At a time like THIS! By Melanie Nathan and African Human Rights Coalition. We are living in a time where in America we are suffering the backlash against LGBTQI+ people – a backlash from actually attaining a measure of acceptance and a measure of equality. We only have a limited EQUALITY and we are still … More AT A TIME LIKE THIS: WE DARE YOU AMERICA – FROM LGBTQI+ AFRICA
So Steve Hofmeyr is a famous something in Southern Africa, perhaps even Namibia. Although I am from South Africa I had never heard of him until he came out recently with some statement that perhaps the PLUS sign at the end of the LGBTQI+ acronym includes “bestiality.” I think he may be an actor or … More Steve Hofmeyr Reports from His Queer Closet in Namibia
NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER ANNOUNCES WORLD PREMIERE STAGE ADAPTATION OF HARRISON DAVID RIVERS’ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED INTERLUDE – See you there! I am so excited and so honored to be on the Board of NCTC in San Francisco and even more excited that I have tickets in hand, and after 18 months in our COVID corners, … More The Audience is Back for INTERLUDE at New Conservatory Theatre Center
President Biden’s Historic EO for LGBTQ Rights Yesterday, President Biden issued Executive Orders impacting our LGBTQI communities. President Biden signed a sweeping executive order directing federal agencies to adopt a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including in federal employment, policies, programs, and services. This is the first day one executive order by a … More Day One: President Biden’s Historic Executive Orders for LGBTQ Rights
Over 120 LGBTQI organizations signed the below letter addressed to all United States Senators, opposing the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) as the replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. African Human Rights Coalition is a proud signatory to the letter, noting the huge impact that … More Over 120 LGBT Organizations Sign Letter to U.S. Senators Opposing Barrett SCOTUS Confirmation
African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC), hand in hand with refugees at Kakuma Camp in Kenya, had the great honor to represent African countries and refugees leading the Main Stage opening, at GLOBAL PRIDE 2020 with its VIDEO message. Worldwide, we were all so disappointed when we realized we could not take to our streets this … More THANK YOU GLOBAL PRIDE 2020 FOR THE HONOR FROM KAKUMA
Queer Asylum in Germany: Better visibility and access to legal and social support needed for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in Germany Human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity are grounds for seeking asylum in Europe. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people claiming asylum face particular legal and social … More Queer Asylum in Germany: More Needed for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in Germany
Catching up on the world. There is a lot going on – and here is a start: The Queer Displacements: Sexuality, Migration and Exile 2019 conference (Queer Displacements) was organised by two queer refugee women, emerging academics and activists Renee Dixson and Tina Dixson. Queer Displacements took place on the Traditional lands of the Ngunnawal … More Queer Displacements Conference: Refugees and Ongoing Hardship in Australia
Frameline, presenter of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the world’s largest and longest-running queer film festival, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Woolley as Executive Director. Woolley brings with him over a decade’s worth of film festival management experience, most recently as the Head of Marketing and Customer Relations at the … More Frameline Announces New Executive Director
Gender and Queer Perspectives on Brexit Editors: Dustin, Moira, Ferreira, Nuno, Millns, Susan (Eds.) “On 24 June 2016, many people had the feeling that they woke up in a country prone to isolationism and protectionism, risking hurting its economic and social development for the sake of imperial nostalgia and moral panic about ‘loss of sovereignty’ … More Queering BREXIT
Our friends at Mamba Online in South Africa have provided this stunning report: The High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, has ordered the Dutch Reformed Church (also known as the NG Kerk) to stop discriminating against same-sex couples and LGBTQI clergy. On Friday, it ruled that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) must end its November 2016 … More Stunning LGBT Victory Against South African Afrikaner Church
PLEASE – SIGN Senator Kamala Harris PETITION BELOW: Via CNN: The Trump administration on Tuesday formally announced the end of DACA — a program that had protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will stop processing any new applications for the program as … More Protesting DONALD’s DUMPING of DACA
See San Francisco Pride behind the scenes photos below This year I served on the board of directors for San Francisco Pride. I learned so much from the leadership, staff and contractors, as well as all the grand marshals and honorees and want to thank everyone who helped make the Pride weekend and run-up month … More San Francisco Pride is San Francisco Proud
Women Innkeepers of Provincetown Announce Partnership with Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund to Raise Awareness About LGBT Youth Homelessness. Provincetown, MA – The Women Innkeepers of Provincetown are thrilled to announce their partnership with Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund in an effort to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness, (homeless … More Provincetown Women Innkeepers Partners with True Colors Fund for Homeless LGBT Youth Awareness
By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2016. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Cheryl Dunye’s iconic film The Watermelon Woman (1996) has been restored and digitally remastered for worldwide release and will be screened at The Castro Theater during the San Francisco International Film Festival season this coming Sunday. SFIFF Expanded explores the cultural and political … More Iconic Lesbian Film Celebrates 20th Anniversary in the Castro during SFIFF
The Mob: Who screamed for Israel’s destruction; who displayed hate above unity of purpose; who knew exactly what they were doing and who were the nochschleppers ? SCROLL DOWN for names. By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2016 Last week the halls of The Hilton Hotel in Chicago, became the scene of a near riot. The … More Naming Participants in the Creating Change 2016 LGBTQ Jew Bash Fest
Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 07, 2015. Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and the Ali Forney Center (AFC) announced three new federal grants to help continue AFC’s important work serving homeless youth in New York City, an estimated 40% of which identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ). Combined, the more than $1 million … More New Federal Funding to Serve Homeless LGBTQ Youth in NYC
CAP Report Outlines Barriers Homeless Queer Youth Face in Obtaining Important Identification Documents Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 01, 2015. Washington, D.C. — Research suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, youth experience homelessness at a much higher rate than their non-LGBT peers. Like for most homeless youth, this leads to significant challenges … More Barriers LGBT Homeless Youth Face in Obtaining Important ID Documents
Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative Art for Social Change | Zanele Muholi and Gabrielle Le Roux Posted by Melanie Nathan, January, 23, 2014. The Wits Art Museum, ( The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa) in partnership with Wits Centre for Diversity Studies and Inkanyiso, is proud to announce the exhibition Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative … More Important Queer and Trans Art Exhibit at Wits
Revamping the dream for an all inclusive politicized Pride By Melanie Nathan. May 20, 2013. This Press Release passed our desk, in what seems to be a follow up to the very controversial events surrounding Johannesburg Pride over this past year and its subsequent cancellation: New Committee to Organise People’s Pride Johannesburg on 5 Oct. … More Can there be a new politicized Johannesburg Pride
Can Massachusetts be a case study to improve the odds for homeless queer youth? By Cathy Kristofferson, January 09, 2013. The epidemic of homeless queer youth is an issue I’ve followed and advocated for because to me our youth are the most vulnerable among us. They are empowered by our successes and are coming out younger and … More Homeless queer youth | the Massachusetts Special Commission
Queer feminist human rights defenders face a range of unimaginable challenges Today 29th/Nov is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (IWHRDD). Several Human Rights defenders and activists from all over the word met 7years ago, in Colombo Sri Lanka to celebrate, raise awareness acknowledge the works and to discuss the situation of women human rights … More INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY
From the bottom of the Continent of Africa to the top of South Africa, a Budget Bus filled with LGBTQI community representatives toiled the bush, the veld, cities and townships, spreading rainbow acts and music, all in the name of full inclusiveness and education against homophobia. The Gay Flag of South Africa, led its annual tour of the country amidst much to contemplate and celebrate, including the approval of the Gay Flag as a national symbol. … More South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia
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
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