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

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

In Ghana 21 Suspected Lesbians and Gays Hunted, Stormed, Arrested

“We must share this story – to bring awareness, as to criminalization and the homophobia and transphobia that drives it. Often resulting in obscuring the lines between justice, law and how it is used to hunt humans and persecute.” Melanie Nathan, Executive director African Human Rights Coalition.   Police in Ho, Ghana, have arrested 21 … More In Ghana 21 Suspected Lesbians and Gays Hunted, Stormed, Arrested

Honoring Lesbian Survivors on International Women’s Day #IWD 2019

Today is International Women’s Day #IWD2019: We celebrate and stand in solidarity with all women, noting their tenacity and fortitude, especially those who courageously survive violence and defy patriarchy.  At African HRC with global lesbians and transgender women our family, we continue to fight for the basic human right to autonomy of mind and body. Here … More Honoring Lesbian Survivors on International Women’s Day #IWD 2019

Marin DA Candidate Promises Reform for Outrageous Sexual Assault Hotline

By Melanie Nathan. “When survivors come forward the very least we can do is pick up the phone!” Anna Pletcher. San Anselmo -As my friends and followers  in Marin may know I support Anna Pletcher for Marin County District Attorney. That role could not be more important than now, when the issue of sexual assault … More Marin DA Candidate Promises Reform for Outrageous Sexual Assault Hotline

IDAHOT Remembering Those Fallen to Homophobia Blaming Governments and Preachers

South Africa’s Fallen Lesbians – Victims of Homophobia –  In preparing my remarks for tomorrow’s IDAHOT commemoration in San Francisco – I decided to comb through all the articles I have written since 2009 about lesbians who had been victim to a most brutal hate crimes caused by homophobia: so called “corrective” or “curative” rape of … More IDAHOT Remembering Those Fallen to Homophobia Blaming Governments and Preachers

Brutal Rape and Murder of South African Lesbian Calls Attention to Failing Task Team

Warning: Horrific Photo below – An openly lesbian woman from Soweto has been brutalized and murdered in a suspected hate crime, as reported by Mambaonline: On Sunday, the half naked body covered by rocks,  of 27-year-old Lerato Tambai Moloi, described by activists as a “butch” lesbian, was found in Naledi Ext. She was discovered by community … More Brutal Rape and Murder of South African Lesbian Calls Attention to Failing Task Team

Protest as Lesbian Hate and Transphobia Haunts South Africa

PROTEST: Tomorrow, Jan 12, 2016 LGBTI activists are holding a rally and will march to the Mafatsana Police Station By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2016. Two recent horrific murder cases elucidate the horror that lesbians and trans people encounter when faced with what is still considered endemic homophobia, lesbian hate and transphobia, in South Africa, … More Protest as Lesbian Hate and Transphobia Haunts South Africa

See Shackled Rapist Murderer of South African Lesbian as Judge announces Sentence

Sitting in the dock, shackled in chains, a murdering rapist awaits his fate.  By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2015. Thabo Molefe, 47, has been sentenced to a concurrent 22 years for murder and 12 years for raping Lihle Sokhela, 28, a lesbian from Daveyton, Gauteng, South Africa. A large group of lesbians and supporters descended … More See Shackled Rapist Murderer of South African Lesbian as Judge announces Sentence

Trial to Commence as Justice sought in rape and murder of South African Lesbian

By Melanie Nathan, July 22, 2015. After sloppy police work, as alleged by the organization IRANTI, the trial against Thabo Molefe, charged with the murder of Thembelihle Sokhela,  a lesbian from Daveyton, will finally be heard at the Pretoria High Court on Monday July 27. Lihle was a 28-year old lesbian from Daveyton,  murdered on … More Trial to Commence as Justice sought in rape and murder of South African Lesbian

South Africa Trial of 2 Men Accused of Raping Lesbian

The guise of so called “corrective” rape against lesbians are hate attacks by men who believe woman are there for their use! By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2015. The trial of two men accused of raping a lesbian, to supposedly “correct” her sexual orientation commenced in the South African city of Port Elizabeth, Wednesday. The … More South Africa Trial of 2 Men Accused of Raping Lesbian

Rapist and Murderer of South African Lesbian Sentenced

By Melanie Nathan, November 25, 2014. The South African Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court has sentenced the brutal rapist and murderer of 26-year-old lesbian Duduzile Zozo.  Lekgoa Lesley Motleleng, who pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of the young lesbian, will spend 30 years in prison. The half-naked body of  was found in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, … More Rapist and Murderer of South African Lesbian Sentenced

Human Rights News You Will Not See in U.S. Press

Indian women die, seriously injured, after mass sterilization drive   Human Rights, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS news making the headlines that you probably will not read anywhere in the USA news – with thanks to the good people at SAfAIDS for their “Zero Tolerance for Homophobia” campaign: Being a sex worker doesn’t give you the right … More Human Rights News You Will Not See in U.S. Press

Another South African Lesbian Murdered in Daveyton as Known Rapist Turns Himself In

By Melanie Nathan, September 17, 2014. Distraught South African LGBTQI community is reporting another  murder of a lesbian, Thembelihle,  described by friends as a butch lesbian who lived at Sgodi Phola Section in Daveyton, a South African Township in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng. Affectionately known as Lihle by her friends, she was last … More Another South African Lesbian Murdered in Daveyton as Known Rapist Turns Himself In

Horrific Brutal Murder of South African Lesbian

By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2014. According to sources in South Africa and media reports another South African woman has been raped and brutally murdered in what appears to be another lesbian “corrective” rape, torture and murder. The half naked body of Gift Disebo Makau was discovered in the Tshing Township, in Ventersdorp, in the … More Horrific Brutal Murder of South African Lesbian

A Ugandan Pastor Ssempa is Accused of Defilement of Minor

By Melanie Nathan, August 14, 2014. A man by the name of Martin Ssempa has apparently been held by police in Iganga, Uganda, accused of allegedly “defiling” a 17 year old girl in Uganda. The term defilement is used in Uganda to describe rape of a young under-age person. There are two Martin Ssempa’s (urgh … More A Ugandan Pastor Ssempa is Accused of Defilement of Minor

So called Corrective Rape of Lesbians in South Africa should Embarrass President Zuma

By Melanie Nathan, January 04, 2014. Touted in an article as the most comprehensive report on the issue, “Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of ‘corrective rape’ – aimed at ‘curing’ lesbians,” is the work of Clare Carter, who left her home in New York City in 2011 to photograph South Africa’s corrective rape … More So called Corrective Rape of Lesbians in South Africa should Embarrass President Zuma

Warrant out for Arrest of Russian Maxim Martsinkevich who Tortures and Rapes Gays

Judging by the accusations of two new victims, it would seem that Martsinkevich himself has been sexually aroused by these encounters. By Melanie Nathan, November 11, 2013. We recently featured a story here on OBLOGDEE naming Maxim Martsinkevich, also known as “Tesak”,  as WANTED – using the instance of kidnappings and assaults of young gay … More Warrant out for Arrest of Russian Maxim Martsinkevich who Tortures and Rapes Gays

Arrest in South African Lesbian Murder Case

By Melanie Nathan, October 18, 2013. According to Sapa, police in Gauteng, South Africa have confirmed that a 22-year-old man was arrested in Tokoza in connection with the horrific and brutal murder of a young lesbian, Duduzile Zozo. The man is scheduled to appear for charges, in the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday, according … More Arrest in South African Lesbian Murder Case

South Africans Deliver the First People’s Pride

By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2013. Johannesburg People’s Pride (JHBPP) took place in Constitution Hill on the 5th of October 2013. The theme People’s Pride indeed spoke for itself, because it embodied all kinds of People. JHBPP was not only for LGBTI people even heterosexuals were there. Lebo Mashile (poet) also graced the day with her presence. … More South Africans Deliver the First People’s Pride

Sierra Leone’s Straight Deputy Education Minister Charged with Raping Student

Life in prison for being in loving gay relationships compared to 5-15 years for raping students By Melanie Nathan, September 18, 2013. Reuters reports from Sierra Leone that Deputy Education Minister Mamoud Tarawali has been charged with raping a university student, according to police. Sierra Leone is a country that criminalizes loving gay relationships. The … More Sierra Leone’s Straight Deputy Education Minister Charged with Raping Student

Call to SA Government Task Team for action on rape of lesbians

AND HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE | PETITION: It is time to invigorate the sleeping SA Task Task team – we must fight the violence with transparency and a plan By Melanie Nathan,  May 14, 2013 Activists in South Africa are calling for immediate invigoration, transparency and action by the Task Team that was established to combat so … More Call to SA Government Task Team for action on rape of lesbians

Ugandan News reveals horrific rape case and 20 Girls defiled daily by straight men in Uganda

By Melanie Nathan & Cathy Kristofferson While the Ugandans still allow for the distractions and time wasting Anti-Homosexuality Bill to dominate the discourse about sexual immorality and so called defilement of children, with one single case yet to appear as evidence of such, this article appeared in their press today: 20 girls defiled daily in … More Ugandan News reveals horrific rape case and 20 Girls defiled daily by straight men in Uganda

No Justice for Thandiswa Qubuda as Rape capital South Africa releases gang of rapists with no bail

The high incidence of rape in South Africa has yet to see protests on the scale of that experienced in India. After all if the statistics are one in four women raped – how many men are there left to protest? Most are perpetrators.By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2013. UPDATED: Reports that Thandiswa Qubuda Passed … More No Justice for Thandiswa Qubuda as Rape capital South Africa releases gang of rapists with no bail

One Billion Rising protests planned for V-Day to end Violence against Women and Girls

V-Day -A Global call to action By Melanie Nathan, Feb 12, 2014. South Africa – On February 14, South Africa will be part of a global movement for change – ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Sonke … More One Billion Rising protests planned for V-Day to end Violence against Women and Girls

South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

Claiming the streets in protest for justice By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2013. Today a large group of lesbians, carrying signs and the South African gay flag,  from a variety of Townships around the Cape Town area, took to the streets singing and chanting for justice to draw attention to the issue of corrective rape … More South African Township Lesbians March for Justice against Corrective Rape

March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

Cape Town, South Africa  join the march to help catch brutal rapist By Melanie Nathan, January 19, 2013. In 2010 I broke the story of the brutal rape of a lesbian in Gugulethu, a Township near Cape Town, in an article that went viral around the world, causing outrage, “The Face of Corrective Rape.”  I … More March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

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

South African Police Make Arrests in Rape and Murder of Kwazulu Lesbian

By Melanie Nathan, September, 03, 2012. Police have made an arrest in the latest reported rape and and murder of a 28 year old Lesbian in Kwazulu, Natal, South Africa. The body of  Mandisa Mbambo was discovered under her bed by her parents on Sunday, 26th August, in the brutal rape and murder. Like  many … More South African Police Make Arrests in Rape and Murder of Kwazulu Lesbian