Nineteen young men from the Children of the Sun Foundation (COSF), spent 49 days of hell and torture in Kitalya Prison, Uganda, where they were denied the right to lawyer visits. We now know why: As the young men emerged from the prison this week, after a lengthy battle in the Court and the subsequent … More Ugandan LGBTI Detainees Released from Prison after 49 Days of Torture
IDAHOT – International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia, IDAHOT: 2020 Theme BREAK THE SILENCE Today, May 17th is the day millions of people around the world commemorate IDAHOT, a special day, to raise awareness and commit further to impact the right to liberty, equality, justice and happiness for LGBTI people around the globe. However violence … More IDAHOT 2020 LGBTI Refugees and UNHCR Breaking the Silence
“African HRC urges potential protesters to consider the good of all and refrain at this time from this sit-in, which could have a detrimental impact to one’s resettlement later on, as any arrests under COVID-19 will likely be recorded on people’s portfolios which the foreign embassies examine when selecting candidates for resettlement.” African HRC (AHRC) … More Citing COVID-19 AHRC Urges Kakuma Participants of LGBTI Sit-In to Return to Shelters
The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) at Hastings in San Francisco has compiled a bilingual (English/Spanish) COVID-19 resource guide for immigrant communities, advocates, and allies. Protecting the health of our most vulnerable community members during the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to fight for their rights. On this page HERE is a list of … More Important COVID-19 Virus Pandemic Resources for Immigrants, Advocates and Allies
What is Pesach / Passover: Passover is a celebration of spring, of birth and rebirth, of a journey from slavery to freedom, and of taking responsibility for yourself, the community, and the world. … The Torah states that Jews are to observe Passover for seven days, beginning on the 15th of the Jewish month Nisan … More An Unusual Seder Plate: Seeking Freedom this Pesach
More time and additional restrictions needed to slow the spread and reduce future impact on local hospitals from COVID-19 San Rafael, CA – Health officers in seven Bay Area jurisdictions – including Marin County — are updating a previous stay-at-home order through May 3, 2020 in order to preserve critical hospital capacity across the region. … More Marin County Adds COVID-19 Virus Pandemic Restrictions in New Order
The Ugandan Government has raided a safe shelter for homeless victims of human rights abuses. While sheltered in place and in protection form the Corona Virus outbreak, authorities sought fit to victimize the residents, with homophobic slurs and physical beatings to solicit confessions as to their sexuality. At this time we believe approximately 23 people … More Ugandan Homeless Shelter Raided by Authorities in Homophobic Attack
Among the most predictably vulnerable during the Corona Virus pandemic is clearly the world’s refugee and migration population and the most vulnerable of all refugees are LGBTQI refugees, worldwide. Over 70 countries criminalize LGBTI people for their sexuality and gender identity. Many have compromised immune systems, major trauma, and underlying medical conditions, all an added … More LGBTI and All Refugees in grave danger during COVID-19 Pandemic
Day 06 of Shelter in Place, Marin: Photo of the day- My daughter, now in quarantine – just in case- took this photo of JFK airport upon her return home to Marin this weekend. Everything changed overnight for this NYU grad, as she left her NYC Apartment to join her family here in Marin. Out … More Photo of the Day: A Deathly Quiet JFK Airport on March 21, 2020
As the world struggles, clinging to every speckle of humanity, Donald Trump chose to slam the door on the most vulnerable. Asylum seekers at our border, who have a right to show up for safety as they exile persecution, violence and possibly death will be turned away without due process. The once greatest nation on … More NO DONALD TRUMP – YOU DO NOT SLAM THE DOOR ON ASYLUM SEEKERS -Not even in a Pandemic
RefCEA Responds to Cessation of Funding with a call for a Community Planning Session: First Reported at AFRICAN HRC HERE. Tuesday 10 March 2020, NAIROBI, KENYA – In recent weeks, HIAS (the Refugee Trust of Kenya) announced the cessation of funding for urban refugees located in greater Nairobi. These LGBTQI refugees were transplanted from the … More LGBTQI Refugee Coalition in Kenya Calls for Dialogue Not Protest
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners are urgently appealing for US$621 million to support refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have sought safety in neighboring countries as well as to assist hosting communities. The DRC Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2020-2021 launched today by UNHCR and its partners covers … More Urgent Appeal by UNHCR in DRC
With thanks to host Michelle Meow, famed Bay Area LGBTQI producer and TV show host, Commonwealth Club of San Francisco is platforming a discussion involving member of San Francisco’s LGBTQI community. This promises to be a robust discussion. Check it out. Oh yes and I am on the panel too! My position may surprise … More LGBTQI Leaders on Panel at Commonwealth Club: Picking the Democratic Presidential Candidate
As Executive Director for African Human Rights Coalition, and as a follow up to the articles that have appeared on this BLOG reporting on the complex and disturbing situation involving LGBTQI refugees in Kenya, and more specifically Kakuma Camp, African HRC has issued 2 advisories on its website. Here is a snippet plus links to … More African HRC Issues Advisory to LGBTQI Refugees, Activists and Advocates
LEILAH BABIRYE Gwe Is Ye Nze, Lekka Mbele Nze (You Are Not Me, Let Me Be Me) 15 January – 28 February 2020 Artist dialogue with human rights advocate Melanie Nathan: Saturday 18 January, 10 AM Rebecca Camacho Presents 794 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94109 UNTITLED, ART San Francisco Booth C11 16 January – … More Ugandan Artist Brings Asylum LGBTQ Dialogue to San Francisco Debut
In the words of an LGBTQI refugee – from the streets of Kenya… with more to come …. In the dark, I sit where the site of distress is bliss, my thoughts are cadacomn cliffs and I teeter Voices of responsibility ring out bleakly, my eyes can’t close up My brain won’t free me It’s … More 2020 Overwhelmed by LGBTQI Migrant Crisis
And a Reflection on the Decade 2010-2020 As we enter a new decade, and with this BLOG just hitting one million reads, I post my annual Heroes and Zeroes- a tradition since 2013. This year I have to start with our Number 01! Hero… HEROES #1 Nancy Pelosi: The East Coast Italian Grandma from Baltimore … More Heroes and Zeroes 2019 from O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da
Despite having one of the more progressive legal landscapes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, many LGBT South Africans experience barriers to economic inclusion based on their race, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity and expression. Join us in a discussion of highlights from the new, groundbreaking report, The Economic Cost of LGBT Stigma … More Economic Cost of LGBT Stigma and Discrimination in South Africa
While in general I am pleased that we are covering some serious issues, make sure manner and implementation is not imposing – Melanie Nathan of African Human Rights Coalition is urging caution on LGBTQI Global Rights – Melanie Nathan The Washington Blade Notes: “Three U.S. senators on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require the … More African HRC Urges Caution with Introduction by the US Senate Global ACT
HOW GABORONE PRIDE MAKES CASE FOR WHY LGBTQI TOURIST AND GROUPS SHOULD SUPPORT BOTSWANA Botswana is a country I love. I visited often as a young child. My late mom is now buried just across the border in Motswedi, (formally other names, then Union of South Africa, then Bophuthatswana, and now South Africa) with great … More Interview with Chairperson of the Historic Gaborone Pride in Botswana
LGBTQI Asylum Seekers and Refugees – At Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the honor to work hand in hand with some of the most courageous people on the Planet- Dear Friends, THANK YOU – Let us talk gratitude! Thank you for your ongoing support of African Human Rights Coalition: At African HRC we provide humanitarian services, resources, … More Hand in Hand the most Courageous People on the Planet
Today HIAS, Church World Service (CWS), and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), took Donald Trump to court over his recent executive order giving state and local officials authority to block refugee resettlement in their jurisdictions. These agencies are suing the administration because it is attempting to enact a state-by-state, city-by-city refugee ban. “It was not … More Refugee Agencies Sue Trump Over Executive Order
The Refugee Protection Act (RPA) of 2019, led by Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Zoe Lofgren and cosponsored by more than two dozen members of Congress seeks to restore justice to the U.S. asylum and refugee resettlement systems and revive our country’s founding commitment to offer safe haven for those fleeing persecution. Congress must support … More Urging Congress to Support the Refugee Protection Act of 2019
Dear Friends, Almost there…… 997,323 ……. The seemingly trite and amusing name of my 8 year old BLOG stands in stark contrast to the mostly serious and not funny subject matter it deals with. I am proud to say that with 2000 to go, we have almost hit the ONE MILLION view mark! O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da has … More One Million Hits One Million Thanks from O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da
“When you live in a homophobic country its is impossible to report even a violent crime perpetrated against you because you will be the one who is arrested!” Ugandan Gay Man A day ago Let’s Walk Uganda (LWU), a local LGBTQI support group was attacked by a screaming mob at the organization’s headquarters. Although a prominent … More Ugandan Police Arrest Victims of Mob Attack and Force Anal Exams
Police arrest the Human Rights Victims Instead of the Mob Perpetrators Tonight at African HRC we received a message that Let’s Walk Uganda (LWU), a local LGBTQI support group was under attack by a mob, screaming outside their offices. Another prominent human rights organization HRAPF was immediately called in to push for police protection. Seventeen … More Ugandan Mob Attacks NGO Amidst Increasing Violence against the LGBTI Community
African Human Rights Coalition is calling Trump out – first published HERE. The reality for LGBTQI refugees is that right now the homophobia engendered by state sanctioned persecution through criminalization of homosexuality in over 60 countries renders Trump Nationalism a dangerous and exclusionary escapade! African Human Rights Coalition Calls Out Trump’s UN Speech While I … More Trump UN Speech Spews Hypocrisy through the reality for LGBTQI Refugees
“Last week, I awoke from a dream where I saw thousands of singers filling up a park, raising their voices against injustice. Now I am working to make that happen. Please join Close the Camps Choir on Sunday September 15 at the Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, from 3.00-5.00 PM and add your voice to our chorus!” It literally … More Join the Choral Protest in San Francisco to be led by CLOSE THE CAMPS CHOIR
The banning of the South African Apartheid Flag as a symbol of hate now historically stands in stark and judicial contrast to the LGBTQI Rainbow flag – in effect expressly ruled a symbol of love! The Black Monday protests, which flared-up in October 2017 in South Africa, forced the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SA Human … More History Made as the Rainbow Flag Ruled for Love Against Apartheid Hate
After 30 years I suddenly realized why would I NOT write about one of the most courageous Gay Men I ever knew? Martin and I were best friends. We were spiritual lovers beyond societal call for our physical realms – we defied all that – we were true – We aligned in our newfound queerness. … More Thirty Years and Missing Martin Miller
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