By Melanie Nathan, May 20, 2013. No amount of marchers will bring back Mark...
Recent News
Outrage at detention of Zambian gay human rights defender
“My sisters and brothers, Jesus calls us to love even our enemies. Demeaning the humanity of another person is not a virtue but a vice. You don’t need reminding that the first step to genocide is demeaning your opponents’ humanity.” Reverend Kapya Kaoma By Melanie Nathan, April 10, 2013. This week we reported the detention […]
USAID announces LGBT Global Development Partnership
$11 million, four-year initiative to further LGBT equality worldwide By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Following the United Nations’ historic resolution endorsing LGBT human rights in 2011, President Obama issued a mandate to all agencies involved with foreign aid and development to “enhance their ongoing efforts with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector […]
South African Arts Academy guilty of human rights violations by claiming gay cure
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 […]
Zambian Police Hunting Homosexuals and Arrest HIV/AIDS Activist
Zambia – LGBTI Community under attack as scapegoats- as government discusses contentious issues in the draft constitution… By Melanie Nathan, April 09, 2013. This evening, prominent HIV/Aids activist Paul Kasonkomona was picked up from Muvi TV station in Lusaka’s mass media area by Woodlands police for questioning after his appearance on a live program called […]
Dutch Pride flags at half mast, thousands set to protest Putin visit
Putin’s proposed ban on homosexual ‘promotion’ just as Scott Lively drew it up… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Update from Amsterdam press conference: When asked today about whether gay rights are violated in Russia, in true bigot form Putin responded with a comparison to pedophilia: “Can you imagine an organization promoting pedophilia in Russia? […]
‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher has died
Gay icon, or just a supporter of ‘individual liberty’? By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 The BBC is reporting that The Iron Lady ex-Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher has died. Thatcher, a staunch conservative, supported the decriminalization of homosexuality back in 1967. As PM her government later legalized homosexuality in both Scotland and Northern […]
Gay-hating Pastor Scott Lively finds new foothold in Oklahoma
Lively’s new mission is to secure the 1st amendment for religious bigotry By Cathy Kristofferson, April 07, 2013 A year ago last April, some of us, ever vigilant on “Scott Lively Watch” and his rein of hate towards the gay community, were poised to warn those next in his path. So when we noticed that […]
Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding
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 […]
Today is World Health Day | focus high blood pressure and salt
By Melanie Nathan, Sunday April 07, 2013. So while there are probably many health issues we should be considering and on more days than once per year, here is what we can think about today- it may save your life. The World Health Organization (WHO) theme for World Health Day in 2013 is high blood […]
Report says Uganda likely to have violent instablity 2014
By Melanie Nathan, April 06, 2013. Uganda is “at risk of violent instability” come next year (2014), a US Intelligence threat assessment report has stated. This report is released every four years after the US President is elected, by the National Intelligence Council, and it names Uganda among 14 other countries that risk becoming a […]
Fearful Ugandan Parliamentarians want to vote in secret for the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
If the Bill does see passage, in whatever form, with or without the death penalty, this Ugandan Parliament will go down in global history as one which legislated hate and genocide and all of them will be held accountable, both as a group and as separate individuals. By Melanie Nathan, April 06, 2013. An article […]
Anti-Gay Pastor Rick Warren’s son committs suicide
The 27-year-old son of the Rev. Rick Warren, one of America’s most influential religious anti-gay leaders, committed suicide, Mr. Warren said in an e-mail released on Saturday to staff members and congregants at his 20,000-member Saddleback Valley Community Church. NBC News reported that Warren was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound around 10 a.m. […]
Watch UN recieve Award for Social Cohesion and Economic Development
Award Ceremony for the 2013 New Economy Forum Prize for Social Cohesion and Economic Development, presented to United Nations in Spain. In a profound and moving acceptance speech, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that we need to be Global citizens, while he received the award in the name of democracy and human rights, for […]
Gay Man in San Diego immigration detention ailing and desperate to reunite with Fiancé
ASKING FOR HELP TO BRING MAX HOME TO DONALD The worst outcome of the unconstitutional DOMA is when it separates spouses and partners | If Max and Donald were a straight couple, this would not be happening By Melanie Nathan and Ken Williams, April 05, 2013. A 26-year-old gay man is being held in immigration […]
Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill April 2013 Updates
By Melanie Nathan, April 05, 2013. We have been watching the progress of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill on this site.Previous updates can be seen at http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/02/19/ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill-moves-up-to-1-on-parliaments-notice-of-business/ Since the end of March, Uganda’s Parliament had a short recess and returned to business on April 03. However something unusual seems to have occurred. The Parliament’s website has suddenly […]
San Francisco Pride expects bigger crowd due to SCOTUS Prop 8 and DOMA decisions
SF Pride is looking for medical volunteers By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013 In an announcement naming Rock Medicine a partner in services to San Francisco Pride this year, organizers noted that this June, San Francisco Pride will need as many medical volunteers as possible because they will be expecting an increase in Pride attendees […]
A story from the steps of SCOTUS | Hoping the Justices consider the children hurt by Prop 8
By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. There was no keeping me away from Washington D.C., on Tuesday 26th, the day that The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) would be hearing the Prop 8. arguments. I was there ‘wearing many hats; activist, blogger, co-producer of Gay U.S.A. the Movie, and the most important of […]
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. as a leader in equality for all
Believing that Dr. Martin Luther King would have stood for marriage equality. By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. When Dr. Marin Luther King, Jnr. was assassinated on April 04, 1968, I was a small child in South Africa, living apartheid. I came to the United States in 1985, before apartheid ended, expecting a country that […]
Marriage is nothing without job protections
Still no employment protections in 29 states for gay, and 34 states for trans, employees… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 3, 2013 The title of this post – Marriage is nothing without job protections - is something a fellow activist said on a conference call last night. It made me think back to being in D.C. […]
Johannesburg Gay Pride Cancelled as Board Dissolves
By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. The board of Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival Company (JGPFC) has voted to wind up the Section 21 (not-for-profit) company that has produced ‘Joburg Pride’ over the past seven years. The voluntary winding up of JGPFC was decided by an unanimous resolution at a board meeting held on Wednesday, 13 […]
LGBT Groups Challenge Medicare’s Refusal to Provide Healthcare to Transgender Patients
By Melanie Nathan, April 02, 2013. (Washington, D.C., March 29, 2013)—Last week, several national LGBT groups and a cooperating attorney filed an administrative challenge to Medicare’s ban on medically necessary healthcare for transgender patients. Medicare, which provides healthcare to Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with certain qualifying disabilities, currently prohibits all forms […]
After the Apology demands that HRC be all inclusive on all issues
Will HRC put its money where its mouth is? By Melanie Nathan, April 1, 2013 Thousands of LGBT community members and allies showed up at the steps of SCOTUS this past week to support marriage equality, and many were there because of the extraordinary organizing efforts of a coalition of LGBT organizations under the title, […]
Ugandan anti-gay pastors hold hate rally next to gay hero David Kato’s grave
“Say No To Homosexuality” Campaign officially launched By Melanie Nathan, March 31, 2013. Ugandan Pastors Solomon Male & Rev. Musoke are conducting an anti gay rally next door to David Kato ‘s burial grounds in Mukono Uganda to not only further persecute LGBTI Ugandans, calling for hate in the name of Christianity, but also to […]
Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings
as the Human Rights Campaign exhibits their typical lack of inclusivity… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 29, 2013. During the SCOTUS trials the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) convinced many in the Facebook world to change their avatars to red. Following the hearings many activists are seeing a different red now that two incidents – insulting both the […]
Dan Choi ‘s trial day starts with DADT activists re-living arrests at White House
by Melanie Nathan, March 28, 2013 I joined a group U.S. service members, GetEQUAL activists, as well as well known U.K. activist Peter Tatchel at the White House today, for a rally in support of Lt. Dan Choi ,who is being tried by the U.S. Government, after he was arrested in November 2010, together with […]
DOMA Day at SCOTUS
Article by Melanie Nathan – Cross postings – March 27, 2013. PHOTOS by Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, Oblogdee© A majority of the Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the constitutionality of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and whether it created unequal classes of married couples by denying federal benefits to legally wed same-sex couples. […]
Photo-blog of the Prop8 the day of the SCOTUS hearings
Photo impressions from the first day’s activities.. I sure hope NOM comes back tomorrow, they were fun! By Cathy Kristofferson, March 26, 2013 This blog piece should really be titled ‘O-Blog-Dee goes to Washington, too busy to blog…’! Both Melanie and I are here in Washington D.C. trying to keep up with all that’s going […]
Marriage Equality USA reports from SCOTUS on Prop 8 arguments
MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA HOPEFUL FOR RULING IN FAVOR OF THE | FREEDOM TO MARRY AFTER UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS After oral arguments at the United States Supreme Court today, Marriage Equality USA is hopeful that the Court will rule in favor of the freedom to marry later this year. MEUSA was heartened by many […]
Historic Marriage Equality events underway across the United States
172 events start in all 50 states, with all eyes on Washington, D.C., as people start record breaking queue outside SCOTUS By Melanie Nathan & Cathy Kristofferson, March 24, 2013. 3/25 UPDATE: over 2500 people have gathered at events ranging from Casper, Wyoming, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Cleveland, Ohio already. And tonight is the big “night […]
Headline Speakers Announced for Tuesday, March 26 Marriage Equality Gathering at Supreme Court
Civil rights, religious, Republican, military leaders and families to speak at historic event By Cathy Kristofferson, March 23, 2013 Supporters of marriage equality will gather at 8:30am Tuesday morning on the steps of the Supreme Court before the first of two marriage equality hearings. The speakers will include an impressive collection of civil rights activists, […]
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