An injustice to one… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 18, 2013 Sunday I marched in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Peace Parade, the alternate to what is now called ‘traditional’ St. Patrick’s Day parade. Now that I have had a day to thaw and ruminate on why it is I marched for the 3rd year … More Why march in an alternate St. Patrick’s Day parade?
VISIT SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT AND ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR A MEDAL OF FREEDOM FOR BAYARD RUSTIN Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 18, 2013. On Bayard’s 101st birthday (March 17), we are well into the 50th anniversary year of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Many consider the March the highpoint of the African-American civil … More Changing America and Bayard Rustin as we head to D.C. to rally for marriage equality
‘That more perfect union promised to us all” Hillary Clinton By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, March 18, 2013. Former Secretary of State speaks out about marriage equality and respect for LGBT Americans, through her international experience and as a mother. “Full and Equal rights and deserve full citizenship -“ Marriage is a fundamental building … More Video Hillary Clinton talks about the importance of marriage equality
The issue comes down to this: there’s a big difference between uncomfortable and unsafe By Cathy Kristofferson, March 13, 2013. Last night at the Medford City Council meeting we witnessed round three of the organized attempt to derail the MA Dept. of Ed’s Gender Identity Policy guidelines at the hands of one city councilor and … More Paid Lobbyist Attempts to Derail MA Dept. of Ed Gender Identity Policy Guidance
Just Another Anti-Gay Pope By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, March 13, 2013. When white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel today, heralding a new Pope, LGBTI communities around the world were not expecting anything more than another religious leader to work actively against secular legal rights. Choosing the name Pope Francis, Cardinal Bergoglio, of … More The Pope who led the failed crusade against gay marriage in Argentina
The suicide of this couple should be blamed squarely on the laws of the United States that specifically excludes gay spouses By Melanie Nathan, March 11, 2013. Wilfried Knight may be remembered as yet another adult industry porn star who happened to commit suicide; but there is much more and so that is not the … More Gay binational couple commit suicide within a week of each other
Gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents may lose the possible inclusion in immigration reform that would allow them to apply for visas and green cards – Catholic Hispanic, and Evangelical Coalition says inclusion would be an Immigration reform deal-breaker. By Melanie Nathan, March 08, 2013. You would think that marginalized group would find … More God Forbid Equality | Same-Sex Couples’ right to immigration equality attacked by Hispanic Catholic Evangelical Coalition
Transgender students bullied by legislators and hate groups line up to oppose implementation and launch attack on Commissioner By Cathy Kristofferson, March 07, 2013. A couple of weeks ago I saw a post “Massachusetts Takes The Lead On Rights For Transgender Students“. Being a MA native I smiled and perused probably while mumbling “of course … More School policy for Gender Identity draws legislative bullies
By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2013. A team of Bingham McCutchen lawyers today filed on behalf of 278 businesses, cities, and other employers and employer organizations an amicus brief in United States v. Windsor, the United States Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The brief, a copy … More Disney, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Adobe, New York Life and 273 other Employers file amicus brief to support marriage equality
United States v. Edith Schlain Windsor, in Her Capacity as Executor of the Estate of Thea Clara Spyer, et al. QUESTION PRESENTED: Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines the term “marriage” for all purposes under federal law, including the provision of federal benefits, as “only a legal union between one man … More Links to Amicus Briefs filed in the Edith Windsor DOMA Case
Corruption is a major deterrent to investing in Uganda, and while not discussed perhaps the Anti–Homosexuality Bill, if passed, will make these considerations worse By Melanie Nathan, February 25, 2013. While the Ugandan Parliament is about to debate the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, Uganda hosted a key energy and infrastructure summit, to explore private sector involvement lead … More American Ambassador Speaks about corruption at Ugandan Energy Summit
“The purpose of my visit was to bring a warning about the homosexual political movement which has done much damage to my country and which has now taken root in Russia. This is a very fast-growing social cancer that will destroy the family foundations of your society if you do not take immediate, effective action … More Scott Lively poised to cause more anti-gay persecution | An odious letter to the Russian people
Same-sex couples who have committed to marriage are fully capable of responsible parenting and child-rearing. By Melanie Nathan Feb. 22, 2013 President Obama’s administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in a brief filed Friday, declaring the 1996 federal law to be unconstitutional. Arguing that Section 3 of DOMA, … More White House brief to strike down DOMA shows support of same-gender parenting
The Pitfalls of funding Faith Based Organizations without doing your research first By Cathy Kristofferson, February 12, 2013. It has come to light that the Canadian government, through its Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) spearheaded by Minister Julian Fantino, has been funding an anti-gay Evangelical organization – Crossroads Christian Communications – to the tune of … More Canadian funding to anti-gay faith based organization in Uganda links to hate speech
LGBT Civil Rights Group GetEQUAL asks President Obama to Keep His ENDA First-Term Promise By Melanie Nathan, Feb 08, 2013. On Sunday, February 10 – just two days before President Obama’s State of the Union Address – members of GetEQUAL DC will gather outside the White House to remind President Barack Obama of a first-term … More GetEQUAL to Protest at White House before President Obama’s State of the Union
While the President Eschews LGBT Equality he Supports Group Behind “Kill the Gays” Bill in Uganda and GetEQUAL did not stage its annual responsive “Breakfast Without Bigotry” which protests outside the National Prayer Breakfast because Michael Dixon, the lead organizer died suddenly last week. He died unequal under the law. WASHINGTON, DC — Today President … More President Obama Speaks at Event Sponsored by Secretive Group Known as “The Family”
Have you thought that this BLOG may be more than just about the news? That some BLOGS are as important in their advocacy as any organization representing LGBT rights out there? O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-da™ is blogging drenched in advocacy™ and while you do not need a paid subscription to visit and read, it does help to … More A New Way to Support Our LGBTI Advocacy
Straight ally attorney to be honored for equality work at ST. Paul’s dinner – would like to file an Amicus brief in CCR case of SMUG v. Lively By Melanie Nathan, February 01, 2013. Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, President of St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, recently interviewed Eric Isaacson, a straight attorney and LGBT ally, … More Pastor Scott Lively as pirate | Award winning attorney’s insights into Smug v Lively
By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2013. We have been reporting on the recent debacle between Oxford Union, the debating society, in the U.K. and Scott Lively, where something went suspiciously awry with the invitation to Lively to debate the issue of Gay parenting. In a nutshell, Oxford Union’s debate topic ‘This house would be glad … More Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate
Lost-n-Found – A do it yourself homeless queer youth shelter By Cathy Kristofferson, January 29, 2013. Update Feb. 7 2013: Creating Change ’13 Conference session handout. In the fall of 2011 I saw posts online about a new queer youth shelter opening in Atlanta. Local homeless queer youth were being turned away from shelters and … More Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth
A path to citizenship for all, if Obama’s plan is followed and the U.S. Congress includes binational same-sex couples. Posted by Melanie Nathan, Jan 29, 2013. Today, President Barack Obama announced his support for comprehensive immigration reform that would establish a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and make it possible for US citizens in … More President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples
““The U.S. is a chosen country, an evangelical country, and if Americans don’t take God out of there, God won’t leave.”” By Jandira Queiroz, on January 26, 2013 Jandira Queiroz is a research fellow at Political Research Associates and a longtime reproductive and LGBTQ rights advocate in Brazil. From a modest building in a central … More Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil
The President gives the cue will our leadership follow? – A FULL EQUALITY BILL is the imperative benchmark; The Omnibus! Civil Rights Act Amendment to include Gender, Sexual orientation and Gender identity – if South Africa can do it so can we.. At least set the benchmark. By Melanie Nathan, January 22, 2013. Yesterday, Barack … More Gay LGBT Leadership must take note as President Obama establishes the cue for Full Equality
Legal emancipation can give homeless queer youth the tools they need to become independent By Cathy Kristofferson, January 21, 2013. Thinking about a comment I had heard that maybe we need to ‘think out side the box’ for solutions to help with issues of queer youth homelessness I thought of emancipation. It’s not a new … More Homeless Queer Youth – Emancipation, is it really so “out of the box”?
By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2013. The Ugandan gay community is suing a U.S. Pastor, Scott Lively on U.S. soil, charging that he has committed crimes against humanity, resulting in their persecution. But it went further and this story illustrates just how murky the waters of anti-gay persecution can get. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender … More Ugandan Catholic Priest Persecuted by Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Campaign speaks of bribes
WBUR – Interveiw with Lively and Kaoma about Ugandan Gay Rights Group Lawsits against Springfield Evangelist Scott Lively | See VIDEO where Lively calls for death of gays in Springfield outside his Coffee Shop. By Cathy Kristofferson, January 13, 2013. What’s my opinion of Scott Lively and his reign of persecution? That’s easy. Who better … More Anti-gay Pastor Scott Lively radio face off provides insight into lies
The analysis speech, action and jurisdiction; without this opportunity under the Alien Tort Act, Lively could have got off without rebuke; now he cannot escape that what he did exceeds the bounds of his religious freedoms By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, January 11, 2013. This past week, a most unusual Motion to Dismiss was … More Oral Arguments Convey Accountability for Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Mission
By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2013. UPDATED: 1/18/2013 10.30 am PST. Scott Lively GAY Hatemonger @OxfordUnion was due to speak last night in a debate re ‘gay rights’, but an alleged error saw him given the date of the Israel debate on 31st January instead. As Mr Lively had already arranged his travel around that … More Hatemonger Scott Lively invited to debate Gay Rights at Prestigious Oxford Union
Scott Lively argument set for next week as persecution of gays escalates in Uganda By Melanie Nathan , JAN 05, 2012. When Scott Lively, the founder of Christian Evangelical group Abiding Truth Ministries journeyed to Uganda to incite the persecution of gays, he had no idea that his mission would lead to a lawsuit by … More Scott Lively is still persecuting Ugandan Gays
As the year closes, a big thank you to readers and those who follow my work for your ongoing support. By Melanie Nathan, December 30, 2012. Nathan@privatecourts.com I would like to think that O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da has made a difference in the lives of some and hope that it has helped those stories which may have gone … More The Best of O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da 2012
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