By Melanie Nathan, January 31, 2024 The Africa Cup of Nations, sometimes referred to as the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, or simply AFCON or CAN, is the main international men’s association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football, and was first held in 1957. … More Africa Cup of Nations a Chance to Check out Homophobia
By Melanie Nathan, September 21, 2023 AN LGBTQIA+ rights activist noted Grindr was being used by criminal syndicates to target gay men seeking romantic connections on the online dating platform. Gauteng police have rescued a Wits University student who was lured and kidnapped via the gay dating site Grindr. The student was found bound and … More WARNING: Student lured by GRINDR GANG kidnappers found unconscious bound
By Melanie Nathan, September 13, 2023. The is a great anomaly courtesy the ‘elephant’ in the FIFA WOMEN WORLD CUP SOCCER room, that has escaped attention and opportunity. It has been 15 long years since the brutal rape and murder of soccer player, Eudy Simelane, who played for the South African national women’s team, Banyana … More The Elephant in the Room of Women’s FIFA World Cup Soccer
Justice for Mom, After Insult by Rabbi, by Melanie Nathan, May 20, 2023. I was shocked when my attention was drawn to a page in the Book, “The Traveling Rabbi: My African Tribe, by Moshe Silberhaft’s – an autobiography of so called “Traveling Rabbi” Moshe Silberhaft’s book about his purported work in Africa. Silberhaft writes … More Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, The Travelling Rabbi’s Insulting Lie That Still Hurts
THE PHILADELPHIA REPORT – I was invited to do a weekly (Monday morning) series on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts “Breakfast in Bed,” on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at www.rt1485.com This week we remember Aries Birthdays, Pogrom orphan refugees, Ukraine and South … More Philadelphia Report: How the Pogroms Remind South Africa to Take a Stand
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
THE PHILADELPHIA REPORT – I was invited to do a weekly series on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts his “Breakfast in Bed,” a show on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at www.rt1485.com THE PHILADELPHIA REPORT MARCH 28, 2022 – This week’s Philadelphia Report … More Philadelphia Report: SA Radio Today – Aries Fires a Twittering Temperament
Radio Today Philadelphia Report on Ukraine Posted on March 03, 2022, by Melanie Nathan, I am a contributor for a weekly commentary on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts his “Breakfast in Bed,” a show on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at http://www.rt1485.com. … More Philadelphia Report – Shame on South Africa: Putin, Sanctions, Willingness to Suffer
I was invited to do a weekly series on South African Radio: Each day, the fabulously talented South African personality, Jonathan Taylor hosts his “Breakfast in Bed,” a show on Radio Today, which live streams 8:00 AM, South African time, at http://www.rt1485.com Each week Jonathan gives me a question (usually on Monday mornings) in what … More Radio Today: As Love Sails Wisdom Captains – Happy Valentines Day
“We see before us a land, bereft of much justice, and therefore without peace and security. Unrest is endemic and will remain an unchanging feature of the South African scene until apartheid, the root cause of it all, is finally dismantled.” African Human Rights Coalition mourns the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, fondly called Arch … More African Human Rights Coalition Mourns the Passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Namibia’s benchmark decision in the case of Luehl v Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, where Judge Thomas Masuku granted a toddler Namibian citizenship through descent of its parent (Oct 13, 2021) has been appealed by the Namibian Government. Namibian Government Appeal is a Failure to Decolonize Sexuality “By appealing the case, the Namibian Government … More TV Interview: The Namibian Anti-Child Appeal on Citizenship through Gay Parents
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced that it will be a third party in the appeal matter between 800m runner Caster Semenya and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court which will be heard at the European Court of Human Rights. Semenya is seeking to overturn a ruling by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court which upheld … More SA Human Rights Commission Joins Caster Semenya Appeal
Re-Publish: Written in 2016 – NOT IN GOD’S NAME- This Continues with Little change – except an increase in the migration and decriminalization by a mere 2 countries, Botswana and Angola. NOT IN GOD’S NAME – A brief Reflection on Violence Promoted by Christian Churches in Africa, By Melanie Nathan, African Human Rights Coalition©, … More Re-Publish: Very little has Changed as Christians Persecute Gays, Lesbians and Trans People
No Name Change for Sir Francis Drake Blvd. At their meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the Town Council of San Anselmo considered the renaming of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Calls for changing the name of the 40 mile road, that crosses several Marin incorporated and unincorporated jurisdictions, surfaced amid the Black Lives Matter campaign that followed … More Shame on San Anselmo – Votes to Keep Slavery Honored
June 16th, 1976 seemed like just another regular coolish South African winter’s day. Frustrated by parking problems, I made my way into my law class at the mostly “white only” University of the Witwatersrand, (WITS). Little did I know where this day would lead: A fellow student ran into our class screaming that children were … More Remembering the Soweto Massacre – South Africa’s National Youth Day June 16
Updated: The below Article was written before the COVID-19 postponement of the Sonoma Film Festival’s decision to screen its Festival Online. Happily Elephant Refugees will be screened on the opening night platform , July 30, 2020: Sales have opened NOW as a package with another film, The Guardian Elephant Warriors Of Reteti. BOTH FILMS CAN BE … More Elephant Refugees to be Screened at Sonoma International Film Festival
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
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
Such a life never dies ….. much loved …. forever remembered….. Johnny – our legend- deep sadness prevails this day – even with profound and happy memories helming his magnificent legacy There will never be another Johnny Clegg Music, dance, language – The courageous cross pollination- a part of that which brought South Africa to its … More Deep Sadness Prevails this Day – Tribute to Johnny Clegg
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
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
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
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
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
By Melanie Nathan- Last month we reported a victory for LGBTQI equality and same-sex couples in South Africa, when the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament adopted a Civil Union Amendment Bill that could lead to full marriage equality for South Africa’s same-sex community. Now that journey to becoming law is one step closer to … More South African Parliament votes to approve Civil Union Amendment for Full Marriage Equality
It is imperative that South Africa lead the movement to decriminalize homosexuality in Africa. And two major events have occurred this past month in South Africa, in what seems to me an historic push for such leadership. Earlier this month Johannesburg Pride took the bold move of sending an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, … More South Africa’s LGBTQ March Calling Shame on Tanzania and Uganda
In a victory for LGBTIQ equality and same-sex couples in South Africa, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament has adopted a Civil Union Amendment Bill. The Parliamentary Committee’s adoption of the Bill is a major step in the proposed legislation’s journey to becoming law. Our friends at Mamba Online are reporting this fantastic news … More Victory for South Africa’s LGBTQ Community as Parliamentary Committee Adopts Critical Amendment
The early box office success, and swift criticism, of the Queen biopic movie Bohemian Rhapsody, is also attracting interest in Freddie Mercury’s African roots: The country of his birth, may not only have failed to embrace him, but most certainly would have persecuted him through its criminalization of homosexuality and bisexuality. Freddy mercury was born in … More Could Freddy Mercury have been the Voice for Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Africa
Friends are concerned that Sakhile “Oros” Msibi has been murdered, possible with ritual as motive and fingers are pointed at Swazi King It is hard to imagine that in this day and age, especially with social media providing linkage and quick contact, that a very public socialite could go missing . Some suggest that the … More Controversy Surrounds Disappearance of Gay Swazi Socialite with Accusations Lobbed at Swaziland’s King
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