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
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
Rosh Hashanah Walking Together in the New Year By Congressman Jerrold Nadler As we join with family and friends and prepare for the Jewish New Year, let us allow the shofar to call us to unity—and to action. Let the call of the shofar remind us that we must hold fast to our Jewish values … More Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s Jewish New Year Message
With special thanks to the featured asylum seekers and refugees Mari, Cheyenne, Junior and Subhi, for having the courage and fortitude to tell your stories before you had barely landed! Dear Friends, This week I had the great honor of accepting the OUTFEST Los Angeles 2019 juried Best Feature Documentary award for the Film UNSETTLED … More Tom Shepard’s UNSETTLED Wins Prestigious OUTFEST, Los Angeles Award
The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new interim final rule announced by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security today, which will deny asylum to those seeking protection at our southern border if they do not first apply for asylum from a third country while en route to the United States. This new … More Denouncing Trump’s New Rule Shutting Down Access to Asylum
Immigrant Rights Groups: Congress Must Investigate Separation & Suffering Caused by Trump ‘Remain-in-Mexico’ Policy Recent Stories Demonstrate Great Harm to Children on Both Sides of Border Ahead of a congressional hearing today about family separation and the mistreatment of migrant children, a group of immigrant rights organizations working on behalf of asylum seekers released a … More Congress Must Investigate Separation & Suffering Caused by Trump
Please watch video through to the end… I was going through my archival footage of some speeches I have given in recent years and heading into San Francisco Pride weekend, could not resist posting this on my blog for there first time. (See link below) It was in 2014 that I was most honored to … More The Pink Triangle 2019 – What Good is ‘Never Again’ if we Continue to Ignore!
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 06 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 06, below: For the past ten years I have … More MASK 06: UNHCR Deeply Concerned about LGBTI Refugees in Kenya
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 05 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 05, below: For the past ten years I have … More MASK 05: Mistreatment of Lesbian Asylum Seeker Reveals Corrupt South African Officials
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 03 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 03, below: For the past ten years I have … More Mask 03: Gay Refugee Plight Screams for Humanitarian Basics
“Ultimately, Nathan believes that the current asylum system is broken for LGBTI asylum seekers and cannot offer them adequate protection. It is “virtually impossible to guarantee safety to someone who is LGBTI and on African soil,” she said. I first started communicating with Annie Hylton and Malia Politzer almost 2 years ago. They were interested … More New Investigative Article Reveals Abysmal Path for LGBTI Refugees in Africa
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 02 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! For the past ten years I have been working with LGBTQ individuals and communities in several African Countries in the global attempt to thwart homophobia and deal with … More MASK 02: Desperation for Sick LGBTQI Refugee
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 01 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! For the past ten years I have been working with LGBTQ individuals and communities in several African Countries in the global attempt to thwart homophobia and deal with … More MASK 01: UNHCR System is Not Working for Persecuted LGBTI Refugees
A Critical frontier for Human Rights Advocacy – Melanie Nathan (2019) – the subject of 2 Articles in global press- Harpers and Mamba-Online – elucidating a critical mess for LGBTQI refugees! This week two articles have been written by accomplished journalists at two different corners of the world, reflecting on the stories of refugees attempting to avail … More Hostile Host Countries further the persecution of LGBTI Refugees in Africa
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
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
CGRS Calls on Senate to Reject Trump-McConnell Bill, Reopen Government San Francisco, CA (January 24, 2019) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) urges the Senate to reject the “End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act,” which was introduced by President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this week. The Trump-McConnell … More Danger for Asylum and Children with the Trump-McConnell Bill
Kenya is a hostile host to LGBTI refugees:– Thirty LGBTI Refugees in Kakuma Camp, Kenya, mostly Ugandans participating in an approved peaceful demonstration, tried to deliver a document to UNHCR, but after being refused entry into the compound were viciously attacked by police. I have reached out to UNHCR for comment and will update accordingly. The conditions … More LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya
Call Outs on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights SOUTH AFRICA: On this the day we celebrate the 70th year of the #UDHR South Africa should take a hard look at its deplorable treatment of African asylum seekers and #refugees from Northern countries. People, including mothers with babies on their backs, are … More 70th UDHR Anniversary and Deplorable Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Africa
VIA CNN: United States President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed he would sign an executive order “next week” aimed at restricting US asylum rules, as he seeks to use a group of Central American migrants heading for the US border as part of his midterm election closing argument. He also suggested that the US troops … More Speaking Out Against Trump Asylum Seeker Political Stunt
San Francisco, CA (June 21, 2018) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new Executive Order on the separation of immigrant families issued by the White House yesterday. The Order purports to put an end to family separations at the border, and its issuance is a testament to the overwhelming public outcry that arose … More Denouncing New Executive Order Expanding the Indefinite Detention of Families
Washington, DC — Congress may be essentially done for the year, but the Trump Administration is moving forward aggressively to fundamentally reshape the way America treats immigrants and refugees. Just in the past few weeks alone, we’ve seen the Trump administration: Abandon ICE’s presumed release policy that kept most pregnant women out of immigrant detention facilities; … More Trump Admin Full Steam Ahead to Reshape America’s Treatment of Immigrants and Refugees
CGRS Responds to State of the Union Address, Condemns White House Immigration Framework San Francisco, CA (January 31, 2018) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) condemns the hardline immigration policies promoted in yesterday’s State of the Union address, including measures that target asylum seekers. Despite disingenuous calls for unity, President Trump has … More Responses to Trump State of the Union Address
In my capacity as the Executive Director of The African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC) , I made the following statement with regard to President Donald Trump’s recent offensive and derogatory behind closed doors remarks: It has been confirmed through lawmakers that at an Oval Office meeting on immigration, United States President Donald Trump remarked, … More African Human Rights Coalition Response to Trump SHITHOLE Comment
“Kenya has become a ‘safe haven’ for those fleeing war and famine in neighbouring states. But in secret hideaways and temporary homes, LGBT refugees are being forced – once again – to hide their true selves instead of walking out into the world with pride …” Article by Jacob Kushner – Huck Magazine DONATE TO … More Huck Reflection on Vulnerable LGBT Refugees in Kenya
In my capacity as executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC), where we advocate for LGBT asylum seekers and refugees from African countries, I report as follows on the African HRC website: : Since the suspension on the United States refugee program has expired, the Trump administration has ordered new measures, supposedly a stronger vetting … More African HRC Reports on New Delays for LGBTI Refugees After Trump Suspension Ends
A federal judge has blocked Trump’s Third faulty Executive Order from being implemented. Today’s ruling in Hawaii v. Trump. This is likely to be appealed. Judge Derrick K. Watson in Hawaii decision means that the administration cannot restrict the entry of travelers from six of the eight countries that officials said were either unable or … More Trumps Third Attempt at Muslim Travel Ban Fails with Federal Court Block
So what should happen to LGBT and other Refugees already accepted by the USA for resettlement after the US Supreme Court decided to allow a limited portion of the Muslim Travel Ban to stand: …. Read the position of CGRS in their response and the bottom line is we too at African Human Rights Coalition … More U.S. Refugee Program Can Continue under SCOTUS Ban Decision
My SPEECH DELIVERED at PINK TRIANGLE Installation Ceremony today – Sat June 24, 2017 – Melanie Nathan – ED of African Human Rights Coalition and Vice President of San Francisco Pride Board. Thank you all for being here today – greetings to our elected officials, and to Patrick Carney – a big thank you for … More Speech at the 2017 Installation of Pink Triangle Twin Peaks San Francisco Pride
As Vice President of San Francisco Pride Board, I am really proud that SF Pride has provided the platform for this message of resistance, love and this opportunity for awareness: This message is published on the African HRC website as a message of love and hope to LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers, in Africa around … More LGBT Refugees and Asylum Seekers to March at San Francisco Pride
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