By Cathy Kristofferson, May 26, 2013 In October of 2012, two major television stations in Jamaica refused to run paid Public Service Announcements (PSA) asking Jamaicans to love and respect their fellow citizens who happen to be homosexuals. Maurice Tomlinson, the legal advisor for AIDS-Free World, who appears in the PSA’s decided to take the stations to court for […]
Will Uganda tax booze for HIV programs
The fate of HIV or the fate of Waragi By Melanie Nathan, May 21, 2013. KAMPALA – As Uganda counts a 40% reduction in AIDS-related deaths in the past decade, the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) wants Government to levy a special tax on alcohol and cigarette to fund HIV programs. According to UAC Executive Director […]
Belize Court hears Closing argument in Penal code anti-Sodomy case
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 08, 2013. Today, on Day Two of Caleb Orozco and the United Belize Advocacy Movement’s (UBIBAM) constitutional challenge of Belize’s Section 53 anti-sodomy law, lead attorney Christopher Smith‐Hamel SC, made his closing arguments. During his closing, he quoted Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican humanitarian leader from South Africa: “’Our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters […]
Medical schools innovate on care for LGBT patients
By Melanie Nathan, April 15, 2013. As Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered patient, especially those who have yet to come out, and others who are less pronounced in their declaration of being gay, those who live in less accepting communities, can pose different challenges for doctors and professional medical staff, starting with language and trust. […]
Zambia doubles-down with threats to ‘stiffen laws against homosexuality’
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 13, 2013 Very early this morning (7am BST) HIV/Aids activist Paul Kasonkomona was to speak on the Crossfire BlogRadio program about his recent arrest for advocating for gay rights. Due to legal issues surrounding his going on the radio similar to the TV appearance which sparked his arrest, along with death […]
Zambian gay rights activist released on bail
By Melanie Nathan, April 12, 2013. Gay rights activist Paul Kasonkomona pleaded not guilty in a Zambian court yesterday to charges of “idle and disorderly conduct by inciting the public to engage in idle and disorderly conduct by promoting illicit activities” and was released on Kr5,000 bail ($1,000USD) Kasonkomona who was picked up and detained […]
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, […]
Remember Me When I’m gone
By Melanie Nathan, March 09, 2013. Inkanyiso is a South African website which was conceptualized by internationally renowned photographer, award winning documentary filmmaker and visual activist, Zanele Muholi in 2006. In 2009, Muholi registered the organization with Department of Social Services in South Africa. It was in response to the lack of visual histories and […]
Princes William and Harry remind us of HIV/AIDS stigma
“Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry have kindly written to us to celebrate 30 years of our fight against HIV,” notes the Terrence Higgins Trust, beside a heartwarming picture on the charity’s website, reminding of their mother, Princess Diana and how she broke barriers by embracing people with HIV and AIDS around […]
Will Uganda Turn its Back on The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Protection for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – A Paper POSTED on Dec 01, 2012. If Uganda legislates its new proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill it may find itself in international hot water; and those in high authority who support and enforce it may find themselves accused of crimes against humanity, unable to travel internationally, with […]
Naked ACT Up Activists Storm Boehner’s office
As World AIDS day approaches December 01, 7 nude protesters stormed House Majority Leader Rep. John Boehner’s (R-OH) office on Capitol Hill today, to protest cuts in the federal budget. See more. “This from ACT UP’s website: “As the US Congress and President begin negotiating on the so-called fiscal cliff, ACT UP/NY ACT UP/Philadelphia, Housing […]
Support Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence memorial for nuns who have died of AIDS
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to remember and honor every Nun of the Above By Melanie Nathan, November 19, 2012. They have supported us for over thirty years and now it is our chance, as the worldwide LGBT community, to show our love and thanks. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are creating a unique place […]
Nigeria poised to Jail the Gays in defiance of Nelson Mandela
” Madiba, your time in prison was without any lesson to us, to the rest of Africa, we the Nigerians are giving you the finger!” By Melanie Nathan, November 16, 2012. Nigeria is about to pass legislation that will provide for the arrest, conviction and jailing of all its gay and lesbian people. What lessons […]
Sudan blames gay teen sex for AIDS
Sudan’s government blamed gay school sex for rising HIV infection rates, while the opposition slam leaders for promoting homosexuality and AIDS by Dan Littauer, 14 November 2012 Teenagers sodomizing younger boys at school is apparently the ‘reason’ for the rapid rise of HIV cases in Sudan’s youth, according to a report broadcasted by the country’s […]
Lethal Salmonella strain targets HIV positive Africans
By Melanie Nathan, 31 October, 31 2012 Fears are growing over an emerging form of intestinal disease in Africa, to which HIV positive people are particularly vulnerable. Medical experts have expressed concerns that health infrastructures across the continent lack the capacity to detect or cope with the dangerous bacterium. The scientists say that invasive non-Typhoidal […]
Ugandans Watch as Shamed Anti-Gay Criminal Pastors Start Ridiculous Sentence
By Melanie Nathan, October 16, 2012. Pastors Michael Kyazze and Robert Kayiira today began their community service sentence as guidance counselors, administering voluntary counseling and testing to the Youth on issues including HIV and AIDS. However while we applaud the guilty findings, the sentences are a joke. The punishment was handed down to three Pastors, […]
South African Gold Coin Exchange Gifts Mandela Coins at Hollywood Fundraiser
Editors, September 03, 2012. As a guest of The Black AIDS Institute, The South African Gold Coin Exchange was represented at Emmy Award-winning casting director and talent executive Robi Reed’s 10th annual end-of-summer event, the “Sunshine Beyond Summer Celebration…The Day Party With A Purpose” this past Saturday in the gardens of the Mayor’s home, at […]
Celebrating Bayard Rustin with Author of “I Must Resist” Michael Long
By Melanie Nathan, August 18, 2012. The Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, City Lights Booksellers, and Atlas Leadership Strategies will all be co-sponsoring an evening with Michael Long, author of “I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters” at the Commonwealth Club San Francisco on August 21.This special gathering marks the […]
Celebrating the Launch of Nelson Mandela HIV/AIDS Medallions in the United States
South African Gold Coin Exchange, (SAGCE) August 03, 2012 This week, in conjunction with a launch event hosted by The South African Consul General in New York, the South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) introduced the first ever Nelson Mandela gold and silver Medallions into the United States Market. The special release, launched to commemorate […]
President Bill Clinton AIDS 2012
“We need a new level of openness about how every last dollar is spent by countries, by governments, by NGOs,” Said President Bill Clinton during his closing keynote speech. The Clinton Health Access Initiative through the former president’s foundation in 2010 announced a partnership with the South African government to expand access to HIV testing […]
Watch President Bill Clinton’s Speech at AIDS 2012
By Melanie Nathan, July 28, 2012 Thousands of delegates signed the Washington, D.C. Declaration, the official declaration of the XIX International AIDS Conference. The declaration states that we must strive for multi-disciplinary approaches that respect and uphold the human rights and dignity of all people affected by the epidemic and calls for nine concrete actions. […]
AIDS 2012 to Discuss HIV and World Travel Bans
Dr Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of the UNAIDS Programme said “Every individual should have the right to freedom of movement, regardless of their HIV status. UNAIDS is opposed to any restriction imposed on people living with HIV and restricting movement only on the basis of their HIV status. These restrictions are discriminatory.”
President Bill Clinton & Chelsea Visit Nelson Mandela for 94th Birthday
By Melanie Nathan, July 19, 2012. Former United States President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea visited former South African President Nelson Mandela this week to celebrate Mandela’s 94th birthday at the ANC and anti-apartheid icon’s home in his childhood village. Clinton spent two hours inside Mandela’s family compound in Qunu, the picturesque village where Mandela […]
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