San Francisco Pride Announces 2016 Community and Organizational Grand Marshals

San Francisco Pride has announced two of the winners for Community Grand Marshal and the organizational Grand Marshal for 2016 Pride Celebration and Parade to take place on the last weekend of June, 2016. The 2016 Public and Member’s choice vote for Community and Organizational Grand Marshals for the 2016 San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration… More San Francisco Pride Announces 2016 Community and Organizational Grand Marshals

LGBTQ Discrimination Leads to Call for NCAA to Divest

NC, March 9, 2016  –  Led by Campus Pride and Soulforce, a coalition of more than 80 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ), sports, religious and youth advocacy groups signed on to a letter issued publicly today calling on NCAA to divest from all religious-based institutions who have made Title IX requests to discriminate against… More LGBTQ Discrimination Leads to Call for NCAA to Divest

San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

San Francisco Pride is pleased to announce the first in a series of forums to explore and elucidate the 2016 San Francisco Pride theme, “For Racial and Economic Justice.”

The forum, African American Contributions to LGBTQI Culture in the American Experience, will be held at 6:30 PM, immediately following the 6:00 PM San Francisco Pride monthly membership meeting, where members will vote for one of the 2016 SF Pride community grand marshals.… More San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

GSA Day for Racial Justice

LGBTQ youth are taking action today–GSA Day for Racial Justice–to fight for our future and celebrate the multiple identities we hold. GSA Day for Racial Justice is more than just a day of action. It has become a movement of LGBT youth who are fighting to end state violence against black lives, who educate each other on sexual health and wellness, and who understand that gender is a social construct that limits people in all races and ethnicities.… More GSA Day for Racial Justice

Creating Change 2016 Articles in Review and Thanks

Following Articles were written this past week by Melanie Nathan covering the Anti-Israel and anti-Semitic events that occurred at Creating Change 2016. #CC16 – Followed by other links to excellent articles by others. “#CC16 Coverage -I want to thank all those who donated to O-BLOG-DEE by subscribing, this past week, unsolicited, some of whom mentioned… More Creating Change 2016 Articles in Review and Thanks

Is Hatem Abuddayeh Intersecting at Creating Change 2016

Hatem Abudayyeh has been with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) since 1999, and was appointed Executive Director in 2003. The son of Palestinian immigrants who themselves were leaders in Chicago’s Arab community, Hatem was born in Chicago. Back in 2010 the FBI raided the home of Hatem Abudayeh, in connection with a terrorism investigation at Creating Change 2016… More Is Hatem Abuddayeh Intersecting at Creating Change 2016

Naming Participants in the Creating Change 2016 LGBTQ Jew Bash Fest

The Mob: Who screamed for Israel’s destruction; who displayed hate above unity of purpose; who knew exactly what they were doing and who were the nochschleppers ? SCROLL DOWN for names. By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2016 Last week the halls of The Hilton Hotel in Chicago, became the scene of a near riot.  The… More Naming Participants in the Creating Change 2016 LGBTQ Jew Bash Fest

LGBT Leaders Call on Task Force for Independent Review of Creating Change Debacle

By Melanie Nathan January 28, 2016. I am proud to be a signatory to this letter addressed to the LGBTQ Task Force. I am also proud to stand with noted and admired leaders in our community.  The letter speaks for itself.  Thank you to Roberta Kaplan and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum for leading the effort on… More LGBT Leaders Call on Task Force for Independent Review of Creating Change Debacle

National LGBTQ Task Force’s Halfhearted Condemnation After Creating Change Attack on Jews

ious protest that led to the shut down of a Jewish Shabbat and reception event at Creating Change Conference 2016, Rea Carey of National LGBTQ Task Force issued a statement which is headed “National LGBTQ Task Force Condemns Anti-Semitism”. But that is not really what her statement says given the veils and context. Instead its a mish-mash of zero apology and a myriad of ineffectual excuses, hiding behind verbiage which, by virtue of its context, halfheartedly condemns Anti Semitism. The below statement by Rea Carey of National LGBTQ Task Force leaves a lot of questions and much to be desired. … More National LGBTQ Task Force’s Halfhearted Condemnation After Creating Change Attack on Jews

LGBT Protesters at Creating Change Call for the Destruction of Israel

Has Creating Change taken on a New Meaning: Does that Change involve LGBTQ America Supporting Anti Semitism? By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2016. This week will go down in history as one of the saddest and most destructive, ever, in the lives of LGBTQ Jews.  We became the target of antisemitism disguised as protesting alleged… More LGBT Protesters at Creating Change Call for the Destruction of Israel

Famed LGBT Voices Blast Task Force For Banning Jewish Event from Creating Change Conference

The Hypocrisy of Rea Carey and the LGBT Task Force : “Our vision for the future of the movement is one that is broad, inclusive and dynamic” – and yet they ban a pre-arranged and once accepted  Jewish event within days of the Conference. See Call to Action below! By Melanie Nathan, January 18, 2016.… More Famed LGBT Voices Blast Task Force For Banning Jewish Event from Creating Change Conference

Broad Coalition File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Challenge to Texas Abortion Restrictions

The State of Texas has argued that the law protects the health of women seeking abortion, but the evidence at trial showed just the opposite. In fact, medical organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association have explained that the restrictions imposed by the new law are medically unnecessary and endanger, rather than advance, women’s health.… More Broad Coalition File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Challenge to Texas Abortion Restrictions

Governor O’Malley Unveils Progressive LGBTQ Policies at Iowa Safe Schools Spirit Awards

O’MALLEY WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO ENDORSE THE EQUALITY ACT, AND LONG HELD THE BELIEF THAT MARRIAGE IS A HUMAN RIGHT, NOT A STATE RIGHT Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 30, 2015. DES MOINES, IA —Tonight, Governor O’Malley will be the first presidential candidate to address the Iowa Safe Schools Spirit Awards. Governor O’Malley has a… More Governor O’Malley Unveils Progressive LGBTQ Policies at Iowa Safe Schools Spirit Awards

New Federal Funding to Serve Homeless LGBTQ Youth in NYC

Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 07, 2015. Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and the Ali Forney Center (AFC) announced three new federal grants to help continue AFC’s important work serving homeless youth in New York City, an estimated 40% of which identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ). Combined, the more than $1 million… More New Federal Funding to Serve Homeless LGBTQ Youth in NYC

National LGBTQ Task Force Statement on Pope’s Visit to U.S.A.

Posted by Melanie Nathan, September, 21, 2015. WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 21, 2015 — On the occasion of the visit of Pope Francis to the United States, the National LGBTQ Task Force is making the following statement – through the words of Russell Roybal, National LGBTQ Task Force Deputy Executive Director. “As an LGBTQ catholic myself,… More National LGBTQ Task Force Statement on Pope’s Visit to U.S.A.

MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

MEUSA Amicus Brief: Real Voices, Real People, Real Impact  Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 09, 2015. San Francisco/Washington DC – Today, Marriage Equality USA announces that it has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the freedom to marry nationwide and full equality under the Constitution for LGBTQ people. The brief,… More MEUSA Files Real People Amicus Brief with SCOTUS

San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

By Melanie Nathan, February 10, 2015. Today the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, The San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Learning for Action have participated  in the release of San Francisco’s first ever LGBTQI Violence Prevention Needs Assessment. This report details how members of the San Francisco LGBTQI community experience violence and the availability of… More San Francisco LGBT Violence Prevention Assessment Report Released

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… More The i in LGBTi and a Wake up Call to USA LGBTQ Advocates

LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 26, 2014. On Saturday a group of 25 LGBTQ activists protested controversial Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller as she received an honorary degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. The activists, who chanted “Gay rights Portia!” for two hours, were at one point called “trash” by some Lafayette graduates and… More LGBTQ Activists Protest Jamaican Prime Minister Receiving Honorary Degree

Uganda President Persecutes LGBTQ People For Political Power

Political Research Organization Talks About the Bahati-Kadaga-Museveni Anti-Homosexuality Bill By Political Research Associates, on February 17, 2014 Uganda President Yoweri Museveni is walking a political tightrope on the backs of LGBT Ugandans. In declaring that he will sign Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, Museveni seeks to solidify his crumbling political power while putting the blame for Uganda’s… More Uganda President Persecutes LGBTQ People For Political Power

One brave teen comes OUT in the face of Porterville’s homophobia

One brave teen comes OUT in the face of Porterville’s homophobia Three arrested in act of civil disobedience protesting shameful rescission of Pride proclamation SEE ARREST VIDEO Melanie Nathan, July 19, 2913 On June 04, 201, Mayor Virginia Gurolla of Porterville, issued proclamation recognizing the month of June as Pride Month in Porterville.  A month later… More One brave teen comes OUT in the face of Porterville’s homophobia

California Mayor Issues LGBT Proclamation despite Hateful City and Council Outburst

Porterville’s LGBT Community encounters City gay haters in venomous outburst By Melanie Nathan, June 04, 2013. It has been a long dirty battle between the LGBTQ community and some choice government officials and residents of the town of Porterville, California, culminating in tonight’s City Hall showdown, where Mayor Virginia Gurolla issued a proclamation recognizing the… More California Mayor Issues LGBT Proclamation despite Hateful City and Council Outburst

North Jersey Pride Set to Launch Pride Week 2013

Full Slate of LGBT Events Scheduled for June 3 through June 9 By Editors, May 20, 2013. Maplewood, N.J., May 20, 2013-  North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equality, awareness, and understanding in the upper Garden State, today announced plans for its 2013 Pride Week. Throughout the week of June 3, the nonprofit is… More North Jersey Pride Set to Launch Pride Week 2013

San Francisco’s Our Family Coalition Survey Needs You Now

PLEASE help spread the word By Melanie Nathan, April 17, 2013. Our Family Coalition is a Bay Area organization committed to promoting the equality and well-being of LGBTQ families. The organization  strives to provide programs responsive to the evolving need of the communities they serve. With many challenges ahead,  OFC needs your critical input; they… More San Francisco’s Our Family Coalition Survey Needs You Now

Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign

The Seattle City LGBT Commissions has issued a formal apology, by posting it on Facebook, to the LGBT public and the Israeli AILO group, as can be seen below, for its actions in cancelling an event that in essence served to boycott and silence the visiting group from Israel.

It admits the “pain, offense… More Seattle LGBT Commission Issues Apology to Israeli Guests But Should Still Resign