Posts by MelanieNathan:
Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013
December 6th, 2013By Melanie Nathan.
Nelson Mandela, our father has died.
The man who believed in full equality for all, for everyone everywhere … One of the most remarkable human beings of all time
Our beloved Madiba, Nelson Mandela, has just died. With deep sadness we extend our condolences to Madiba’s family and all of South Africa. As much as we hoped this day would never come it has. Our hope is that Madiba rests in peace and that South Africa remains at peace.
At 95, we could not have hoped for much longer a life on this earth, and as prepared as we were, we still need him. And we always will. Even though his political days were well behind him, his presence prevailed as a beacon of continued hope for a country that still suffers on so many levels. There will never be another Nelson Mandela in this world. We know that the former South African President and the anti-apartheid hero will live on in our hearts forever, yet it is so hard to let go of the sense of protection that he continued to breathe into South Africa, while he fought, during his incarceration, after his release, during his Presidency, every moment thereafter, and even during the time he was ill.
I will remember Nelson Mandela as much more than the man behind the demise of that insidious Apartheid, but also as a worldwide icon for democracy and peace, who insisted that never again would any group of South African be excluded from the dignity of full equality. And so when President, he ensured that the new South African Constitution specifically included sexual orientation and gender identity into its protections for all South Africans.
Mandela suffered such great mental and physical torture at the hands of his Afrikaner Apartheid oppressor, and yet upon his release after more than two decades on Robben Island, he had no bitterness. In his quest for truth and reconciliation, Madiba took what could have been a blood bath, and led South Africa to a peaceful transition from apartheid to a real democracy.
What many may not realize is that every living breath of Madiba, continued to fuel hope and dream and now the country must face that he is gone. His passing is real and South Africa faces a turning point, a future without that imperative breath, and now as the country enters a phase of deep sadness and mourning, the dream may seem uncertain.
South Africans hoped this day of his passing would never have to come. I understand the depth of the upset and heartbreak and what that can lead to; Madiba’s passing may bring cause for concern and I hope South Africa remains calm and respectful of his legacy of peace. Let us honor Madiba with a renewed hope for peace in South Africa during this very difficult time.
“He is now rested at peace,” says President Zuma. “Our Nation has lost a son and our people have lost a father…. We knew this day would come nothing can diminish our sense of a profound loss….His community, compassion and his love. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Mandela family. They have sacrificed much and endured much so that our people can be free” said ZUMA tonight on TV.
They never spoke about Mandela in our schools, back in those days.Through my childhood in South Africa, I knew apartheid was wrong, but it took until University before I fully understood the meaning and remember those days when I first became conscious of Nelson Mandela and his struggle for South Africa. My first consciousness of the extent of the injustice and Mandela’s anti-apartheid struggle was while I was a law student as the same University that Madiba attended, studying for the same degree, an LL B at The University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Because of the South African laws banning all images and literature about and by Mandela, we had no access to information, except that which we could obtain illegally and read surreptitiously. It was a scary time when many suffered. We were not allowed to read any books or see any pictures depicting Mandela. The Apartheid government wanted to pretend that he did not exist, and they wanted to keep us from learning about him, for fear of his martyrdom inciting rebellion.
Now in his passing it is the time to ensure that his message of peace prevails and those forces which worked against Madiba, should never be given credence through violence.
I remember when I left South Africa to live in the U.S., in 1985, the first thing I did was find a bookstore to purchase as many books as I could about Mandela. I came home that day and laid them all out on my coffee table, savoring the freedom to read about him. There was no internet in those days. I read and read and read and to this day have kept those books close by, in my bedside drawer, often reading again, as a reminder of the oppression of the time and what my hero had to say, in his own words.
It is so weird for me to be here – back visiting for a few days – and it happens to be when Madiba passes on.
Here are some of the pictures from those books.
It was momentous when Madiba appointed my dear friends, the first openly gay Justice, Edwin Cameron, to the South African Constitutional Court. Both of us closeted at the time, I took Edwin to his first gay club in Johannesburg, during those days of Apartheid. In a million years we could not have imagined that a mere decade later Mandela would be released and appointing him to the position. Edwin said: “Mandela appointed me at the end of his first year in office in December 1994 as an openly and proudly gay man to the high court and, 16 years later, I’m a member of South Africa’s highest court. I can truly say my sexual orientation was irrelevant. I think a lot of other things – -political, legal and personal – played a role, but that didn’t count against me. That’s a remarkable achievement.”
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
After his father’s death in 1927, the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people. He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.
He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.
Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest. He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.
On his return to the Great Place at Mkhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn’t return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, who introduced him to Lazar Sidelsky. He then did his articles through the firm of attorneys Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.
Meanwhile he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1948 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London and also did not complete that degree.
In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.
Nelson Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped formed the ANC Youth League.
In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.
Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work the ANC adopted in 1949 a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action.
In 1952 he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his Deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint program between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months hard labour suspended for two years.
A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo.
At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only able to secretly watch as the Freedom Charter was adopted at Kliptown on 26 June 1955.
Nelson Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop of 156 activists on 5 December 1955, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr. Mandela were acquitted on 29 March 1961.
On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest at Sharpeville against the pass laws. This led to the country’s first state of emergency on 31 March and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among the thousands detained during the state of emergency.
During the trial on 14 June 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.
Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela traveled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a non-racial national convention, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. As soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March. In the face of a massive mobilization of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).
On 11 January 1962 using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela left South Africa secretly. He traveled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.
He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment which he began serving in Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists and several of his comrades were arrested.
In October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined nine others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. Facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became immortalized:
“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Denis Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white while the others went to Robben Island.
Nelson Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son Thembi in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.
On 31 March 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery Nelson Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee had visited him in hospital. Later Nelson Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.
In 1988 he was treated for Tuberculosis and was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11
February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of the remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.
Nelson Mandela immersed himself into official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.
On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.
True to his promise Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation.
In April 2007 his grandson Mandla Mandela became head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.
Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.
Hamba kahle Madiba
Shame On President Obama’s Jon Carson For Not Getting the Enda Picture
September 13th, 2013By Melanie Nathan.
Shame On President Obama’s Jon Carson For Not Getting the Enda Picture
“Mr. President, set an example for Congress now; where is an ENDA Executive Order that will at least cover businesses which seek Federal contracts. Mr. Carson what the heck are you doing asking for money based on the phoney notion that even the mere idea of passage of ENDA legislation could make so much as a dent in this particular Congress?” And then I scream and yell, “SHAME on you for even asking anything of us, when the President has yet to take at least one small step in a pro-ENDA direction that would serve as an example?”
From: Jon Carson, BarackObama.com [mailto:info@barackobama.com] Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 1:37 PM Subject: ENDA
—— A lot of Americans don’t know that it’s still legal in some states to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Yep — it’s 2013, and every American still doesn’t have that basic protection under the law. But here’s the thing: All of us who care about equality can stand up and do something about it. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, was introduced again in Congress this year — if passed, it would make sure that no one can legally be discriminated against in the workplace for being gay or transgender. OFA supporters are joining our allies across the country to stand up against discrimination — will you join us to help pass ENDA today? It really is unbelievable that people can still be denied employment, promotions, or even fired based on who they are. In 29 states, there are no laws that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation — and no protections for gender identity in 33. Nine out of 10 Americans believe there is already a federal law that protects LGBT Americans from workplace discrimination — that’s because it’s a no-brainer. Unfortunately, there isn’t — and we’ve got to change that. This year’s been a big one for LGBT equality in America. The Supreme Court overturned DOMA, and marriage equality now exists in 13 states and D.C.. Progress is happening, but this fight reminds us there is still a lot of work to be done. ENDA has been introduced in Congress almost every year since 1994 — join the fight today to pass it through Congress: http://my.barackobama.com/Tell-Congress-to-Pass-ENDA Thank you, Jon Jon Carson Executive Director Organizing for Action —————- The other side will spend millions to maintain the status quo. We’re fighting for change — chip in $5 or more to support OFA today.
Jon Carson let me know after you have asked the President to sign the ENDA-EO and then after the President has signed it, we can all lobby Congress for the next step forward, however long, until they finally pass the legislation for workplace equality. Oh and while you are at it, lets work a little harder at getting our dollars spent on electing progressive Democrats into Congress! Maybe in the meantime we can find some real leadership voices to ask for the yet to be set benchmark of FULL EQUALITY for ALL, LGBT and Women alike.
Ugandan LGBT Comunnity Arrest While Protesting Media Closures
June 24th, 2013
By Melanie Nathan.
Protesting for freedom of the press in Uganda
Today several human rights defenders were arrested outside of the Daily Monitor as they rallied in solidarity against the Ugandan authorities clamp down on freedom of speech of the media. It seems that members of Uganda’s LGBT community have shown their courage, yet again, and this time by standing up for universal principles, a freedom that is not unique to their cause. These arrests came not from seeking to preserve their personal human right to freedom of sexual orientation, but rather the universal principle which impacts all Ugandans, the right to a free press.
UPDATED: 5/24/2013.
VIDEO | The inside view of an unlawful arrest
“We attended the demonstration to support a free press. As LGBTI people we know that we are the ones often denied media access, so we went in support of the media. Hopefully, the larger straight society will see that LGBTI Ugandans support all forms of rights and that LGBTI people should be equally supported by them.”
About a dozen Ugandans and one or two westerners walking alongside a Ugandan street. The protestors are well dressed as if walking to work. They have taped their mouths with surgical strips. They are not making a noise of any kind and quietly walking almost in single file. They are carrying a stretcher with a pen symbol in the stretcher. Symbolizing a dying free press. Their intent and their protest is peaceful.
They arrive at their destination – The road block to the Daily Monitor which has been under siege by the Ugandan police. That story was reported here – below.
The next thing a bunch of riot police, way outnumbering the dozen, come dashing toward them. There was no formation, no warning. Just an attack.
When I watched the Video of the arrests it hit hard the extent of the force and clear unlawfulness of the police action. They literally ran at the protestors – in an attack mode- and lunged at them. There was no warning. No request to leave the street. They were dressed in riot gear and were extremely aggressive.
WATCH:-
We reported earlier this week that the Ugandan police had closed down two Ugandan media outlets – The Daily Monitor and The Red Pepper Tabloid. The police issued a statement saying they had planned to conduct searches, apparently for an original letter, purportedly evidence in a crime, which seems to relate to the recent military controversy involving a Ugandan general. Some believe that the closure was done in retribution and to silence these outlets from reporting on the developments surrounding the issue, rather than to search for the document. The closure was characterized as raids. Both outlets remained closed for several days, amidst an outcry by journalists and human rights defenders. A Court order was obtained ordering the police to reopen the media premises. It was ignored.
Included in the protests were several well known members of the LGBT community. Some of whom, although now protesting in solidarity with the press, had been ill-treated by the Press, including those who had been outed by Red Pepper Tabloid, which had used extremely abusive rhetoric in the outings.
As it happens, the activists from SMUG, who are now defending the right of free speech by press, had recently on May 17th’s International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO,) called upon the Ugandan Press to respect the LGBT community in their reporting:-
“Today is a time for people worldwide to reflect on the importance of fighting intolerance based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In Uganda, LGBTI persons continue to experience arbitrary outings in print, radio, television and social media.”
The closures involved two outlets – The Daily Monitor and Red Pepper, only the latter being a real culprit of tabloid outings against gays. However the calls for respect was addressed to all media in Uganda.
The May 17 IDAHO plea to the media had come from the organization, SMUG:
“In light of this, it is our fervent belief that the promotion of human dignity shall remain hollow unless we transform not only our social and political attitudes, but also the culture and practices of the media, in order to eliminate hate and ensure tolerance for diversity. The Ugandan LGBTI community therefore denounces the practices of the tabloid media in failing to uphold basic rights of privacy, and actively contributing to an atmosphere of prejudice and intolerance in Ugandan society.”
At the protest, the human rights defenders were detained for some hours at Kabalagala police station. Some managed to escape detention and others were arrested. Lawyers came to the police station and were kept out of the room where protestors were questioned. Although it seems no charges have been made at this time, the detainees are free and there are some reports of police bond having been made.
Included in the arrests was one SMUG worker, Richard Lusimbo Umulegela, a 26-year-old gay man and lead researcher for SMUG. At this time all 6 who were detained have been released.
One report by Brenda Banura tweeted, “The road block street before Daily Monitor premises. There’s no where to pass I tell you
#Monitorsiege –See Pic #1)
Pic # 2
RosebellK Rosebell Kagumire 22 May Tweeps please share our message #pressfreedom is a constitutional right #monitorsiege#RPsiege(see pic #2)
Award winning LGBT human rights defender Frank Mugisha reported that all was well until riot police showed up. By all accounts this was a peaceful protest and any arrests may impinge on the protestors’ constitutional rights to freedom of assembly. However the police suppression of such protests is not uncommon in Uganda, under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni who has held the position for the past 25 years.
The activists have been ordered to report back to the police at 9:00 am tomorrow morning. The accusations pertain to unlawful assembly. It seems the great irony is that they may well pay a price for defending the very media that so often turns against them. Yet they were willing to stand up for the universal principles of freedom that go beyond merely that of their own. This time their right to freedom of sexual orientation is not the issue for which they protested and are now paying a price, but rather the right to free press for all Ugandans. Any pursuit of charges by authorities could well open the door for Ugandans to see that gay Ugandans are indeed Ugandans first.
Ugandan LGBT Community Calls On Media To Stop Homophobic Outing Of Gays
May 25th, 2013
By Melanie Nathan.
On IDAHO calling also on Ugandan Government to refrain from enacting The Kill the gays Bill
PHOTO APPEARS ON BLOG of a Red Pepper Editor
The International Day against Homophobia takes place on May 17th every year. On this day 23 years ago, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders. This action served to end more than a century of medical homophobia. The decision of the WHO constitutes a historic date for members of the LGBT community. Sexual Minorities Uganda [SMUG] is a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex human rights advocacy network comprised of 17 member organizations.
Today, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and the Ugandan Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex [LGBTI] community join millions of people around the world in solidarity, in commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Here is their statement, taking the bold step in a call for dignity and respect to fellow Ugandans and to refrain from the numerous persecutory tabloid outings that have occurred causing much harm to the LGBTI community:
“Today is a time for people worldwide to reflect on the importance of fighting intolerance based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In Uganda, LGBTI persons continue to experience arbitrary outings in print, radio, television and social media.
Despite the High Court judgement against the Rolling Stone newspaper in January 2011, tabloids like Red Pepper routinely flout the fundamental right to privacy of the LGBTI community in Uganda. On February 24 2013, the Red Pepper published an article entitled “Top Uganda Gay Recruiters Busted”, in which it printed names and photographs of people it claimed were gay.
As Hon. Mr. Justice Musoke Kibuuka commented in his judgement against Rolling Stone newspaper, “the exposure of the identities of the persons and homes of the applicants for the purposes of fighting gayism and the activities of gays… threaten the rights of the applicants to privacy of the person and their homes.”
In light of this, it is our fervent belief that the promotion of human dignity shall remain hollow unless we transform not only our social and political attitudes, but also the culture and practices of the media, in order to eliminate hate and ensure tolerance for diversity. The Ugandan LGBTI community therefore denounces the practices of the tabloid media in failing to uphold basic rights of privacy, and actively contributing to an atmosphere of prejudice and intolerance in Ugandan society.
On this 2013 International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, the LGBTI community Calls on Journalists, Editors and Owners of Media Organizations in Uganda to:
1. 1. Respect the spirit and express terms of the judgement against Rolling Stone newspaper, and refrain from publishing articles, which serve only to undermine the deeply held values of tolerance and respect for diversity upon which Ugandan society is founded.
2. 2. Exercise respect for the fundamental right to privacy, as enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda, of the LGBTI community in Uganda.
Calls on the Government of Uganda to:
Reject the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that is still pending in Parliament, that incites unnecessary prejudice, hatred and violence in the communities where we live and makes us daily targets for hate crimes, making it impossible for us to live freely.
Punish any violence targeted towards LGBTI Ugandans for their sexual orientation and identities, as human rights are inherent regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
278 Employers File Amicus Brief In Scotus Doma Case In Support Of Marriage Equality
March 1st, 2013By Melanie Nathan.
SEE LIST OF EMPLOYERS BELOW
A team of Bingham McCutchen lawyers today filed on behalf of 278 businesses, cities, and other employers and employer organizations an amicus brief in United States v. Windsor, the United States Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The brief, a copy of which is attached, argues from the point of view of the employer that the law’s prohibition of federal recognition of lawful marriages between same-sex spouses creates a variety of hardships in the employer’s effort to administer tax, benefits and other HR matters, and in efforts to foster workplace morale.
Last year, the firm filed similar briefs in challenges to DOMA in the First and Ninth Circuit courts of appeals, in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, Case Nos. 10-2204, 10-2207, 10-2214, (1st Cir.), and Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, Case Nos. 12-15388 & 12-15409 (9th Cir.).
Partner Sabin Willett (Boston) and associate John Polito (San Francisco) led the team in drafting the Windsor brief. The Bingham team also included partners Beth Boland (Boston), Mary Huser (Silicon Valley), Susan Baker Manning (Washington, D.C.), and Ray Marshall (San Francisco), and associates Derek Care (New York), Meg Bailey (San Francisco), Jared Craft (Boston), Monica Hernandez (Silicon Valley), Bryce Woolley (Santa Monica), and Katherine Moskop (Boston).
Scroll Down to read full brief. Like GAY U.S.A. the Movie Facebook Page
Amici curiae are the following businesses: Addis Creson
Adobe Systems Inc.
Aetna Inc.
Aggregate Supply
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
Alaska Air Group, Inc.
Alaska Airlines
Alcoa Inc.
Alere Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc.
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
Apple Inc.
AppNexus Inc.
ARC Design
Artify, Inc.
Avanade Inc.
A|X Armani Exchange, LLC
Bain & Company, Inc.
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
(BNY Mellon) Bankers Trust Co. Big Duck Studio, Inc. Bigelow Villa LLC Biogen Idec, Inc. BlackRock, Inc.
Blu Homes, Inc.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation Borrego Solar Systems Inc.
Boston Community Capital, Inc.
The Boston Foundation
Boston Medical Center Corporation
Boston Scientific Corporation
The Bridgespan Group
Broadcom Corporation
Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Car Toys, Inc.
CBS Corporation
Central Physical Therapy and Fitness, Inc. Chang Consulting
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Citigroup Inc.
City Catering Company
City Lites Neon, Inc.
Clean Yield Asset Management
Commune Hotels & Resorts
Conlin Properties, Inc.
The Corcoran Group
Coupons.com Inc.
Crazy Misfits Pet Services
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
David Kosar Insurance Agency
Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation DesignWorlds for Learning, Inc.
Deutsche Bank AG
Diageo North America, Inc.
Distinguished Gay Men
DML Insurance Services, Inc.
Dry Creek Vineyard
DRY Soda Co.
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Eastern Bank Corporation eBay Inc.
Eldercare Consulting Electronic Arts Inc.
EMC Corporation EnduringHydro, LLC Ernst & Young LLP Exelon Corporation Facebook, Inc. Firefly Creative Co. 500 BC, Inc.
Flanery CPA
The Forward Motion Group, LLC Full Court Press Communications Gammelgården, LLC Gardenworks Inc.
Geolo Capital, Inc.
Gilt Groupe Holdings, Inc.
Go Factory, LLC
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Google Inc.
Greensulate
Grossman Marketing Group Group Health Cooperative Hafner Vineyard
Harrell Remodeling
Holdredge Wines
Homeward Pet Adoption Center Horizon Air Industries, Inc.
ID Financial, LLC
Inspirato, LLC
Integrated Archive Systems, Inc. Intel Corporation
Intuit Inc.
INUS Group, LLC
5
iStrategyLabs
Jackson Hole Group LLC
James D. Wood, DDS Family Dental Care
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
JetBlue Airways Corporation
The Jim Henson Company
Johnson & Johnson
Jo-Lynn Otto Photography
JTracz Designs LLC
Kemp Goldberg Partners
Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC Kinzer Real Estate
Kollmar Sheet Metal Works, Inc.
Kotzan Chiropractic
Laparoscopic Institute for Gynecologic Oncology Larson Marketing & Communications LLC Levi Strauss & Co.
Liberty Mutual Group Inc.
Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, LLC
M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. Marriott International, Inc.
Mars, Incorporated
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. Mattson
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
McKinstry Co.
Microsoft Corporation
Moody’s Corporation
Morgan Stanley
Mosaic Financial Partners, Inc.
MultiPlan, Inc.
Neumann Capital Management, LLC
New York Life Insurance Company
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NewZoom, Inc.
NIKE, Inc.
The Ogilvy Group, Inc.
The Olivia Companies, LLC
1 Source Consulting Solutions
Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Oracle America, Inc.
Orbitz Worldwide
Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
Paul’s Draperies, Inc.
Pfizer Inc.
Pierson Labs
Planet Fitness
Precision Door Service
The PrintingWorks
Prior Construction
Pro-Tec Data, Inc.
ProTrials Research, Inc.
Puma Spring Vineyards
Qualcomm Incorporated
Ray Holley Communications
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
Regroup
Reproductive Science Center of New England,
P .C.
Resource Systems Group, Inc. (RSG)
Rising Tide Brewing Company
RLL Consulting & Advocacy, LLC
Rocket Science Associates
Rural Communications Service Corporation salesforce.com, Inc.
Seabold International Services LLC
Seattle Hospitality Group LLC
The Seattle Lesbian, LLC
Shawmut Design and Construction
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Silicon Valley Progressive Faith Community Sing Out Louise! Productions
Smith & Quinn LLC
Solutions Wealth Management, LLC
Sōw
Starbucks Corporation
State Street Corporation
Stone Way Eateries, LLC
Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Stuffed Cakes, LLC
Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Company, Inc. Support.com
Sweet
Taber Food Services, Inc.
Thomson Reuters
Total Awareness Accounting Services
Total Home Improvement Inc.
Transparent Language, Inc.
Twitter, Inc.
206 Inc.
UBS AG
U.S. Balloon Co.
The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.
Unigo LLC
VCB Consulting & Accounting Services
Velsch Unlimited LLC
Verity Credit Union
Viacom Inc.
VitalSource Staffing, LLC
Vulcan Inc.
W/S Development Associates LLC
Walt Disney Company
Wasserman Media Group
Windows Management Experts, Inc.
Witeck Communications, Inc.
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Law and professional firms:
A.L. Nella & Company, LLP, CPAs
Axcel Law Partners LLP
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Burns & Levinson LLP
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C.
DLK Law Group, P.C.
Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Farella Braun + Martel, LLP
Fenwick & West LLP
Goulston & Storrs, P.C.
Grippo & Elden LLC
Heath-Newton LLP
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Integrity Law Group
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Jonathan L. Bowman, Attorney at Law, PS Kazan, McClain, Satterley, Lyons, Greenwood &
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Keker & Van Nest LLP
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Law Office of Lisa E. Schuchman
The Law Office of Susan K. Fuller, PLLC Law Offices of Cynthia F. Buhr PLLC Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Xerox Corporation Zynga Inc.
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Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Mona Smith PLLC
Nixon Peabody LLP
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Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Public Interest Law Group, PLLC Ropes & Gray LLP
Russell & Olson, LLP
Salera Consulting
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Shearman & Sterling LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Skellenger Bender, P.S.
Spectra Law PS
Valdez Noor Todd & Doyle LLP Venable LLP
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Professional, trade, and civic organizations: American Benefits Council
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and Cities, Counties and the United States Confer- ence of Mayors:
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The City of Healdsburg, California
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of the City of New York, New York
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The City and County of San Francisco, California The City of Santa Monica, California
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The United States Conference of Mayors3
Please help support GAY U.S.A. the Movie by donating at gayusathemovie.com/donate/ We are filming in D.C. at the end of March and your support will be greatly appreciated. For sponsorship opportunities contact Melanie at nathan@privatecourts.com
Princes William And Harry Remind Us Of HIV/AIDS Stigma
February 16th, 2013By Melanie Nathan.
“
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 the world.
Their letter was sent to the charity in celebration of its 30th year anniversary:
“Our generation has never known a world without HIV. We have grown up knowing of the devastating impact this virus has on lives, on families, on communities. We know, too, that HIV can be treated and the lives of sufferers extended by many years. However, there is still a stigma which blights sufferers of the disease, even today.
Terrence Higgins Trust, founded thirty years ago by friends of Terrence Higgins, one of the first people in the United Kingdom to die of AIDS, has been the other constant in this story of our generation.
Every day, its inspirational staff and volunteers work ceaselessly to turn the lives of HIV sufferers around. They have prevented countless new infections, supported thousands of people to live healthy lives with HIV, and campaigned tirelessly to gain a greater public understanding of the personal, social and media impact of HIV.
Terrence Higgins Trust is a fantastic source of advice and support on HIV related matters, always making sure those it cares for are treated with kindness and understanding. Terry Higgins has done so much to help so many people. The wonderful legacy he inspired lives on today in his Trust.
The fight against HIV started 30 years ago. Our generation must pick up the sword and continue the fight. There is still no cure or vaccine. However, we know it is possible to prevent HIV from spreading further in the future. Terrence Higgins Trust will be to the fore in this, and for that reason, and because our mother believed so passionately in the work of the Trust, we wholeheartedly congratulate you on thirty years of selfless service to others.
http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/02/12/princes-william-and-harry-remind-us-of-hivaids-stigma/
Ugandan LGBTI Youth Group Founder Arrested for Homosexuality
January 8th, 2013By Melanie Nathan.
While many of us celebrate New Years Eve, our LGBTI family around the world suffer persecution and are unable to openly celebrate with their loved ones. Reports are coming in from Uganda that one of the founders of LGBTI group Youth on Rock Foundation, (YRF) was arrested by police officers today and charged with crimes relating to homosexuality. The named person is Kaweesi Joseph, who is currently, according to the reports, being held at Kawempe police station.
Frank Mugishu of SMUG has now confirmed that Kawesi Joseph, one of the founders of LGBTI group Youth on Rock Foundation was arrested by police officers. He is charged with “carnal knowledge (homosexuality)” and “recruiting youth into homosexuality.”
We have received information that attorneys have spoken with the Kawesi and that plans are being made to try and make bail. We will provide updates as we get them.
In the meantime it would seem to me that the police are preempting the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) (also known as The Kill the Gays Bill) which has been introduced into this parliament and has yet to pass and the arrest may be political as anti-gay catalysts for the Bill try and drum up more support for its passage. Although there is an existing law which people can be charged under for “carnal knowledge or defilement,” there is currently no law that speaks to the so called “recruitment” of homosexuals. While we all know such is impossible to do, the Ugandan AHB seeks to make the misnomer a crime.
If Kaweesi’s charges are pursued the facts may be difficult to prove and certainly the aspect of “recruitment” could be thrown out by a competent court of law.
UPDATED 01/02/2013.
Second Gay Youth Worker Arrested in Uganda
While trying to visit co-worker at police station – fear and panic setting in as Gays experience heightened persecution in Uganda
By Melanie Nathan, January 02, 2012. 10.20 AM PST
In a heightened ramp up of persecution of young Gay Ugandans, a young man Kabuye Najibu was arrested in Uganda a few hours ago, while visiting his co-worker who had been arrested just before the new year.
– A second arrest – http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/01/02/second-gay-youth-worker-arrested-in-uganda/
UPDATED 01/04/2012.
Both youth workers have been released from prison after spending four days in the one case and two days in the second case. it is uncertain if charges are going to be pursued against them at this time and if the arrests will be treated as unlawful.