Tag: State Department

UNHCR and USA – Good News for Advancing Needs of LGBTQI+ and other Refugee

December 17, 2021

From African Human Rights Coalition web-news: Much work occurred this past year by and on behalf of LGBTQI people in forced displacement, including the UNHCR Global Roundtable, with 13 thematic workshops resulting in 39 crucial recommendations. As well as UNHCR’s monthly consultations and Panel As well as World Pride Summit for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and … More UNHCR and USA – Good News for Advancing Needs of LGBTQI+ and other Refugee

U.S. Expands Birthright Citizenship of Babies Born Abroad to Same-Sex Couples

May 20, 2021

In a historic update to exisiting policy, the U.S. State Department made the decision to recognize U.S. citizenship of babies born abroad to same-sex married couples, regardless of whether an American parent is biologically related. More from HuffPost.   In a victory for LGBTQ rights, the State Department updated its policy to recognize the U.S. … More U.S. Expands Birthright Citizenship of Babies Born Abroad to Same-Sex Couples

President Biden Raises Refugee Numbers with LGBTQI Historic Mention

February 4, 2021

In an historic foreign policy speech delivered today at the US State Department, President Joe Biden announced his Executive Order raising the Presidential Determination number for the admittance of refugees into the United Sates, this year – from Trump’s 15,000 back to the Obama era number of 125,000. What made this speech so historic and … More President Biden Raises Refugee Numbers with LGBTQI Historic Mention

Jamaican Activist asks President Obama to keep Visa Ban of gay hate Reggae Artists

April 13, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, April 13, 2015. A famous Jamaican Reggae artist is begging for a visa so he can come back to the United States. Yes, America is a fine place to make money for recording and performing artists. But should we support hate with our U.S. dollars? As Americans  we should be standing behind … More Jamaican Activist asks President Obama to keep Visa Ban of gay hate Reggae Artists

Ugandan religious leader barred from entering the United States

September 27, 2014

“However, this does not change our stand against homosexuality because it’s a law in the Quran”  Nsereko Mutumba, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson. By Melanie Nathan, September 27, 2014. Apparently the U.S. State department is indeed following the Obama administration sanctions against certain Ugandans who support the Anti-Homosexuality (AHA) legislation and who persecute  gays. … More Ugandan religious leader barred from entering the United States

LGBT Africans Denied Visas to San Francisco Pride

June 24, 2014

Secretary of State Kerry Pays Lip Service to LGBTI Equality While Denying Pride Visas for LGBTI Africans By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2014. Last Thursday U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was the keynote speaker at the State Department’s GLIFAA Pride event. While the secretary gushed about his department’s accomplishments for LGBTI people and reminded … More LGBT Africans Denied Visas to San Francisco Pride

Iceland Receives 5 LGBT Refugees from Africa While Pipleine to USA is slow

June 8, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, June 08, 2014 Iceland is set to receive approximately 5 LGBT refugees, including one lesbian, from Uganda, Cameroon and Zimbabwe. The Committee on Refugees made the recommendation, accepted by the foreign minister and the minister of welfare. Each of the individuals made application to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The municipalities of … More Iceland Receives 5 LGBT Refugees from Africa While Pipleine to USA is slow

Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

May 14, 2014

An Embarrassment to Zuma By Melanie Nathan, May 14, 2014. Armed robbers boarded a tour bus and robbed 30 American students at gun point in Pretoria, South Africa. The students, from a Maryland university, on a trip to South Africa will return home early. No one was injured during the robbery according to Stevenson University. … More Thirty Maryland Students Robbed at Gunpoint in South Africa on Tour Bus

Calling on State Department to Stop Skinners Anti-Gay Watoto Church Uganda Performing in the U.S.A

March 7, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, March 07, 2014. Mega wealthy Pastor Gary Skinner and his Ugandan Watoto Church, once known as Kampala Pentecostal Church, Uganda’s first and most infamous “mega church,”  is a fierce supporter in Uganda of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, recently signed into law. And they are about to tour the U.S.A. again to raise money … More Calling on State Department to Stop Skinners Anti-Gay Watoto Church Uganda Performing in the U.S.A

U.S. State Department Warns of Danger to Gays in Sochi Olympic Travel Advisory

January 11, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2014. The United States State Department has issued a travel advisory warning Americans of the dangers in attending the February Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The alert advises Americans about the anti-gay laws where Russia criminalizes so called “propaganda” about homosexuality. Indeed the notice also warns that terrorists have threatened … More U.S. State Department Warns of Danger to Gays in Sochi Olympic Travel Advisory