Thank you for the submission Melanie! -Alisa, curatorial assistant

My name is Melanie Nathan, and I am the Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition, based in Marin County California. We work with ambassadors in several African countries, including, South Africa, Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, The Gambia and Senegal.

Last year I was deeply honored when my work for human rights in the LGBTI global arena was recognized by the Board of San Francisco Pride and I was appointed community grand marshal. The platform provided tremendous impetus for the work itself, as we struggle to bring awareness to the plight of LGBTI people in African countries where being LGBTI is illegal.



I was born in South Africa - the offspring of an Ochberg Orphan. My granny Rose Miller was rescued during the Pogroms by a Jewish philanthropist from Cape Town and raised in the Arcadia Jewish Orphanage, Johannesburg. In 1985 I immigrated to the United States after practicing as an attorney in South Africa during the Apartheid era. I was raised with a strong Jewish identity and a deep love for Israel. I treasure this and honor my heritage with great pride.



I was deeply impacted by the stories my grandmother would tell me and by the letter diary which was traced to my great grandmother, Feiga, who had to give up her children to save their lives. I too was faced with a “Sophie’s Choice almost a Century later, when the USA laws discriminated against my same-sex family, not allowing me to sponsor my partner for a green card because of the Defense of Marriage Act. But that is a long story and you will have to wait for the book.



I believe that the persecution of the Jewish people served as the impetus for the work I now do with African LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees.



To my way of thinking I owe my global LGBTI community whatever I can do to combat homophobia and its impact in the same was as every Jew around the globe had a duty to assist other Jews during the terrible Pogroms and Holocaust.



I have written much on these topics. I have compared the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person in Uganda, who is in hiding, seeking refuge from state sanctioned assault, threat of arrest and death, to Ann Frank.



At this time, on our watch we have many Ann Franks all around Africa. Thirty four countries in Africa criminalize homosexuality and leaders seek even harsher punitive measures against gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people.



Last year my Relief Fund provided safe shelter and assistance to 47 such people. This year we are determined to make more people aware and raise more funds. THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION



My blog can be found at O-BLOGDEE-OBLOG- DA



and my peace work with school students at www.peacemakermuseum.org.