Month: January 2013

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Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

January 31, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 31, 2013. Recently we reported on the arrests of two youth human rights defenders from the LGBTI group, Youth on the Rock, who were arrested by police around New Years eve,  on accusations of homosexuality and recruiting people into homosexuality. Yesterday a third person who had been sought by the police… More Third Ugandan Youth Worker Detained by Police for Interrogation

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Scott Lively accuses Oxford Union of disingenuous invite to use his name to attract interest for debate

January 31, 2013

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

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On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

January 29, 2013

The Marin Human Rights Commission By Melanie Nathan, January, 28,2013. Just last week a Commission to which I was appointed a few years ago, The Marin Human Rights Commission,  held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Gala , where we honored a fellow Commissioner, Marna Cohen, with a Lifetime Social Justice award.  Sadly Commissioner Marna… More On the passing of a fellow commissioner Marna (Angell) Cohen

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Atlanta area gay community’s inspiring project to save homeless queer youth

January 29, 2013

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

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President Obama’s Immigration Reform Proposal Does Include Same Sex Couples

January 29, 2013

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

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform. LGBT same-sex couples should not have to go through the trauma of the snub and exclusion by Senators Schumer and McCain et al, even at this early level of negotiations. It has been many years – should we say 20 at least – that… More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

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McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

January 29, 2013

Expectations that Obama to call for inclusion of same-sex couples: UPDATED – CONTRARY TO SPECULATION OBAMA FAILED TO MENTION THE SNUB OF LGBT SAME-SEX BINATIONALS in the McCAIN Schumer immigration reform plan. Maybe it is in his written plan? But Obama does include them in his written Proposal. By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2013, 7.30… More McCain Calls Binational Same-Sex Couples a Red Flag for Immigration Reform

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Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

January 28, 2013

Bipartisan bound to snub binationals indicative of failed Immigration Equality strategy, as gays tossed under the bus. By Melanie Nathan, January 28, 2013 ([email protected]) A bipartisan group of Senators from both parties revealed today the framework of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, including a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million… More Immigration Policy Snubs Binational Same-Sex Couples as UAFA is excluded from Bipartisan Plan

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Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

January 27, 2013

Help Youth on Rock Find a Home and a Safe house by Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. I reported the unlawful arrest of a young leader from the human rights group in Uganda, Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), around New Year’s Eve, after the break in at SMUG’s offices, where computers containing sensitive information were… More Uganda’s Brave Gay Youth reach out to the World for help

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On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

January 27, 2013

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”  Elie Wiesel By Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. Holocaust Memorial Day  is commemorated throughout different parts of the world, each year on Jan. 27, the day of liberation from Auschwitz. It is… More On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Never Again’ Applies to Gays Persecuted Around the World

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Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

January 27, 2013

This Must Watch Video, on the second anniversary of David Kato’s death,  features David Kato, President Obama,  Politicians, Human Rights Defenders, Pastors, Bahati,  and all sides of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill’s debate Melanie Nathan, January 27, 2013. This must watch video, by Luis Arellano & Carlos Maldonado is one of the most comprehensive I have seen… More Excellent Video featuring both sides of Uganda on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

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Christian Evangelical Right sets up American Style foothold in Brazil

January 26, 2013

““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

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David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

January 25, 2013

On January 26, 2011 the world received the shocking news of the murder of one of Uganda’s brave LGBTI warriors,  a hero then and still a hero now. By Melanie Nathan, January 25, 2013. David Kato was born to the Kisule clan in its ancestral village of Nakawala, Namataba, Mukono District, in Uganda.  The younger… More David Kato Remembered | a Hero then and a Hero now

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Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

January 24, 2013

Uganda’s representative and honorary Consul to Los Angeles is a U.S. Christian broadcaster and happens to be Vice President of TBN By Melanie Nathan, January 23, 2013. It is a much publicized fact that certain Christian Evangelical pastors from the United States, not only influenced the current state of anti-homosexual sentiment in Uganda, but may also… More Is Trinity Broadcasting Network a Supporter of the Kill the Gays Bill in Ugandan

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NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda

January 23, 2013

Gospel of Intolerance: The filmmaker Roger Ross Williams reveals how money donated by American evangelicals helps to finance a violent anti-gay movement in Uganda; though the Video offering may not be without controversy. By Melanie Nathan January 23, 2013. ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS was raised in Pennsylvania, and  grew up in the black church. He exposes… More NY Times Video highlights American evangelicals help to finance violent anti-gay movement in Uganda

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Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People

January 23, 2013

By Evelyn Dent, January 22, 2013. Late last year, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. stating that the country should put an end to discriminatory and human-rights-violating government policies that criminalize members of the LGBT community. Under Malaysian law, it is still illegal to engage in… More Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People

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U.S. Pastor accuses gays of persecuting Christians in lead up to UK Oxford Union invitation

January 23, 2013

The Scott Lively Connive | A Lecture at Oxford Union, UK  in an attempt to win sympathy in SMUG vs. Lively Well this may or may not be the speech Scott Lively has planned for his address of the students at Oxford Union in the United Kingdom, but he did re-publish it on his “Defend… More U.S. Pastor accuses gays of persecuting Christians in lead up to UK Oxford Union invitation

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Gay LGBT Leadership must take note as President Obama establishes the cue for Full Equality

January 22, 2013

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

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Understanding that hate cannot dominate the Uganda Gay conversation

January 22, 2013

 Conversations with Ugandans about Criminalization of Gays Can Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill start a new conversation? By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2013. I have been writing about Uganda since 2009, after the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.  In all these years I have witnessed a conversation that has seemed only capable of extreme divisiveness.  Discussions about… More Understanding that hate cannot dominate the Uganda Gay conversation

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Homeless Queer Youth – Emancipation, is it really so “out of the box”?

January 21, 2013

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”?

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Ugandan Catholic Priest Persecuted by Scott Lively’s Anti-Gay Campaign speaks of bribes

January 21, 2013

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

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San Francisco Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK Day of Service

January 20, 2013

Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK  – Day of Service, 1/21/13 At HRC and Larkin Street Youth Services, we believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our LGBT youth, who make up 40 percent of homeless and at-risk youth. In our first year participating in MLK Day of Service,… More San Francisco Help LGBT Homeless Youth on MLK Day of Service

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Uganda cannot escape the global fall out from the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

January 20, 2013

AS Uganda Media reports that UK University pulls out of Uganda as a result of direct advocacy of  Western Gay rights advocate, Private Courts, Inc.* By Melanie Nathan, January 20, 2013. After advocating against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill since its first introduction in 2009, last October I found out that the infamous editor of Rolling Stone… More Uganda cannot escape the global fall out from the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

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South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

January 19, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January, 19, 2013. The South African Justice Ministry has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate claims of unfair discrimination at the Creare Training Centre in Bloemfontein. A week ago we reported that Creare Training Center’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation” and the discriminatory statements… More South African Ministry of Justice probes Gay Cure Arts School

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March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

January 19, 2013

Cape Town, South Africa  join the march to help catch brutal rapist By Melanie Nathan, January 19, 2013. In 2010 I broke the story of the brutal rape of a lesbian in Gugulethu, a Township near Cape Town, in an article that went viral around the world, causing outrage, “The Face of Corrective Rape.”  I… More March planned to hunt rapist Andile Ngocza wanted for ‘corrective’ rape of lesbian

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Conversion Therapy Ban Bill filed in Massachusetts

January 18, 2013

Massachusetts seeks to become the next state to ban conversion therapy for minors By Cathy Kristofferson, January 18, 2013. Today, Massachusetts joined California in the fight against harmful ex-gay conversion/reparative therapy for minors under the age of 18.  Representative Carl Sciortino (D – 34th Middlesex District) filed “An Act Relative to Abusive Practices to Change… More Conversion Therapy Ban Bill filed in Massachusetts

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Berkeley Queer Concert to benefit homeless youth

January 17, 2013

Singer/Songwriters and Spoken Word Artists come together to raise funds and awareness of our most vulnerable population By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. Well I am definitely going to what promises to be an amazing evening – but more important the cause. I hope to meet some of our readers on Saturday, January 19th at… More Berkeley Queer Concert to benefit homeless youth

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European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

January 17, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2013. The European court of human rights in response to claims brought against the British government in four individual cases by Christians,  should, according to the U.K. Guardian, come as no surprise. The detailed ruling shows how difficult it was for the seven Strasbourg judges who heard the claims to… More European Court of Human Rights balances religion against gay rights

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Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win

January 17, 2013

No Scott Lively and “this house would be glad to have gay parents” By Melanie Nathan, January 17, 2012. Gay parenting won the Oxford Union debate this Thursday evening, with a resounding majority happy to have gay parents. The topic “this house would be glad to have gay parents”,  was debated at the traditional Thursday… More Oxford Union Students want gay parents in huge debate win