Month: January 2012

HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines

January 30, 2012

HUD has officially announced publication of the final rule entitled Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today new regulations intended to ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of… More HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines

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United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery

January 30, 2012

LGBT people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have attacked a YouTube video ‘tutorial’ which may depict an attempt to scrub away the gay, under the guise of a title “Be Yourself.” However, from a Western point of view, is the tutorial a mockery of the process of curing homosexuality through a rendition of a… More United Arab Emirates LGBT | Scrub the Gay Away Video Mockery

New HIV/AIDS Analysis | Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”

January 29, 2012

Includes Other Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) | The report examines the progress and shortcomings of PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the UNGASS reporting system, managed by UNAIDS, and draws on data collected from on-the-ground researchers in eight countries: China, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Viet Nam. NEW YORK, January 18,… More New HIV/AIDS Analysis | Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”

New AIDS Research | Examine Risks with Long-Term ARV Use

January 28, 2012

New research finds no evidence of increased risk of all-cause and non-AIDS death with long-term ARV use.. Antiretroviral drugs are medications for the treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily HIV. When several such drugs, typically three or four, are taken in combination, the approach is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART. The American… More New AIDS Research | Examine Risks with Long-Term ARV Use

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South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

January 27, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2012 UPDATED Cape Town, January 28, 2012:  The Flag Boys did it! The won best dressed couple – Imagine gay boys dressed in camp Zulu warrior garb, protesting Zulu King’s homophobic remarks, win best dressed couple at H&B Met Red Carpet event! Read our pre-event report …… South African gay… More South Africa Prestigious JB Met | Gay Activists to Protest Zulu King Hate Speech Dressed as Zulu Warriors

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Teen Suicide Note | Excerpts from GAY U.S.A. the Movie, SDGLN and Huffington Post Gay Voices

January 26, 2012

The eulogies effectively conveyed the message that EricJames had sought to impart, when he noted so succinctly in his final written words: “My pain is not caused because I am gay. My pain was caused by how I was treated because I am gay.” Never before had the sound of ‘Edge of Glory’ been so… More Teen Suicide Note | Excerpts from GAY U.S.A. the Movie, SDGLN and Huffington Post Gay Voices

David Kato's memorial in Castro

One year Memorial in Uganda for our Murdered Comrade David Kato

January 25, 2012

Ugandan LGBTI activists are holding a day of remembrance and services for brother David Kato , the outspoken LGBTI activist who was brutally murdered last year. Kato known to be  the most vocal gay rights advocate in Uganda, a country where homophobia is so severe that Parliament is considering a bill to execute gay people. … More One year Memorial in Uganda for our Murdered Comrade David Kato

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Oakland | An Evening Dedicated to Lesbian Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

January 25, 2012

OAKLAND – California,  and a night of poetry, music, and celebration. This event will be featuring local lgbtiqqaa poets of color, and will be dedicated to the poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Interweave and GLBT Historical Society is bringing this important event to Oakland and judging by the program and participants it promises to be… More Oakland | An Evening Dedicated to Lesbian Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

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South Africa DASO Controversial Nude Interracial Ad Campaign | The Gay Version

January 24, 2012

A campaign by the student wing of South Africa’s official opposition party is just perfect for a country that has an all inclusive Constitution; and so why the big deal?  Well the Ad has caused a storm and depicts a black woman embraced by a white man. Judging by the social network comments, it would… More South Africa DASO Controversial Nude Interracial Ad Campaign | The Gay Version

Unprecedented Ruling on Immigrants’ Right | Freedom from Arbitrary Detention

January 23, 2012

Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 20, 2012 District Court Rules that “Arriving Aliens” May Not Be Subjected to Prolonged Detention Without a Hearing To Determine Whether Detention Is Justified SAN DIEGO — A district court today ruled that the Department of Homeland Security may not detain an immigrant for a prolonged period without proving that… More Unprecedented Ruling on Immigrants’ Right | Freedom from Arbitrary Detention

Zulu King Homophobic Spit on South African Constitution | President Jacob Zuma Stands by in Silence

January 23, 2012

I am calling on President Jacob Zuma to condemn homophobic remarks on Center stage in harsher terms; his feeble attempt at reprimand does not make leadership grade! By Melanie Nathan – January 23, 2011 Johannesburg – Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has criticized people who engage in same sex relationships, labelling them as “rotten”, according… More Zulu King Homophobic Spit on South African Constitution | President Jacob Zuma Stands by in Silence

Zulu King Homophobic Remarks insult to his Gay Ancestor Shaka Zulu

January 22, 2012

By Melanie Nathan: I am calling on President Jacob Zuma to condemn homophobic remarks on Center stage in harsher terms; his feeble attempt at reprimand does not make leadership grade! Johannesburg – Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has criticized people who engage in same sex relationships, labelling them as “rotten”, according to a newspaper report… More Zulu King Homophobic Remarks insult to his Gay Ancestor Shaka Zulu

Tunisia | Interior Minister Gay Scandal Inflames Homosexual Panic

January 22, 2012

By Guest Dan Littauer, Executive Editor of Gay Middle East Tunisia’s new interior minister, Ali Larayedh, has been embroiled in controversy and scandal as a leaked video allegedly shows him in a gay prison sex video.  This scandal has outraged and inflamed public opinion against homosexuality which was already jittery, due to the  electoral political… More Tunisia | Interior Minister Gay Scandal Inflames Homosexual Panic

Liberian Gays Assaulted | African Press and The Anti-Gay Attacks

January 22, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, January 22, 2012 In Liberia where same-sex relationships are outlawed and sodomy criminalized with fines, a Liberian pro-Gay group, “Movement in Defence of Gay and Lesbian Rights”  came under physical assault when promoting LGBT  rights. The group’s leaders, LeRoy Archie Pon-pon and Abraham Kamara, apparently escaped death last week at the hands… More Liberian Gays Assaulted | African Press and The Anti-Gay Attacks

Uganda | Visiting South African Mbeki Slams Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill

January 22, 2012

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has hit out at Ndorwa West MP David Bahati’s anti-gay Bill, telling a public audience in Kampala that what two consenting adults do in private “is really not the matter of law.” by Melanie Nathan Finally, a South African leader has spoken out publicly and forcefully against the Anti-Homosexuality… More Uganda | Visiting South African Mbeki Slams Bahati’s Kill-The-Gays Bill

Gay Zambia | Constitutional Recognition of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

January 21, 2012

by Charles Zambia, Guest Writer “Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in Zambia live in constant fear of detention, discrimination in education, employment, housing, and access to services, and extortion – all buttressed by the existence of sections 155 – 157 of the Penal Code and the lack of specific legal protections for LGBT people under Zambian… More Gay Zambia | Constitutional Recognition of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

South Africa Gay Men Murders | Possible Serial Killer Ignored by Police

January 21, 2012

“The police may well be indifferent and unmotivated to solve the murders because of the men’s sexual orientation….” SOUTH AFRICA – On 17 December 2011, 39-year-old activist and television presenter Jason Wessenaar was found stabbed to death in his home in Pretoria. The killing occurred in the early morning hours as neighbors heard screams for… More South Africa Gay Men Murders | Possible Serial Killer Ignored by Police

Russia | Pussy Riot Rock Group Arrested Protesting Putin & Sex Tourism

January 20, 2012

Russian police detained a punk group called Pussy Riot on Friday after they performed a protest song criticising Vladimir Putin next to Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The Pussy Riot an all-female band, wearing  brightly colored mini-dresses and balaclavas, were arrested after their protest song slammed  the “Putin-system,” prostitution, and sexism. The all female group,… More Russia | Pussy Riot Rock Group Arrested Protesting Putin & Sex Tourism

California Health Care Bill | Senator Leno’s Single-Payer Bill Clears Senate Appropriations

January 19, 2012

SB 810 Creates a Private-Public Partnership That Provides Universal Coverage by Redirecting the Funds Californians Already Spend on Health Care  SACRAMENTO – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the California Universal Health Care Act, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). Senate Bill 810 guarantees all Californians comprehensive, universal health care while reducing the state’s… More California Health Care Bill | Senator Leno’s Single-Payer Bill Clears Senate Appropriations

Newt Gingrich Defecated on Traditional Marriage

January 19, 2012

Open marriage and divorce seems to be what Newt Gingrich thinks marriage is about. The old news is now well documented, Newt Gingrich, who while engaged in an affair with Callista, so insensitively asked his ex-wife Marianne for a divorce, over the phone while she was attending her mother’s 84th birthday. The would be Republican… More Newt Gingrich Defecated on Traditional Marriage

SOPA BLACKOUT | WordPress Announces Internet Blackout Day For Protests

January 17, 2012

  WordPress.org is officially joining the protest against Senate Bill 968: the Protect IP Act that is coming before the U.S. Senate next week. As I wrote in my post a week ago, if this bill is passed it will jeopardize internet freedom and shift the power of the independent web into the hands of… More SOPA BLACKOUT | WordPress Announces Internet Blackout Day For Protests

SOPA BLACKOUT | Google and Wikipedia Go Dark

January 17, 2012

We have come to rely on Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter – our everyday lives so impacted  and adjusted accordingly. Thousands of websites are going dark today to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, (SOPA) which is designed to thwart copyright infringement but that Web experts warn could threaten the Internet as we know it.… More SOPA BLACKOUT | Google and Wikipedia Go Dark

LGBTI South Africa | Human Rights Conference Deals with Homophobia and Health Issues

January 17, 2012

PRETORIA – The Aids and Rights Alliance of Southern Africa (Arasa)  addressed a meeting of Human Rights Defender organizations to discuss human rights issues with a focus on LGBTI issues and how to improve resources for health and responses to homophobia. The two day meeting, in Pretoria, South Africa, began today and brings together human… More LGBTI South Africa | Human Rights Conference Deals with Homophobia and Health Issues

Australian Open | Laura Robson’s Rainbow Hairband Defies Margaret’s Court

January 17, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2012 British tennis player Laura Robson defied the Court by wearing a rainbow colored hair band in Melbourne on Monday in support of gay and lesbian rights during her match at the Australian Open. There may well be a lot more to what was meant as a gesture of solidarity… More Australian Open | Laura Robson’s Rainbow Hairband Defies Margaret’s Court

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Meet the Press 1965 Watch Video

January 16, 2012

Ned Brooks on NBC’s meet the Press in 1965 with guest Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr., from San Francisco after he delivered his sermon at Grace Cathedral.  A must watch video below will remind us on this important day of the force of the Civil Rights movement and what it takes to bring change. MLK… More Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Meet the Press 1965 Watch Video

LGBTI Refugees hurt if Canada changes Refugee Sponsorship Program

January 16, 2012

Asylum for LGBTI refugees is fraught with hurdles. Canada has been viewed as a country that provides some measure of promise and hope; but now the Canadian government is proposing changes to regulations pertaining to refugee sponsorship, which could have a dramatic impact on LGBTI applications for asylum. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC)… More LGBTI Refugees hurt if Canada changes Refugee Sponsorship Program

Saudi Man Arrested for Gay Dating via Facebook

January 15, 2012

By Guests Dan Littauer and Sami Hamwi, 13.01.2012 Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) As British Prime Minister, David Cameron visits Saudi Arabia today, activists report the plight of a man arrested by the religious police who may face corporal punishment. Activists are concerned for the safety of a 30-year-old man arrested by the religious… More Saudi Man Arrested for Gay Dating via Facebook

Suicide of Gay Anti Bullying Activist EricJames Borges

January 14, 2012

Raised in an extremist Christian household, assaulted in classroom with a teacher present, EricJames Borges, 19,  was repeatedly bullied, tormented, terrorized,  for the duration of his childhood and teen  years. He came out with the video “it Gets better”  below, yet he could not live through the pain. EricJames committed suicide yesterday! “Disgusting, perverted, unnatural… More Suicide of Gay Anti Bullying Activist EricJames Borges

SABC Allows use of Airwaves to Attract Listeners to Pastor’s Anti- LGBTI Agenda

January 13, 2012

The South African LGBT community is in an uproar about Riekert Botha, a radio evangelical from South Africa who has been spewing anti-gay comments at the expense of the South African taxpayer. South Africa, which  has a fully inclusive constitution outlaws discrimination against LGBTI people and have anti-hate speech laws to  protect groups against hate… More SABC Allows use of Airwaves to Attract Listeners to Pastor’s Anti- LGBTI Agenda