A Thanksgiving story – with a special thanks to those who contributed to the Relief Fund that has helped many survive unspeakable hardship By Melanie Nathan, November 26, 2014. Its been a long hard road for Kayizzi Joseph Kizito and his partner of one and half years, Rashid, a young gay couple from Uganda, who […]
Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs
Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 20, 2014. Wake Up Americans and get educated on these important human rights issues that you will not find in our USA local or national mainstream media. Thanks to SAfAIDS for the selection of important human rights stories: Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs for recreational use A […]
Jon Qwelane No Longer High Commissioner to Uganda
People are speculating about corruption and ineptitude in the South African Embassy in Uganda | Why is High Commissioner seat in Uganda Vacant? By Melanie Nathan, November 17, 2014. Following the story in South African press that Jon Qwelane is back in Court, I noted terminology referring to Mr. Qwelane as the “former high commissioner” […]
Botswana Gay Group Victorious
While the threat of draconian penal codes still looms for LGBTI people in Botswana By Melanie Nathan, November 15, 2014. The Gaborone High Court ruled that the Botswana government is compelled to register the LGBTI group, group LEGABIBO, (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana). This order was sought after registration of the organization was refused […]
Human Rights News You Will Not See in U.S. Press
Indian women die, seriously injured, after mass sterilization drive Human Rights, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS news making the headlines that you probably will not read anywhere in the USA news – with thanks to the good people at SAfAIDS for their “Zero Tolerance for Homophobia” campaign: Being a sex worker doesn’t give you the right […]
ORAM’s New Uganda report on Sexual Orientation and Gender Minorities
Geneva, November 3, 2014 As Uganda debates the re-introduction of an Anti-Homosexuality Bill, ORAM publishes a comprehensive Country of Origin Report on the conditions of LGBTI individuals in the country ORAM has published an extensive report titled “Country of Origin Report: Sexual and Gender Minorities – Uganda.” The report includes an extensive case law section, […]
Nigerian Human Rights Activist Brings Lawsuit After Unlawful Detention
Could he have been a target because the Nigerian Court refused to nullify the new Nigerian Anti-Gay law? By Melanie Nathan, November 03, 2014. A well known Nigerian activist in the field of human rights and sexual health, who was detained without cause or charge by Nigerian police, is requesting an order of enforcement against […]
LGBTI For The Record | Via Facebook Posts by Melanie Nathan | Advocacy and News
Posts – 11/2/2014 #LGBT community – OK here comes the huge big ask, an asylum seeker is coming into San Francisco/ Bay Area/ North Bay/ East Bay – in a few days time. We plan to raise money to help with his support. However for the a month or 2 we are going to need […]
Ugandan Exiles Protest Anti-Gay Hate by UK Christian Extremist Paul Shinners
Watch Video of Protest | If you have the audacity to go to our Country to preach hate, we will show up in your country, as exiles and on your doorstep to remind you that exporting hate is not okay! By Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2014 St. Neots – A large group of Lesbian, Gay, […]
The i in LGBTi and a Wake up Call to USA LGBTQ Advocates
I have never understood why we in the USA fail this sector of the community | Does the Taboo persist in America? By Melanie Nathan, Oct 10, 2014. Americans may wonder why African human rights defenders refer to the LGBT community as the LGBTI community. Whenever I write ‘LGBT’ – for the most part always […]
Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity
Willing to die rather than live without authentic identity By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2014. Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman over four years ago, has started a hunger […]
Ugandan President Museveni Pens Editorial in New Stance on Anti-Gay Legislation
Museveni Changes the words but keeps the tune…..” the man who chases two animals while hunting, ends up with failing to kill any” By Melanie Nathan, October 03, 2014. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni wrote a piece published in two Ugandan News Magazines, indicating that he has new thoughts about the onerous anti-homosexuality legislation, which he […]
Malawi Human Rights Concern as Mutharika Silent on Sexual Minorities
With Homophobia and violence on rise By Melanie Nathan September 26, 2014. On 7th September 2014, Professor Peter Mutharika clocked 100 days of in office , and as a tradition as well as in fulfillment of its human rights and watchdog obligation, The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) partnered with Centre for Development […]
Boksburg Communiqué Report on SRHR and HIV/AIDS Services for Key Populations In ESA
By Melanie Nathan, September 23, 2014. I participated in this forum back in May, in South Africa, as a panel speaker with Justice Edwin Cameron, on the issue of homophobia in Africa and its impact on key populations, and was also panel chair. Here is, with thanks to SAfAIDS, the Boksburg Communiqué on the Tweet@ble […]
Is the Catholic Church’s Position On Homosexuals in the hands of Ugandan Archbishop
Kampala Archbishop Publishes Book on Catholic Church and Homosexuality By Melanie Nathan, September 18, 2014. The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala, His Grace Dr. Cyprian Lwanga has published a book detailing the position of the Catholic Church in Uganda on homosexuals. The 32 page booklet seems to tout the official position of the church […]
Ugandan Member of Parliament to meet for Human Rights Town Hall in San Francisco
A Courageous and Critical Meeting to help USA LGBT Community Get an Insider’s Perspective San Francisco, August 26, 2014 – The San Francisco Africa Leadership Institute (SFALI) is pleased to announce a Town Hall Forum with Ugandan Member of Parliament, the Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, to be held at The San Francisco LGBT Community Center. […]
Africa Business and Human Rights
When Business Gets down to the Business of Human Rights Key Stakeholders are excluded Posted by Melanie Nathan, August 20, 2014. “At the U.S.-Africa Business Forum this month, President Barack Obama announced $33 billion in new private and government investment in sub-Saharan Africa, including new projects within Africa’s energy, aviation and construction sectors. Such robust […]
Uganda Pride And Court Appeals And Parliament And Tabloids And Here We Go Again
I have not put up any of the numerous Pride photos sent to me this year. By Melanie Nathan, August 11, 2014. The Ugandan Constitutional Court declared the Anti-Homosexuality Act invalid, the Ugandan State launched an appeal, the Parliamentarians calling for a new Bill, and the Ugandan LGBTI community held a “post Anti-Homosexuality Act” Pride […]
Ugandan Attorney General Appeals Anti-Homosexuality Act Court Ruling
By Melanie Nathan, August 08, 2014. The Attorney General of Uganda has filed a Notice of Appeal in an attempt to reverse the Constitutional Court of Uganda’s judgment which voided the Anti Homosexuality Act. Advocates, who won the case, and were awarded 50% of the costs and are now preparing to fight the appeal all […]
Ugandan Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Act Unconstitutional
Jubilation as the the Ugandan Court agreed – the AHA is Unconstitutional ! Well done to the Plaintiffs. Congratulations to the Plaintiff team for your extraordinary courage and your resolve and the credit must go to all those who worked so hard on every front, especially the hard work of the extraordinary legal team – […]
Uganda Arrests under Anti-Homosexuality Legislation
By Melanie Nathan, July 09, 2014 The Ugandan press is reporting that the Police in Uganda have arrested five people suspected of so called “promotion” of the act of homosexuality. Apparently the the five were arrested during the course of a week, after a tip off by local residents, who accused the suspects of moving […]
Ugandan Government Flip-Flops Over Anti-Homosexuality Act
By Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2014. The Ugandan government issued a statement about a so called misinterpretation of the newly enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act, (see below,) which seems to suggest some back peddling from the “letter of the law.” This flip is nothing more than a flop! At the time of signing the Bill, Uganda’s Government, […]
Setting the record straight – false rumors about my part with LGBT refugees in Kenya
This post serves to correct one of the many untruths being spread on the internet about my work: Unlike some would have you believe, Melanie Nathan did not tell people from Uganda or anywhere else in Africa to seek refuge in Kenya: In fact the opposite is what occurred. I am in possession of many […]
Susan Rice on LGBT Human Rights and Economic Empowerment for Global LGBT Community
Ground-Breaking Partnership between National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and USAID to Create Opportunities for LGBT Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries National Security Advisory Rice Announced Agreement at White House Forum on Global LGBT Human Rights By Melanie Nathan, June 24, 2014, In a historic announcement, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice announced a $2.7 […]
San Francisco Pride 2014 vs Cher
An activists choice – How I gave up dancing with Cher to march for Africa By Tony Rowe, June 02, 2014. PALM SPRINGS, CA – When I heard that Cher and Cyndi Lauper would be performing at a concert in Los Angeles on my birthday I was so excited. My partner and I will be […]
Africa’s First Openly Gay Member of Parliament
A must read interview and a testament to progress By Melanie Nathan, May 24, 2014. South Africa has just gone through an election and there is some good news for the LGBT community. Wednesday’s swearing in of the members of parliament, for South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament, was an especially historic occasion; it featured the […]
Gender Controversial South African Olympian Caster Semenya to Marry Girlfriend
By Melanie Nathan, May 12, 2014. South African world champion athlete and Olympic silver medallist, Caster Semenya, is marrying her fellow athlete, Violet Raseboya. Following her victory at the 2009 World Championships, Semenya had been subjected to gender testing. She was then withdrawn from international competition until 6 July 2010 when the IAAF cleared her […]
Ugandan men first to face trial after passage of harsh anti-gay laws
The World is Watching the Making of Martyrs until all Anti-homosexuality laws are decriminalized By Melanie Nathan, May 08, 2014. No matter the outcome, their lives will forever be tarnished, at least in Uganda. However with their faces splashed across world press, many may come to regard them as martyrs, a symbol for the oppressed […]
Belgian Parliament Resolution on Uganda
Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 01, 2014. has provided the English translation for the March 22, unanimous Resolution of the Belgian Parliament regarding Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was made official law of Uganda on march 10, 2014. WE REQUEST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: 1. to emphasize the importance of respecting sexual orientation and gender identities in […]
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