Republicans roll off the Hill, while Democrats traverse Mt. Everest By Melanie Nathan, February 17, 2015. Republicans would be calling the Judge who barred President Obama’s Immigration Executive Orders ‘an activist Judge’ – albeit tit-for-tat – indeed he may be – but did the Judge fall into a trap? Do we really think the appeals […]
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NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director
By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2015. The Board of Directors of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is excited to announce that Glenn D. Magpantay is NQAPIA’s new Executive Director. Glenn has been with NQAPIA since the beginning, as one of the organization’s founders. Since 2009, he has served as NQAPIA’s Co-Director of […]
2014’s Most Popular Posts on O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da
By Melanie Nathan, December 29, 2014. Out of 506 articles written and posted on O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da during the course of 2014, here are the most popular 36 by reads. The top article about the Ugandan Catholic Church’s Easter message had over 43,000 reads, with 20,000 in its first day of posting. If an article is dated […]
Activists Worldwide try to Save Ugandan Lesbian from UK Deportation
By Melanie Nathan, December 16, 2014. The United Kingdom wants to deport a persecuted lesbian back to Uganda, where a harsh anti-LGBTI climate awaits, with the certainty of further state sanctioned persecution that will endanger her life. Activists, worldwide have weighed in with letters and reports, in support of Judith Twikirize, 23, a known lesbian, in […]
From Congo to Castro UNHCR Resettles Persecuted LGBTI Activist in the U.S.A.
Welcome Home Junior! By Melanie Nathan, December 16, 2014. I first met Junior Mayema back in 2011 when I was invited to keynote speak at Cape Town Pride’s Pink Gala in South Africa. At the time Junior, approached me along the Pride parade route. He told me that he was an LGBTI refugee from the […]
UK About to Deport Ugandan Lesbian Defies New EU Landmark Ruling
Protest outside the Home Office on Friday Morning, 5th, requires urgent signing of this Petition- Please help save Judith! | PETITION: SIGN HERE and be sure to pass it along. By Melanie Nathan, Dec 03, 2014. There is an urgent petition and plea to the U.K. Home Office to stop the deportation of Judith T. Twikereza, […]
LGBT Organizations Should Not Criticize Obama’s Immigration Move
A Statement on President Obama’s Immigration Announcement November 20, 2014, addressed to the LGBT community of activists and organizations. By Melanie Nathan, of Private Courts, Inc. Conflict Resolution & Human Rights Advocacy [email protected] Dear LGBTI Activists, Advocates and Organizations, Now that the dust is settling I want to again applaud President Barack Obama for his […]
Gay Ugandan Refugee Finally Arrives Home in the USA
Ham is Home but still has no place to call ‘Home’ By Melanie Nathan, November 08, 2014. Twenty years of age and with no money, he literally ran for his life. His journey to freedom started almost year ago. And it has been indescribable hell. Running from his own people who rejected him, a Government […]
Iceland Receives 5 LGBT Refugees from Africa While Pipleine to USA is slow
By Melanie Nathan, June 08, 2014 Iceland is set to receive approximately 5 LGBT refugees, including one lesbian, from Uganda, Cameroon and Zimbabwe. The Committee on Refugees made the recommendation, accepted by the foreign minister and the minister of welfare. Each of the individuals made application to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The municipalities of […]
Another Lesbian Denied Asylum Under Threat of Immediate Removal back to Uganda
UPDATED: July 31, 2014. Harriet Nakigudde has just won her appeal. She has won asylum in the United Kingdom after a hard fought battle by activists and amazing attorneys and a compassionate and experienced barrister who came to her aid. This highlights the cruelty of the UK system – that puts already traumatized people through hell […]
What we can do as dramatic increase in persecution of Ugandan Gays since Anti-Homosexuality Act
Updated 7/9/2014. This post had been removed to archives private because it is an OLD post dated May 16, 2014, and its is being misused by some as a reference for a current Relief Fund , which it is not. It referred to an older relief fund campaign which has since closed. A new relief […]
Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees
Center for American Progress | RELEASE: New Analysis and Infographics Show the Dangerous and Costly Effects of Detainee Bed Quotas Washington, D.C. — New CAP analysis and infographics detail the dangerous and costly toll of the congressionally mandated bed quota on our immigration system. Beginning in 2009, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or […]
Swedish Authorities Complicit in Persecuting LGBT Uganda by Refusing Workshop Visa
Sweden and other allies have a duty to act and not just talk – you need to practice what you preach , says Bob Bwana By Melanie Nathan, May 04, 2014. LGBT activists are very upset about the denial by Sweden of a visa to a Ugandan human rights defender. It is being reported from […]
Asylum Seekers Sue Obama Administration to End Unjust Long Waits
Department of Homeland Security Routinely Violates Laws Requiring Timely Reasonable Fear Interview Posted by Melanie Nathan April 17, 2014 A lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleging the government violated the law in thousands of cases, with individuals waiting in detention for many months for a ruling on their […]
NPR Talks About Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill Impacting Asylum to the U.S.A.
‘A Lot Of People Are In Panic Mode’ By NPR, February 26, 2014. Today this report appeared on NPR Radio. “But winning asylum in the United States is no easy feat. Granted, the U.S. has recognized LGBT status as grounds for asylum since 1994, but the government keeps no records on how many claims it […]
U.S.A. Perpetuates the Criminalization of LGBT Asylum Seekers
Shocking revelation as we in the U.S.A. further the persecution LGBT Asylum seekers through systematic recriminalization of those seeking to escape unjust criminalization! By Melanie Nathan, January 08, 2013. Seventy Six countries criminalize homosexuality. Most recently we have focused on, amongst others, Russia, India, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Belize and Nigerian. We are […]
Capitol Hill Briefing on Asylum as LGBT Persecution Escalates
What you can do to help LGBT Asylum Seekers – PLEASE SIGN THE CRITICAL PETITION BELOW By Melanie Nathan, January 6, 2014. Faith Network Capitol Hill Briefing on Asylum as LGBT Persecution Escalates | LGBT-FAN and the LGBT Congressional Caucus address needs of LGBT asylum seekers On January 8th, there will be a Faith Network […]
CA Supreme Court Rules Undocumented Immigrant to get Law License
Posted by Melanie Nathan, Jan 02, 2014. This is precisely why we must take note that the words “illegal immigrant” are highly offensive. Undocumented is correct phraseology. With that said here is a development from today:- SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that a Mexican immigrant without a green card may […]
California Law Changes to Protect Immigrants
Community Forum to address how Marin County will respond to changes in Immigration Law By Melanie Nathan, January 02, 2014. San Rafael, CA – A community forum will be held on Jan. 16 about the implications of the Trust Act, the recent change in California law that pertains to the rights of immigrants. About 80 […]
100 arrested in mass civil disobedience action for Immigration Reform
We Belong Together and allies are turning up the heat in Washington DC! By Cathy Kristofferson, September 12, 2013 As I write this more than 100 women are being arrested in front of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. They are part of a mass civil disobedience action calling on Congress to pass immigration reform that […]
Cut from 50th Anniversary Dream Defenders want your 2 minutes
Our March Campaign Will Not Be Silenced By Cathy Kristofferson, August 30, 2013 At Wednesday’s 50th anniversary March on Washington celebration Dream Defender’s Philip Agnew and United We Dream’s Sofia Campos were denied their opportunity to speak at the last minute. The excuse given? Officials said they had “run out of time.” This follows the […]
EU recognizes Gay asylees as new social group
As a result of asylum applications lodged by three gay men from Sierra Leone, Uganda and Senegal, seeking refugee status in the Netherlands, with all noting they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries based on their sexual orientation, the EU’s Advocate General, Eleanor Sharpston, said on July 11, that applicants for […]
Rubio staffer tries to have GetEQUAL DREAMer deported
Rubio staffer told the police officers in the room that one of the people in the room “is here illegally.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 25, 2013 Today during the GetEQUAL action Senator Rubio’s (R-FL) Tampa office, a Rubio senior staffer – his Regional Director – tried to have GetEQUAL’s Co-Director Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez deported. The Rubio staffer […]
Breaking GetEQUAL Activists Arrested protesting at Marco Rubio’s Office
By Melanie Nathan, June 25, 2013. Three members of GetEqual were arrested an hour ago in a GetEQqual protest action Marco Rubio’s office in Tampa where they protested to draw attention to his antiquated and anti-gay stances on immigration reform and employment discrimination. Those participating in the action and arrested we believe are Barb GetEqual […]
ORAM Video Honoring World Refugee Day
By Melanie Nathan. June 20, 2013. On June 20, the world observes World Refugee Day in recognition of those who have fled their countries in search of safe heaven. ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration – have provided this Video, to pay tribute to refugees who are too often ignored – those escaping persecution […]
Gay immigration detainee reunited with fiancé after detention ordeal
A young gay man who was detained in San Diego by immigration authorities — whose story was documented by San Diego Gay & Lesbian News and OBLOGDEE — has been reunited with his fiancé in New York City. Here is the follow up article after his release by our friends at SDGLN:- A happy ending? […]
DEAD WRONG LGBT Publisher Refuses to Tell Binational Story
We as a community cannot reject the most vulnerable amongst us | Binational same-sex couples have already paid the heaviest price By Melanie Nathan, May 28, 2013. I started my advocacy work and writing the stories about the horrendous plight of same-sex binational couples back in 2009, when faced with the possible deportation of my […]
The Special Rights Battleground of ENDA and Immigration Reform
Seems to be exactly where the Religious Right is digging in these days. By Cathy Kristofferson, May 02, 2013. Two legislative initiatives now underway on Capital Hill greatly underscore the fact that it is the Religious Right who is seeking ‘special rights’ not the LGBT community, as we are so often accused. The Comprehensive Immigration […]
Exploitation of binational same-sex couples continues as Immigration Equality continues to fund raise on the back of its failure
The group raised $1,765,000 in 2011 of which $1,131,220 was used for salaries and compensation, and increased employees to 20 for what? By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2013. Immigration Equality has failed binational same-sex couples and is now scrambling to stay relevant, with the audacity to create a exploitative lobby event, all leading of course […]
Judge rules lesbian binational couple can challenge DOMA
By Melanie Nathan, April 21, 2013. In a case filed by Los Angeles-based Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, a Judge has ruled that a lesbian couple facing immigration discrimination has the legal standing to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA, because it violates the constitutional rights of immigrants […]
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