Tag: South Africa

South African Arts Academy guilty of human rights violations by claiming gay cure

April 9, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2013. In January we reported that an Arts School in Bloemfontein, South Africa, claimed in its prospectus that it could cure homosexual students. We reported that a “South African Christian arts academy, Creare Training Centre may be breaking the law by advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, and that … More South African Arts Academy guilty of human rights violations by claiming gay cure

Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding

April 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 07, 2013. South Africa is a leader in the world of equality, enjoying an all inclusive constitution, where same-sex marriage is legal and discrimination against LGBTI people outlawed. However that has not stopped homophobia and fear to embrace LGBTI South Africans as fully equal. This video  and the report of the … More Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding

South Africa’s newest political party against homophobia | Agang

March 9, 2013

“But again we haven’t educated people to understand that being orientated sexually in a particular way is not a crime,”  Mamphela Ramphele, By Melanie Natha. March 09, 2013. South Africa is a democratic country with one party that dominates the state.  The African National Congress (ANC), has been holding power, with wide margins, since the … More South Africa’s newest political party against homophobia | Agang

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

February 27, 2013

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

Despite criminalization homosexual acts Botswana educates through LGBTI film festival

February 25, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February, 25, 2013. Last week the small Southern African country of Botswana saw a highly unusual and courageous event.  In a country that criminalizes homosexual acts, a film festival was held at the University of Botswana to educate the community on same-gender relationships. According to a report in the local Monitor publication, … More Despite criminalization homosexual acts Botswana educates through LGBTI film festival

Ugandan Speaker Kadaga speaks out on violence against women at Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference

February 20, 2013

Are lesbians not women too? CALLING SPEAKER OUT IN AFRICA AS A HYPOCRITE by Melanie Nathan, February 20, 2013. Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature hosts the fifth Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians’ (CWP) Africa Region conference8 Feb 2013. Delegates and observers of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association attended a the Commonwealth Women Parliamentary (CWP) Conference,  in East London, South … More Ugandan Speaker Kadaga speaks out on violence against women at Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference

Dear Mandela: The dream you went to prison for has never been achieved

February 18, 2013

KPFA Evening News, 02.17.2013 By Ann Garrison South African President Jacob Zuma, in his State of the Union address, promised to speed the pace of land redistribution and housing construction to replace the country’s urban shantytowns, but nearly 20 years after the end of apartheid, the number of people living in shantytowns has doubled and the … More Dear Mandela: The dream you went to prison for has never been achieved

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

February 12, 2013

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

February 2, 2013

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

South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

January 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January, 19, 2013. The South African Justice Ministry has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate claims of unfair discrimination at the Creare Training Centre in Bloemfontein. A week ago we reported that Creare Training Center’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation” and the discriminatory statements … More South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

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

January 19, 2013

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

South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

January 13, 2013

A South African Christian arts academy in Bloemfontein may be breaking the law by advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, and that if a homosexual refuses such, they can be expelled.  By Melanie Nathan, January 13, 2012. The Sunday Times reported that the Creare Training Centre’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into … More South African Christian Arts Academy Claims it Can Cure Gays

South African Court Fails to Deliver Justice in Carlton Centre Lesbian Attack

December 20, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, Dec 20, 2012. Today the Johannesburg Court handed down its judgment and sentence in  the Boniswa Mtshali case which has become known as the  Carlton Centre Case.  The accused was found guilty of physical assault with a motivation of  prejudice on the basis of sexual orientation of the women. After kissing her … More South African Court Fails to Deliver Justice in Carlton Centre Lesbian Attack

A Report from Stockholm and The ILGA World Conference

December 16, 2012

By Kristina Hultman, December 16, 2012 After a few days of climate shock, jetlag and defrosting, an unseasoned warmth took over a cold and frosty Stockholm, when four hundred participants at the ILGA World Conference saw its conclusion today, Sunday 16th, casting 242 votes from over one hundred countries, while warming up to camaraderie of common … More A Report from Stockholm and The ILGA World Conference

Will Uganda Turn its Back on The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

December 1, 2012

Protection for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – A Paper POSTED on Dec 01, 2012.   If Uganda legislates its new proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill it may find itself in international hot water; and those in high authority who support and  enforce it may find themselves accused of crimes against humanity, unable to travel internationally, with … More Will Uganda Turn its Back on The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

World AIDS DAY | South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Mandela Collectible Coin’s U.S. Beneficiaries

December 1, 2012

Three U.S.A. Charities to benefit from sales of The Mandela Red Ribbon Twin Set Editorial, December 01, 2012. In honoring Worlds AIDS DAY on December 01, The South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) has chosen three renowned charities based in the United States of America, to benefit from the sale of a newly launched Nelson … More World AIDS DAY | South African Gold Coin Exchange Announces Mandela Collectible Coin’s U.S. Beneficiaries

In Memoriam Carmen Nathan | Published in The International Journal of Medicine and Law

November 20, 2012

By Professor S.A. Strauss (1990) Carmen Nathan, executive editor of Medicine and Law Since 1989, suddenly died  in Mmbatho, Bophuthstwana on October 09, 1990. Her death was a severe loss to the editorial baord and left a great void in the lives of her family and her many friends and colleagues in Southern Africa, Europe, … More In Memoriam Carmen Nathan | Published in The International Journal of Medicine and Law

Remembering the late Prof. Carmen Nathan on her Birthday

November 20, 2012

 Prof. Carmen Nathan  passed away at age 56, way too young and so accomplished: “A Mother and a friend to all, whose selfless commitment to justice has imparted a legacy abundant in love, compassion and wisdom.”  by Melanie Nathan, November 20, 2012. My mother was born Carmen Keile Miller, in 1934, to Rose Shamis and … More Remembering the late Prof. Carmen Nathan on her Birthday

Nigeria poised to Jail the Gays in defiance of Nelson Mandela

November 16, 2012

” Madiba, your time in prison was without any lesson to us, to the rest of Africa,  we the Nigerians are giving you the finger!” By Melanie Nathan, November 16, 2012. Nigeria is about to pass legislation that will provide for the arrest, conviction and jailing of all its gay and lesbian people. What lessons … More Nigeria poised to Jail the Gays in defiance of Nelson Mandela

Another young South African soccer player murdered for being a lesbian

November 11, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 1o, 2012. I have received reports of the yet another horrific murder of a young South African lesbian. According to Ndumie Funda, the founder and Executive Director of Luleki Sizwe, an organization that assists young lesbian victims of  so called “corrective rape”  a young woman was murdered by a group of … More Another young South African soccer player murdered for being a lesbian

Bermuda considering Equality Act can be an example to USA Gay leadership

November 4, 2012

Can the Gay Movement in the USA learn from Bermuda By Melanie Nathan, November 02, 2012. While the USA enters this critical election  week with its anti-gay same sex marriage ballot initiatives in various States and its two prominent parties at opposite ends of the spectrum on the issue LGBTI rights and equality, the world … More Bermuda considering Equality Act can be an example to USA Gay leadership

South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

November 2, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, November 01, 2012. My alma mater, The University of the Witwatersrand, and the University attended by Nelson Mandela, is hosting ‘Wits Pride,’ a week long event designed to create awareness and educate students about crimes motivated by hate against the LGBTI community in South African. Marchers sang with scathing critique, pointing fingers … More South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

South Africa Gay Flag Bus Tour takes LGBTI Education & Goodwill from bottom to top encountering Homophobia

October 12, 2012

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

Watch Video Ugandan Anti-Gay Resolution Fails and Embarrasses Pan African Parliament

October 11, 2012

“It is a bizarre resolution and it will never pass” By Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2012. At The Pan African Parliament‘s  session  in Johannesburg on 9 October, Ugandan delegate, Ogwal Cecilia Barbara faced the fact that her anti-gay resolution was not only without merit, but also an embarrassment to her country. Barbara tried to introduce  … More Watch Video Ugandan Anti-Gay Resolution Fails and Embarrasses Pan African Parliament

Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

October 11, 2012

Statement Written by GAP – Oct 11, 2012 On Saturday 6 October 2012 at the annual Johannesburg Pride march, the 1in9 campaign staged a now nationally infamous ‘disruption’ of the Pride ‘march’. LGBTi activists, many of them black lesbians, attempted to stop the march by blocking Jan Smuts Avenue near Rosebank, Johannesburg. The activists staged … More Gender Action Project calls on Johannesburg Pride to remember brutalised LGBTi people

Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade

October 7, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, Oct 07. 2012. South African lesbian feminists called for a pause, a minute of silence at the Johannesburg  (Joburg) Gay Pride Parade, to remember lesbians and LGBTI victims of homophobic murders,  yet were denied their moment by Pride organizers. A group calling themselves One in Nine chanted “one minute of silence” and … More Lesbian Group Disrupts Johannesburg LGBTI Pride Parade