On January 28, 2009, there was a knock on Shirley Tan's door. The mother of two, originally from The Philippines, was starting her morning as usual.
Published News
A New Documentary from Immigration Equality
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 795 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
Puerto Vallarta puts same-sex legal issue center stage
Posted by
USABound 795 days ago
(http://www.guadalajarareporter.com)
A fund-raiser has been planned on Sunday, February 28 to support Immigration Equality, an organization that is seeking to get the U.S. HIV ban repealed this year, and is working hard to get legislation passed that will allow a U.S. citizen to sponsor his/her same-sex partner for permanent residency in the United States.
From the Media Release:
Americans From Across the Nation Gather To Raise Awareness of Their Plight:
Unequal Treatment, Economic Hardship & Forced Exile
Contact: FB page, http://ctae.open-board.com/, twitter/zoeoka - let us know that you're coming!
Are you in a bi-national s/s couple but are stuck in exile or stuck in the U.S.? We are stand with you and with our own partners. Come on down.
If you can't make it then please twitter-follow 'zoeoka' and let's trend this event up through regular tweeting. If you're in a similar situation either in the U.S. or abroad, tell us about how the denial of LGBT immigration rights has affected you here on FB or Twitter.
On Sunday, March 21, 2010, Americans in same-sex binational partnerships will gather in the nation’s capital at the Washington Monument to protest a situation that few Americans are aware exists. They are Americans who
Americans From Across the Nation Gather To Raise Awareness of Their Plight:
Unequal Treatment, Economic Hardship & Forced Exile
Contact: FB page, http://ctae.open-board.com/, twitter/zoeoka - let us know that you're coming!
Are you in a bi-national s/s couple but are stuck in exile or stuck in the U.S.? We are stand with you and with our own partners. Come on down.
If you can't make it then please twitter-follow 'zoeoka' and let's trend this event up through regular tweeting. If you're in a similar situation either in the U.S. or abroad, tell us about how the denial of LGBT immigration rights has affected you here on FB or Twitter.
On Sunday, March 21, 2010, Americans in same-sex binational partnerships will gather in the nation’s capital at the Washington Monument to protest a situation that few Americans are aware exists. They are Americans who
Gutierrez bill affects LGBT people
Posted by
uluckidog 876 days ago
(http://www.openleft.com)
Going along to get along is not working anymore. Why should LGBT activists be there for immigration folks if they aren't there for us? Big surprise. Just like ENDA in 2007, we are expected to press on while others are left behind. This bill is now worthless for LGBT people.
I asked Rachel about the lack of the UAFA provision, and she said: Immigration Equality is continuing to push hard to make sure all families...I wrote the other night about the Gutierrez immigration reform bill leaving out a major provision for LGBT bi-national couples to have the same access to sponsorship. Currently, if one member of an opposite-sex bi-national couple is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and the other is foreign-born, the U.S. citizen or permanent resident can sponsor the foreign-born individual for immigration benefits. Same-sex bi-national couples do not have this option. The Unit
I asked Rachel about the lack of the UAFA provision, and she said: Immigration Equality is continuing to push hard to make sure all families...I wrote the other night about the Gutierrez immigration reform bill leaving out a major provision for LGBT bi-national couples to have the same access to sponsorship. Currently, if one member of an opposite-sex bi-national couple is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and the other is foreign-born, the U.S. citizen or permanent resident can sponsor the foreign-born individual for immigration benefits. Same-sex bi-national couples do not have this option. The Unit
UAFA Now ANOTHER American Exiled (WEEKLY FEATURED STORY) Melanie Nathan
Posted by
uluckidog 876 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
Here is the plan – I will post a new true life story, bi- monthly featuring a story of one binational lesbian or gay couple who are either in hiding in the US, waiting for a visa to run out, living in exile or living alone unable to be with a beloved partner. I vow to do this until one of two things happen first:
a. UAFA (or equivalent) is passed into law, giving us our equal right to sponsor our partners for green-cards, equally; or
b. I run out of binational couples – The estimate is between 40,000-100,000 binationals which means I can keep writing – lets see- 2 per month for 12 months – divide into – lets do the smaller amount in case the big amount is inaccurate – so divide 24 into 40,000 = 1,666 years – please check my math….. okay I hope “a” happens first!
a. UAFA (or equivalent) is passed into law, giving us our equal right to sponsor our partners for green-cards, equally; or
b. I run out of binational couples – The estimate is between 40,000-100,000 binationals which means I can keep writing – lets see- 2 per month for 12 months – divide into – lets do the smaller amount in case the big amount is inaccurate – so divide 24 into 40,000 = 1,666 years – please check my math….. okay I hope “a” happens first!
5 Predictions for Immigration Reform in 2010
Posted by
ATLdave 876 days ago
(http://immigration.change.org)
More than the Uniting American Families Act or any proposed legalization for 11.8 million undocumented immigrants, a plan to control future...
How I define an LGBT issue (Open Left)
Posted by
ATLdave 876 days ago
(http://www.openleft.com)
In all the LGBT community dialogue in which I participate and observe, immigration reform is never one of the "big" issues at the federal level. Usually those most talked about include hate crimes, ENDA, DOMA, DADT, and HIV/AIDS policy.
Why is that? I think it's because with the exception of HIV/AIDS, all of those policies specifically discriminate against LGBT people. Federal employment non-discrimination laws, for example, protect lots of categories of people- race, religion, sex, and so forth. Sexual orientation and gender identity are specifically excluded, so this is an "LGBT" issue.
Contrast that with immigration reform. After the Uniting American Families Act provision wasn't included in the bill as introduced (which would allow same-sex binational couples to have the same access to immigration benefits that heterosexual couples do), I can't tell you how many p
Why is that? I think it's because with the exception of HIV/AIDS, all of those policies specifically discriminate against LGBT people. Federal employment non-discrimination laws, for example, protect lots of categories of people- race, religion, sex, and so forth. Sexual orientation and gender identity are specifically excluded, so this is an "LGBT" issue.
Contrast that with immigration reform. After the Uniting American Families Act provision wasn't included in the bill as introduced (which would allow same-sex binational couples to have the same access to immigration benefits that heterosexual couples do), I can't tell you how many p
DADT, DOMA, ENDA Not Even (LGBTs stay home in 2010)
Posted by
ATLdave 876 days ago
(http://firedoglake.com)
No action on DADT. No action on DOMA. No action on ENDA. No action on immigration equality for separated families. No action on adoption rights.
Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama draw the wrong lessons about where progressives LBGTs will go in 2010. It’s not that we’ll vote for the talibangelical GOP. After all, we’re not total idiots. We know those people would just as soon Ugandize our asses as look at us.
The danger is that we will stay at home. And we’ll stay at home not just on Election Day, but on every phone-banking, neighborhood-walking, vote-by-mailing, voter-IDing, precinct-organizing, campaign-blogging day before that. That’s a lot of wo/manpower to run a mid-term campaign without.
Moreover: We are the opinion leaders in our small communities. We are the folks our less engaged friends look to for guidance. Most people don’t pay attention
Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama draw the wrong lessons about where progressives LBGTs will go in 2010. It’s not that we’ll vote for the talibangelical GOP. After all, we’re not total idiots. We know those people would just as soon Ugandize our asses as look at us.
The danger is that we will stay at home. And we’ll stay at home not just on Election Day, but on every phone-banking, neighborhood-walking, vote-by-mailing, voter-IDing, precinct-organizing, campaign-blogging day before that. That’s a lot of wo/manpower to run a mid-term campaign without.
Moreover: We are the opinion leaders in our small communities. We are the folks our less engaged friends look to for guidance. Most people don’t pay attention
A Binational Xmas Wish in A letter to President Obama
Posted by
BinatUK 876 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
Mr. President, with great respect, I am mentioning this during the holiday season because this time for many is fraught with sadness, fear and pain. Exiled Americans, who are with their spouses, cannot come home to spend Xmas with extended families and if they do, they have to leave spouses abroad. Tens of thousands of same sex couples are unable to spend these holidays together because they are stuck in different countries. These families cannot wait any longer. Our binational spouses and partners are being turned away at US airports, even as I write these words, at the arbitrary instance of an ICE officer....
Activists disappointed with immigration bill
Posted by
BinatUK 876 days ago
(http://www.windycitymediagroup.com)
Immigrant rights and LGBT activists have expressed dismay as a major immigration-reform bill introduced into the U.S. Congress by Rep. Luis Gutierrez failed to include key provisions they had sought.
Chief among these was an allowance for LGBT people to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration—which would, at least in this regard, put gay couples legally on par with heterosexual married couples.
Chief among these was an allowance for LGBT people to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration—which would, at least in this regard, put gay couples legally on par with heterosexual married couples.
Immigration Equality announces action fund
Posted by
USAFrance 876 days ago
(http://sdgln.com)
Immigration Equality, a non-profit advocacy and legal aid organization serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive immigrants and their families, announced today that it has established a “501(c)4” entity, the Immigration Equality Action Fund, to significantly increase its federal advocacy and grassroots organizing work. The Action Fund’s launch also includes an expanded office in Washington, D.C., where a new policy staffer and an online grassroots organizer will soon join the organization.
“The launch of the Immigration Equality Action Fund comes at a critical moment in our work to advocate on behalf of LGBT immigrant families,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the organization’s executive director. “As Congress turns its attention to comprehensive immigration reform, and as a record number of lawmakers signal their support for the Uniting American Families A
“The launch of the Immigration Equality Action Fund comes at a critical moment in our work to advocate on behalf of LGBT immigrant families,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the organization’s executive director. “As Congress turns its attention to comprehensive immigration reform, and as a record number of lawmakers signal their support for the Uniting American Families A
No Repeal of DOMA Expected Until 2011 (If Then)
Posted by
ExileComingHome 876 days ago
(http://www.edgeboston.com)
As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama did not support marriage equality, but he did support the repeal of the so-called "Defense of Marriage" Act (DOMA), a 1996 law that bans any federal recognition of gay and lesbian families and allows states to deny marriage rights even to same-sex couples who have been legally wed in their home states. Obama also spoke of supporting some sort of legal provision to allow same-sex families access to civil unions on a national level.
Pro-family parity lawmakers have a bill that would strike down DOMA. They call it the Respect for Marriage Act; if passed into law, the bill would protect marriage--all marriages, that is--by granting federal-level recognition to families, gay or straight, who had been married in any jurisdiction.
Some family equality advocates do not support the bill because it applies only to married couple
Pro-family parity lawmakers have a bill that would strike down DOMA. They call it the Respect for Marriage Act; if passed into law, the bill would protect marriage--all marriages, that is--by granting federal-level recognition to families, gay or straight, who had been married in any jurisdiction.
Some family equality advocates do not support the bill because it applies only to married couple
In March of this year I was faced with a Sophie’s choice – I could stay in the US with my 12 year old daughter, in a shared custody arrangement; or leave her behind to go into exile with my spouse and our 4 year old. Our 4 year nightmare involved navigating the complex Immigration system to keep our family together. Had we not been of the same sex, we would have had no problems at all.
After receiving help from Senator Feinstein, I lead the effort to obtain the introduction by Senator Feinstein of Private Bill #867 for Shirley Tan and when my advocacy became public scores of binational couples began contacting me for help; and not a day goes by without a new request. I testified before the California State Assembly Judicial Committee for AJR 15 and provided written testimony to Senator Leahy for UAFA at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing June 3rd 2009. ...
After receiving help from Senator Feinstein, I lead the effort to obtain the introduction by Senator Feinstein of Private Bill #867 for Shirley Tan and when my advocacy became public scores of binational couples began contacting me for help; and not a day goes by without a new request. I testified before the California State Assembly Judicial Committee for AJR 15 and provided written testimony to Senator Leahy for UAFA at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing June 3rd 2009. ...
LGBT Immigration Reform Petition (Fabulous PDX)
Posted by
Fight4theRight 876 days ago
(http://fabulouspdx.com)
Our exiles and exiles-to-be cannot wait for the impending Immigration Reform battle or for UAFA to garnish more co-sponsors. Our binationals do not want to be the “Public Option” of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. ...Many of us already know the story of Shirley Tan – a California mother in a legal partnership with another woman. Tan is Filipino and her partner is American. If they were a heterosexual couple, Shirley’s right to be in the United States with her partner – her wife – and her twin sons would not be questioned. Married couples in the United States get automatic immigration rights. We do not need to wait for DOMA to be overturned or for years and years to get OUR rights included in some massive Immigration Policy overhaul.
We can do this now.
Read the explanation below. Watch the video. Click through to sign the petition. Thanks!
We can do this now.
Read the explanation below. Watch the video. Click through to sign the petition. Thanks!
Equality Caucus not yet 100 Percent on Immigration Equality
Posted by
UnitedByLove 876 days ago
(http://www.actonprinciples.org)
There are six Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members who are also members of the Equality Caucus that have cosponsored both DOMA repeal and the Uniting American Families Act. Among those Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members, ..Over the weekend we learned that Congressman Gutierrez’s comprehensive immigration bill would not include LGBT families after much efforts from leading national LGBT organizations. The Roll Call article claims the pushback came from “Hispanic leaders more focused on keeping religious leaders on board with the plan.”
Now we are told we must wait until an amendment is made to the bill (remember when we were told to wait until the end of the year for ENDA?) when it comes before the Judiciary Committee in February of next year, a move supported by Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Polis (D-CO-2).
Now we are told we must wait until an amendment is made to the bill (remember when we were told to wait until the end of the year for ENDA?) when it comes before the Judiciary Committee in February of next year, a move supported by Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Polis (D-CO-2).
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Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.