Open Letter to HRC Calls to Partner on AIDS/HIV Issues By Melanie Nathan, February 11, 2015. February 11, 2015 – New York, NY – The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) released the text of an open letter to Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as a follow up to its protest of HRC´s gala held on […]
Marin County School Superintendent Pleads for Measles Vaccinations
The greater good of the community demands that we take action to prevent any further spread of the measles in Marin County. By Melanie Nathan, February 04, 2015. I barely write about local issues. Marin Country, where I live, has become the epicenter of the controversy around Measles and parents who refuse to allow their […]
Activists to Protest 1% HRC Elitism and AIDS Neglect
New York and San Francisco By Melanie Nathan, January 29, 2015. The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) and other HIV activist organizations will converge to protest the neglect of the AIDS crisis by mainstream LGBT organizations at the annual self-congratulatory gala held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City by Human Rights Campaign […]
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 […]
Malawi Religious Leaders Take Stand Against the Discrimination Fueling HIV
By Melanie Nathan, July 25, 2014. The Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (MANERELA+) is a voluntary membership network of religious leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS in Malawi. It is an interfaith network, hence, people from any faith community are eligible to […]
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 […]
Medical Association Begs USA To Keep Funding Ugandan HIV AIDS despite Dangerous Raids
By Melanie Nathan, April 10, 2014. Michele Sidebè of UNAID warned Uganda before the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that its policies could lead to disaster for all Ugandans when it comes to HIV/AIDS research prevention and services. We had a glimpse of the unfolding disaster last week when the Walter Reed Research project was […]
HIV AIDS Services Raided by Ugandan Police in War on Gays
More LGBT Ugandans placed at risk of death while Project left with no choice but to suspend activities By Melanie Nathan, April 4, 2014. According to a Ugandan Government spokesperson, and confirmed by an OBLOGDEE source at the scene, as well as AP reports, the Ugandan police raided The Makerere University Walter Reed Project in […]
Marin County Opens Up on HIV AIDS
Marin launches outreach campaign to engage residents in response to HIV/AIDS San Rafael, CA – Greater than AIDS, the leading national public information response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, has launched its Speak Out Campaign in Marin to encourage open communication about HIV in relationships and in the community. Printed ads will be displayed in mall […]
Doctors Place an Ad in Ugandan Press Declaring Anti-Homosexuality Bill a Threat to Public Health
Posted by Melanie Nathan, Feb 09, 2014. In the continued controversial drama of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, an open letter appeared this week in a Uganda newspaper, sponsored by more than 60 doctors and eight organizations, in the context of President Museveni’s inquiry on homosexuality, as to whether or not it is an abnormality worthy […]
US LGBTs Silent while London and Amsterdam respond to Uganda Call To Action
By Cathy Kristofferson, January 16, 2014 A demonstration against Uganda’s so-called Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB), better known as the Kill-The-Gays Bill, has been called for this Saturday in Amsterdam by Out & Proud Diamond Group. Out & Proud Diamond Group was founded by African LGBTI and Human Rights activists fighting for equality for all. Last week the […]
Concern as Uganda’s Anti-Gay law impacts HIV AIDS programs
Uganda’s Anti-Gay law could halt HIV/ AIDS programs among sexual minorities | A Call to Action by Spectrum Uganda Initiatives By Melanie Nathan, January 05, 2013. During 2013 Spectrum Uganda Initiatives Inc. provided health care and related services to Uganda’s LGBTI and HIV/AIDS community. The group reached close to 500 men who have sex with […]
ICASA Statement of the passing of former President Nelson Mandela
Dec 07, 2013. It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that we learn of the passing of Mr Nelson Mandela at his home in Houghton on 5 December. We join the many millions of people across the world in expressing our condolences to his family, to South African nation and the […]
Transgender Day of Remembrance |Remembering Naoimi
On International Transgender Day of Remembrance ZIMBABWE’S GALZ Pays Tribute to Naoimi Posted by Melanie Nathan, Nov. 20, 2013. We pay tribute to Naomi, Zimbabwe’s very own trans woman who championed the struggle for LGBTI rights in so many ways. She came out at a time when there was very little to no information on […]
Outrage in Ugandan LGBT Community as Activist Faces Possible Life in Prison
Outrage as basic rights are infringed By Melanie Nathan, November 15, 2013. Samuel K. Ganafa, Executive Director of Spectrum Uganda Initiatives and Board Chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), was arrested on Tuesday November 12, 2013. He had reported to Kasangati Police Station on the outskirts of Kampala pursuant to a phone call from the […]
Unlawful Arrest of Ugandan LGBT Executive Director
Five men detained without cause By Melanie Nathan, November 14, 2013 Samuel K Ganafa, The Executive Director of Spectrum Uganda Initiatives and Board Chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), was arrested on Tuesday November 12, 2013. He had reported to Kasangati Police Station on the outskirts of Kampala pursuant to a phone call from the […]
Ghana Press misrepresents UNAIDS blaming AIDS and HIV on Homosexuality
By Melanie Nathan, August 20, 2013. In an unconscionable gross misrepresentation and twist of wording the press in the African country Ghana is seizing on the words of the UNAIDS (United Nation’s AIDS Organization) to further demonize homosexuality and local LGBTI people. Following a conference in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire, as reflected in the example of […]
Moscow Gay Rights Rally ends in violence and arrests
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013 Update May 26 – Video add down below We reported earlier here on OBLOGDEE about Ukraine’s 1st ever Gay Pride March happily occurring despite multiple political attempts to derail it. The folks in Moscow were not so lucky. Today in the Russian capital of Moscow, activists and opponents clashed in an unsanctioned […]
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 […]
Zambian activist’s constitutional challenge to homophobic arrest and charges
This Case could have a huge impact on how Gay people’s rights are impacted in Zambia By Melanie Nathan, May 15, 2013. When Zambian Paul Kasonkomona was arrested and detained some minutes after he spoke on a TV show it was clear to many that a flagrant abuse of personal freedoms had occurred and now […]
Activist’s challenge to Zambia’s Constitution after “hunt down gays” arrest
By Melanie Nathan, May 15, 2013. Today Kasonkomona appeared before the Hon Lemeck Ngambi at Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, charged with “the idle and disorderly offence of soliciting in a public place for immoral purposes.” SBN Legal Practitioners, representing Kasonkomona, filed a constitutional application and so with regard to the criminal case against him, are asking […]
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 […]
A Lesbian’s Statement to Uganda’s Parliament and Speaker Kadaga
By Melanie Nathan, November 27, 2012. PUBLIC STATEMENT OF MELANIE NATHAN, COMMISSIONER, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Human Rights Commissioner, Marin County, U.S.A., Family Law Mediator and Human Rights Advocate. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members of Uganda’s Parliament:- When I was in my early twenties I realized that I was a lesbian. I tried marriage to a […]
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 […]
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