Lesbian Icon Sally Miller Gearhart Honored by San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride has announced lesbian icon Sally Miller Gearhart as the recipient of the Heritage of Pride, Pride Freedom Award, as chosen by the SF Pride Board of Directors, for outstanding contributions to advancing civil rights and freedom for LGBTQ people. “I am honored to receive the Heritage of Pride – Pride Freedom Award… More Lesbian Icon Sally Miller Gearhart Honored by San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride Announces 2016 Community and Organizational Grand Marshals

San Francisco Pride has announced two of the winners for Community Grand Marshal and the organizational Grand Marshal for 2016 Pride Celebration and Parade to take place on the last weekend of June, 2016. The 2016 Public and Member’s choice vote for Community and Organizational Grand Marshals for the 2016 San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration… More San Francisco Pride Announces 2016 Community and Organizational Grand Marshals

San Francisco Police Officer Charged with Embezzlement from Pride Alliance

By Melanie Nathan, Oct 01, 2015. A former San Francisco police officer has been arrested and charged with embezzlement. Mike Evans, 34, was booked into San Francisco County Jail on Wednesday, charged with felony embezzlement and felony grand theft of $16,000 in dues from the department’s Pride Alliance for LGBT officers, according to SF Gate report.… More San Francisco Police Officer Charged with Embezzlement from Pride Alliance

Triumphant Belgrade Pride

By Melanie Nathan, September 20, 2015. Several hundred  people participated today in a Pride Parade, held by LGBT activists in the Serbian Capital of Belgrade.   Not unlike the genesis of Pride parades across the world, including in the USA, Belgrade Pride was held with controversy and with danger to all who participated.  While times… More Triumphant Belgrade Pride

Uganda Pride 2015 The Proud and Brave Revisited

This week has been a coup for Uganda’s LGBTI community, as yet again, despite the anti-gay atmosphere in that country, the LGBT leadership and community pulled together a great week of Ugandan Pride.. Ugandan Pride has since come a long way – despite the odds- with great overseas interest, and participants from around the world in attendance.… More Uganda Pride 2015 The Proud and Brave Revisited

17 Year old Israeli Dies from Stab Wounds Inflicted at Jerusalem Pride

Reposted by Melanie Nathan, August 02, 2015. An Israeli woman, Shira Banki, 17, has died of the stab wounds inflicted on her by an anti-gay radical right wing ultra religious fundamentalist at the Jerusalem Pride parade. Banki was one of the six people injured, two seriously, in a stabbing at Jerusalem Gay Pride. The detained… More 17 Year old Israeli Dies from Stab Wounds Inflicted at Jerusalem Pride

Convicted Radical in another Stabbing Attack at Jerusalem Gay Pride

By Melanie Nathan, July 30, 2015. UPDATED: August 02, 2015. I am devastated to report that a beautiful young woman celebrating ‪#‎PRIDE‬ has been taken from us – Shira Banki, 17, has died of the stab wounds inflicted on her by an anti-gay radical right wing ultra religious fundamentalist at the Jerusalem Pride parade. May… More Convicted Radical in another Stabbing Attack at Jerusalem Gay Pride

Impressions of Israel by Nigerian LGBT Activist Invited to Tel Aviv Pride

June 15, 2015, Posted by Melanie Nathan Respected Nigerian born LGBTI activist and human rights defender, Davis Mac-lyalla, who has personally experienced unconscionable persecution and discrimination, attended what turned out to be Tel Aviv’s largest ever Pride festivities this past week. I asked him to write a brief note about his experience at Pride. Here… More Impressions of Israel by Nigerian LGBT Activist Invited to Tel Aviv Pride

Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy

The pink triangle parallel between Nazi Germany and Africa’s Anti-Gay climate By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2014. For me this was a very special San Francisco pride. I had the great honor to be appointed by the San Francisco Pride Board as community grand marshal, in recognition of my global LGBT activism, especially for criminalized… More Installation of Pink Triangle – The Speech with a Chilling Nazi Analogy

From Pride to Pride

By Melanie Nathan, July 03, 2014. Community Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride I had the great honor this year of being appointed by the San Francisco Pride Board as a community Grand Marshal. The popular vote was won by an extraordinary and courageous young woman who I took great joy in getting to know,… More From Pride to Pride

LGBT Africans Denied Visas to San Francisco Pride

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

San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal Launches LGBTI Africa Visa Campaign

  HOW can we COLOR OUR WORLD WITH PRIDE without our WORLD by our side? #PRIDEVISAS4Africa Criminalizing Homosexuality in Africa – Will not stop our us marching at San Francisco Pride 2014  SAN FRANCISCO – MAY 31, 2014 – Melanie Nathan, a San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal,  has started a campaign to bring approximately… More San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal Launches LGBTI Africa Visa Campaign

North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

Founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Joseph and Jane Clementi, Will Receive the Honor By Melanie Nathan, May 30, 2014.   Maplewood, N.J.- North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State will be awarding the inaugural “Outstanding Ally Award” at its fourth annual Pride Festival on Sunday, June… More North Jersey Pride to Present First “Outstanding Ally Award” at Pride Festival 2014

LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

Posted by Melanie Ntahan, May 29, 2014. From The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is alive and well in rural America and your government wants to hear from you! In a historic partnership, NCLR has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a new… More LGBTQ Organization and USDA Team up for Rural Pride

Marin County Man Mounts Pride Rainbow Flag on Uganda’s Highest Peak

He braved not only the challenges of the peak, but also the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality law #prideflagatopUganda #RepealAHA By Melanie Nathan, April 24, 2014. Marin County Founder of Three Twins Ice Cream braved not only the challenges of the peak, but also the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality law while issuing a challenge to President Museveni. The police of Uganda… More Marin County Man Mounts Pride Rainbow Flag on Uganda’s Highest Peak

Win for Baltic Pride 2013 in Lithuanian Court

By Cathy Kristofferson, July 05, 2013 Today, the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) won another step in their struggle for Baltic Pride 2013.  The Vilnius Regional Administrative court directed municipal leaders to allow LGL their right to march on the city’s main avenue.  This judgement is the latest move in an ongoing months-long battle to hold… More Win for Baltic Pride 2013 in Lithuanian Court

U.S. Activists protest RESISTANBUL at Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C.

By Cathy Kristofferson, June 24, 2013 Last night a coalition of U.S. activists answered the call to action made by LGBT activists in Istanbul Turkey. The activists determined to help raise awareness about the Turkish government’s brutality and threatened suppression of Turkey’s Pride march, held a light panel protest in front of the Turkish Embassy… More U.S. Activists protest RESISTANBUL at Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C.

Thousands March in Istanbul Trans Pride Parade

By Cathy Kristofferson, June 23, 2013 Even though Turkish security forces yesterday unleashed water cannons to break up a peaceful march in commemoration of those who were killed in the recent Turkish uprising, by all accounts available, Istanbul’s Trans Pride Parade today continued unaffected and was a huge success! There had been a lot of… More Thousands March in Istanbul Trans Pride Parade

Resistanbul – Call to actions from Istanbul LGBT Pride

By Cathy Kristofferson, June 20, 2013 Turkish LGBT rights activists and organizations in Istanbul have posted requesting our support and solidarity.  We have previously blogged about their threatened Pride Parade here on OBLOGDEE. Now due to the Taksim Gezi Park actions and resulting police crackdowns both their June 23rd Trans Pride March and the  June 30th LGBT Pride March… More Resistanbul – Call to actions from Istanbul LGBT Pride

Poland Pride’s success dampened by first openly gay PM assault

By Cathy Kristofferson,  June 17, 2013 Saturday about 8 thousand marched in Poland’s annual Equality Parade, Parada Równości 2013, under the slogan ‘Fully-fledged Diversity’.  Since Poland has become more accepting these days, the organizers decided to march for Russia and Eastern Europe where the LGBT communities are currently under attack.  Prior to the parade bout… More Poland Pride’s success dampened by first openly gay PM assault

Istanbul Pride March 2013 under threat of government suppression

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 29, 2013 The Istanbul Pride March of 2013 is under threat of suppression by the Turkish Government security forces. Istanbul Pride,which has been occurring annually since 2003,is a week of events capped off by the Pride March.  From the 30 who marched the first year it has grown to tens of… More Istanbul Pride March 2013 under threat of government suppression

Moscow Gay Rights Rally ends in violence and arrests

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013 Update May 26  – Video add down below We reported earlier here on OBLOGDEE about Ukraine’s 1st ever Gay Pride March happily occurring despite multiple political attempts to derail it.  The folks in Moscow were not so lucky. Today in the Russian capital of Moscow, activists and opponents clashed in an unsanctioned… More Moscow Gay Rights Rally ends in violence and arrests

Ukraine holds their 1st Gay Pride March after all

Using diversion tactics to make it happen By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013 Yesterday we reported here on OBLOGDEE the week long saga of KyivPride-2013, Ukraine’s LGBT Pride Organization, attempts to hold their 1st Gay Pride March today.  After members of Parliament signed a petition against the, followed by Kiev city authorities filing a suit to ban them,… More Ukraine holds their 1st Gay Pride March after all

Ukraine Forced to Change Gay Pride March to Private Event

LGBT community of Ukraine still trying for their 1st Gay Pride Parade… By Cathy Kristofferson, May 24, 2013 Ukraine, like most ex-Soviet countries, is not kind to their LGBT community despite homosexuality having been decriminalized in the early 1990s. Last Friday Ukraine was one of three countries, along with Jamaica and South Africa, called out… More Ukraine Forced to Change Gay Pride March to Private Event

First Pride ever in Moldova | Huge Scott Lively Fail

On 19 May, the first Pride March was held in Chisinau, Moldova. By Cathy Kristofferson, May 19, 2013 I just saw this on twitter and cheered out loud: First Pride March held in Moldova http://t.co/NGwq6Bepbr%5B@Eastbook_en%5D EurAlmanac16:15 I cheered not only because I was thrilled for the Moldovan LGBT community, but also for the bitter defeat… More First Pride ever in Moldova | Huge Scott Lively Fail

Bigots stalk, video and harass at Boston Youth Pride

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 18, 2013 I started this piece months ago when there was risk of the delegates from Uganda being exposed at the Scott Lively trial in Springfield MA by those who have the vile habit of exposing members of the gay community in some misguided attempt of shaming them…  ‘straight’ I suppose.  I… More Bigots stalk, video and harass at Boston Youth Pride

LA PRIDE ANNOUNCES 2013 ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP

Ciara  and Soon-to-be-Announced Performer Headline This Year’s Main Stage Along With Acts Chiddy Bang, Luciana, and Uh Huh Her Performing Throughout the Three-Day Celebration By Melanie Nathan, May 16, 2013. Los Angeles— Two of Friday Night’s performers, have been announced for the LA Pride weekend line up;  Indie/Electro-Rock duo, Uh Huh Her, will be gracing… More LA PRIDE ANNOUNCES 2013 ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP

South Africa Wits University Proud about Gay Pride

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