a vote on HB 300! UPDATED Monday 4/24/23 8.08 PM: Today HB300 passed out of the Judiciary committee! This is an important step toward Nondiscrimination Protections for our LGBTQ+ friends and family. HB300 will likely be up for a vote on the house floor in the … More Pennsylvania LGBTQI+ Call to Action: HB 300 for LGBTQ Protection Coming to a Vote in Pennsylvania

California Bill To Protect LGBTQ Foster Youth Passes Senate Committee

April 18, 2023

Passes Senate Human Services Committee SACRAMENTO – The Senate Human Services Committee passed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) bill SB 407, which helps ensure LGBTQ foster youth are not placed in hostile foster homes. SB 407 passed 3-0 and heads next to the Judiciary Committee. “LGBTQ youth are being scapegoated and attacked across the country, … More California Bill To Protect LGBTQ Foster Youth Passes Senate Committee

Since Elon Musk took Twitter Abuse of LGBTI Soars

February 9, 2023

60% of LGBTQ+ Organizations and Activists Surveyed Report an Increase in Abusive Speech Since Elon Musk’s Takeover as Twitter CEO Twitter is failing to protect LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals that advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community from online violence and abuse, according to a new survey from Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), GLAAD and the … More Since Elon Musk took Twitter Abuse of LGBTI Soars