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 […]
Tag Archives: Human rights
Protests and arrests as Russia’s State Duma passes anti-gay promotion bill unanimously
By Cathy Kristofferson, June 10, 2013 Update 6/30: President Putin today signed this bill into law. Proponents argue it is for the protection of children, but critics still allege it part of a broad crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community. For his part Mr. Putin tells international critics “We ask you not to interfere in our […]
Zambian High Court to hear Freedom of Expression challenge after call to hunt down homosexuals arrest
It is believed that Kasonkomona was specifically targeted amidst the Zambian government’s call to “hunt down homosexuals” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 05, 2013 The court case of Zambian Paul Kasonkomona which we have reported on here on OBLOGDEE was today transferred to that country’s High Court for the constitutional challenge Kasonkomona and his defense are seeking. […]
Ugandan LGBT activists warn against false fund raising
By Melanie Nathan, May 27, 2013. The Ugandan LGBT community is expressing concerns about rogue organizations and individuals soliciting funds from the West through false or exaggerated stories presented on social media. What follows is a plea and announcement by LGBT human rights defender Kasha Jaqueline Nabagesera, Founder & Executive Director of the Ugandan organization […]
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 […]
A lesson in Human Rights for us all
By Melanie Nathan, May 20, 2013. What are human rights? Can you answer that question? See what people from around the world answered when asked and then learn the basics in this 10 minute video. Your comments are most valued whether in public or private. No one has ever tackled the USA for breaching the […]
Council for Global Equality on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 17, 2013. This week we join with the worldwide LGBT community in celebrating IDAHO – the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. IDAHO is less known in the U.S. than in many other countries around the world. Here in the U.S., LGBT communities have a greater focus on Gay Pride, […]
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 […]
Keeping the UN Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference Opening Remarks Lively
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 15, 2013 “Ladies, gentlemen, and all those in between” is how Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the United Nation’s Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’ conference today in Oslo. Potential for something good, I thought. He spoke not only of grave human rights violations (in general […]
USAID announces LGBT Global Development Partnership
$11 million, four-year initiative to further LGBT equality worldwide By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 Following the United Nations’ historic resolution endorsing LGBT human rights in 2011, President Obama issued a mandate to all agencies involved with foreign aid and development to “enhance their ongoing efforts with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector […]
‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher has died
Gay icon, or just a supporter of ‘individual liberty’? By Cathy Kristofferson, April 08, 2013 The BBC is reporting that The Iron Lady ex-Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher has died. Thatcher, a staunch conservative, supported the decriminalization of homosexuality back in 1967. As PM her government later legalized homosexuality in both Scotland and Northern […]
Watch UN recieve Award for Social Cohesion and Economic Development
Award Ceremony for the 2013 New Economy Forum Prize for Social Cohesion and Economic Development, presented to United Nations in Spain. In a profound and moving acceptance speech, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that we need to be Global citizens, while he received the award in the name of democracy and human rights, for […]
Marriage is nothing without job protections
Still no employment protections in 29 states for gay, and 34 states for trans, employees… By Cathy Kristofferson, April 3, 2013 The title of this post – Marriage is nothing without job protections – is something a fellow activist said on a conference call last night. It made me think back to being in D.C. […]
Paid Lobbyist Attempts to Derail MA Dept. of Ed Gender Identity Policy Guidance
The issue comes down to this: there’s a big difference between uncomfortable and unsafe By Cathy Kristofferson, March 13, 2013. Last night at the Medford City Council meeting we witnessed round three of the organized attempt to derail the MA Dept. of Ed’s Gender Identity Policy guidelines at the hands of one city councilor and […]
School policy for Gender Identity draws legislative bullies
Transgender students bullied by legislators and hate groups line up to oppose implementation and launch attack on Commissioner By Cathy Kristofferson, March 07, 2013. A couple of weeks ago I saw a post “Massachusetts Takes The Lead On Rights For Transgender Students“. Being a MA native I smiled and perused probably while mumbling “of course […]
OUTING Red Pepper owners and staff for persecution of Gays in Uganda
Ugandans actively working to persecute fellow Ugandans – yes here we OUT the criminals current Red Pepper crew By Melanie Nathan, February 25, 2013. For many years, the Ugandan tabloid, Red Pepper has purposely targeted alleged gay, lesbian and transgender people, outing them in the print magazine, often using pictures accompanied by pervasive rhetoric. The […]
Ugandan Bishop Attacked by Anti-Gay Makerere University Students
For statements deemed pro-gay By Melanie Nathan, February 16, 2013. Bishop Zac Niringiye, the retired assistant Bishop of Kampala, known as the leader of the controversial “Black Monday” Movement, was giving presentation to students at Makerere University, Kampala, when a a group of angry anti-gay Christian students turned rowdy and threatened to expel him from […]
Malaysia Should End Discriminatory Laws Against Gay People
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 […]
U.S. Pastor accuses gays of persecuting Christians in lead up to UK Oxford Union invitation
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 […]
Marin County’s Human Rights Commission Awards to Honor Community Advocates
MHRC 31st Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Award Dinner Jan. 24th | Marin County’s Human Rights Commission Highlights Connections to Civil Rights Movement’s Bayard Rustin The 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner Gala will be held by the Marin Human Rights Commission at The Four Points Sheraton on January 24, 2013, to honor Marin’s […]
UN Watch Calls for Removal of HRW Board member citing Anti-Semitic Remarks
By Melanie Nathan, December 30, 2012. Amongst its many human rights related missions, Human Rights Watch works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people’s rights, with activists representing a multiplicity of identities and issues. According to their LGBT mission statement they “document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide – including […]
A Poem for Uganda and The Anti-Homosexuality Bill
By Melanie Nathan, December 16, 2012. A fellow campaigner for the human rights of LGBTI people, Richard Willmer, has been following the saga of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB, a.k.a. Bahati Bill or the ‘Hang-the-Gays’ Bill) in Uganda since the Bill broke cover in late 2009, as it continues its journey and various parliamentary incarnations. Richard […]
Is Facebook Going to BAN Uganda because of AHB
I have not independently verified this source. By Melanie Nathan, Dec 04, 2012, 10:21 AM Will Mark Zuckerberg may deliver the ultimate blow. This could be a move even more powerful than cutting AID by major Government. Zuckerberg could well hold the ultimate key of isolation. While Gay Ugandan activists will lose a treasured method […]
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 […]
Watch Video Ugandan Anti-Gay Resolution Fails and Embarrasses Pan African Parliament
“It is a bizarre resolution and it will never pass” By Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2012. At The Pan African Parliament‘s session in Johannesburg on 9 October, Ugandan delegate, Ogwal Cecilia Barbara faced the fact that her anti-gay resolution was not only without merit, but also an embarrassment to her country. Barbara tried to introduce […]
Human Rights Watch Reports Ugandan Government’s Increasing Harassment of LGBT NGO’s
BY MELANIE NATHAN, AUGUST 21, 2012. In a report released today, Human Rights watch (HRW) asserts that research and advocacy organizations in Uganda which deal with controversial topics are facing increasing harassment by Uganda’s government. Groups have recently faced forced closure of meetings, threats, harassment, arrest, and punitive bureaucratic interference. The 50-page report, “Curtailing Criticism: […]
Celibate Ugandan Minister of Ethics Simon Lokodo Attempts to Justify Gay Arrests
The Cherubs protest so loudly they can hardly wait for that echo “….I am not gay!” But they will kill you if YOU are – either drive gay youth to suicide or find a law to hang gays! By Melanie Nathan, August 13, 2012. A photographer from the United Kingdom, Rachel Adams, recently got together […]
Hate Speech as Ugandan Minister Onek Vows to Kill NGO’s that Help Gays
By Melanie Nathan August 08,2012. Watch Ugandan media and officials describe homosexuality as decadence, while Minister Onek vows to clamp down on all non profit organizations that he says hide this promotion of decadence behind so called “human rights.” The ministry has decided it will conduct checks on all NGO’s looking “for suspected culprits.” The […]
Ugandan Gay Pride a Great Success
Beach Pride Uganda 2012 Defying Arrests – “Next time we begin the march from the police station” Frank Mugisha Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2012. In an extraordinary display of pride the Ugandan LGBTI community has defied the odds and despite police arrests were able to conclude a weekend full of Gay Pride events, heralding their […]
Ugandan Police Raid Beach Pride Party Arrest LGBT Activists
Yet Activists pull off historic pride event! Melanie Nathan, August 4, 2012 For several weeks and with great excitement Ugandan LGBT activists have been building a Beach Pride event. The idea was to celebrate with friends and to hold a private party for those who wanted to attend. Activists kept the Pride event under wraps […]
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