On May 21st, I celebrated my 16th birthday and wanted to have a "Sweet 16" party and invite a lot of friends. My parents and I discussed the party and we all decided that my birthday party would also find a way to make a contribution back to our community, either locally or globally. My idea was to ask all of my guests not to bring birthday gifts for me, but instead make a donation to a charity of my choice. I choose to have my friends and their families donate money to the Global Fund for Women.

I chose the Global Fund as a result of having attended a fundraising breakfast earlier this year, at my middle school. One of the honorary speakers was Kavita Ramdas, who spoke about her work at the Global Fund for Women. I liked the stories she told, the passion she showed for her work. Afterwards, I wondered what I could do to make a difference in the world.

I had 116 of my friends attend my party on June second, and together we raised a total of $2,480 for the Global Fund for Women! People contributed through checks, cash and online donations. My mother and I were very surprised when we counted all the donations and realized how much money had been collected! It is a testament to how inspired local teenagers and their families were by this opportunity. My birthday and the party were a lot of fun, but I feel even better when I think that all of us together have helped to make a difference in the world for women's rights, for human rights and for greater global compassion. This was one of the best things I have ever done and I am really proud of how well it all turned out.

Erin Piper will be entering her junior year at Gunn High School in Palo Alto this Fall.

We recently received sad news from the Positive Women's Network, a Global Fund grantee in South Africa. Sizakele Sigasa a staff member with the group was murdered earlier this month for advocating the rights of the Gay and Lesbian community in South Africa. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission published this release on the murder:

The South African lesbian and gay communities through the Joint Working Group* and partner organisations STRONGLY CONDEMN the killing of Sizakele Sigasa (34) and Salome Masooa (23) from a township in Johannesburg. They were found (Sunday 8th July) murdered, execution style, in a nearby field in Meadowlands; a shocking image that is not so new in South Africa in the light of the recent increase in violence and rape against women either identified as, suspected of or supporting lesbian and gay rights.

Gays and lesbians are men and women, human beings who deserve equal rights and treatment - not to be ridiculed or called names, beaten, tortured, raped or killed. These gross human rights violations are not just inhuman and barbaric - they must not be tolerated! Sizakele and Salome's killers, like everyone else, HAD NO RIGHT TO THREATEN OR KILL THEM!!

Violence against lesbians and gays is unSouth African. Here, oppression and discrimination have no place, still there are parents who reject or kick children out to the streets; siblings, friends and communities who hurt, beat, rape, torture and even kill lesbians and gays. If they survive all this, they face further victimisation at in the hands of the police and even the courts - THIS IS NOT JUSTICE AT ALL. People who inflict harm upon and even kill lesbians and gays (or anyone else) do not belong in South Africa. Leaders and communities that do not oppose violence against gays, lesbians, women, children, rape survivors and HIV+ people do not belong here.

1) We call on the Meadowlands Police Services to investigate this matter - efficiently and rigorously;

2) We call on other state bodies and communities to support the families by working with the Police and the Prosecuting Authorities towards ensuring that the killers are brought to book.

We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and friends. We offer our support to the colleagues and comrades as they mourn the death of these two precious women.

Last Saturday was the day of the Sixth Zagreb Pride Parade. It was a wonderful event that brought together queer activists from around Croatia, Balkans and other European countries on the streets of Zagreb and main square of the city with Rainbow Flags flying all over the center! There were over 200 people marching the streets and enjoying the concert at the main square. As you can see from the photos bellow there still was a lot of police presence (as in previous years) during the march and the concert.

Police presence and somewhat separation of other citizens from marching queer supporters allowed the Pride to go without incidents. However, as soon as the Pride was over and police left and participants started going home, to parties, or train stations, several incidents were recorded.

By the end of the day on Saturday police arrested eight people after a series of homophobic attacks occurred. Marko Jurcic, one of the event's organizers, told Agence France-Presse that 10 marchers were hurt, with two needing medical treatment. Those arrested had openly threatened marchers. Marina Burazer of  the Zagreb police said that five of the people arrested carried what appeared to be Molotov cocktails,  though the contents of each bottle had not been confirmed. Gianpaolo  Silvestri, an Italian senator, was in one of the attacked groups after the march, though he suffered no injuries.

"What rights are we speaking about if we do not have the right for life?" said Yanar Mohammad of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq. In a recent interview on  CNN's People You Should Know Yanar discusses how Iraqi women are protecting women threatened by honor killings and organizing to change Iraqi laws that allow perpetrators to go unpunished. The Global Fund has supported the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq since 2005.