LGBT rights supporters on Capitol Hill are looking to an Illinois congressman for inclusion in his upcoming immigration reform bill that's expected to appeal to more liberal members of the U.S. House.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) on Tuesday issued a statement of core principles for his planned comprehensive reform legislation, which includes a belief in family "as a cornerstone of our immigration system."
"Family is the bedrock of our society, and immigration reform must support strong, united families and treat all immigrant families fairly and equally," says the statement. "Right now, our broken immigration system keeps too many American families apart for years and even decades, when they have done everything legally."
The statement calls for immigration rules "predicated on family values" that keep family members together.
Published News
Immigration reform bill intrigues gay activists
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 939 days ago
(http://www.washblade.com)
Gay partners seeking immigration changes
Posted by
USABound 939 days ago
(http://www.post-gazette.com)
He came here nine years ago from Indonesia, a gifted young student who earned a Ph.D. in structural engineering -- on a full scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh -- met his partner at a Starbucks in Shadyside, got a job in Washington, D.C., bought a condo and got married.
And on Wednesday, he got on a plane to Indonesia -- against his will.
Because he is gay, the man calling himself "Joe Smith" -- he asked that his real name not be used because he hasn't come out to his Indonesian family -- is not recognized as married under U.S. immigration law. So, when he was laid off from his job in April, Mr. Smith lost his employment-based green card, couldn't qualify for a family-based green card -- and the deportation clock started ticking.
Today, Mr. Smith's partner, Steve Orner, will appear at a congressional briefing on a House bill that would giv
And on Wednesday, he got on a plane to Indonesia -- against his will.
Because he is gay, the man calling himself "Joe Smith" -- he asked that his real name not be used because he hasn't come out to his Indonesian family -- is not recognized as married under U.S. immigration law. So, when he was laid off from his job in April, Mr. Smith lost his employment-based green card, couldn't qualify for a family-based green card -- and the deportation clock started ticking.
Today, Mr. Smith's partner, Steve Orner, will appear at a congressional briefing on a House bill that would giv
Gay Man Testifies On Immigration Reform
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 939 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
A congressional briefing held Friday to discuss immigration reform included five witnesses, one of whom was a gay man testifying about the struggles faced by binational LGBT couples.
Steve Orner of Washington, D.C., said goodbye on Wednesday to his partner of nearly 10 years, “Joe Smith” -- who asked that we not use his real name -- when Smith left to return to his native Indonesia.
“I'm scared to go back,” Smith said by phone on the day of his departure. “This is my home; I have been living here for half of my life.”... For now, the two have determined that living separately is their only option since they would have to be closeted in Indonesia and Orner would not be employable there.
Steve Orner of Washington, D.C., said goodbye on Wednesday to his partner of nearly 10 years, “Joe Smith” -- who asked that we not use his real name -- when Smith left to return to his native Indonesia.
“I'm scared to go back,” Smith said by phone on the day of his departure. “This is my home; I have been living here for half of my life.”... For now, the two have determined that living separately is their only option since they would have to be closeted in Indonesia and Orner would not be employable there.
LGBT Democratic Club Will Honor NCLR Immigration Project
Posted by
BrenDAL 939 days ago
(http://nclrights.wordpress.com)
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club will honor NCLR Immigration Project Director. “Noemi is a fierce advocate for the rights of LGBT immigrants, some of the most invisible members of our community,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “Only a handful of years ago, the U.S. immigration authorities had never granted asylum based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Noemi’s careful and meticulous work on behalf of our clients helped to change that. These victories are some of NCLR’s proudest moments—not only because each asylum case won strengthens sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes within immigration law—but even more importantly, because they often mean a person’s life has been saved.”
The time is now, lest immigration be maligned further. A nation born of immigrants, whether Hispanic, Asian, African, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, we are forgetting the forbearance shown our forefathers and forgoing the ... U.S. Representative Mike Honda, who represents California’s 15th Congressional district (including Silicon Valley) has long been a supporter of immigration reform. In today’s Roll Call (popular in-game newspaper on Capitol Hill), there is an opinion piece by Congressman Honda that refreshingly includes binational same-sex couples while giving examples of why the current immigration system must be reformed....
Another constituent, Judy Rickard, will permanently leave America this November in an effort to keep her family together. Under U.S. law, she cannot be reunited with her partner, Karin Bogliolo, a UK national. Judy would have preferred to
Another constituent, Judy Rickard, will permanently leave America this November in an effort to keep her family together. Under U.S. law, she cannot be reunited with her partner, Karin Bogliolo, a UK national. Judy would have preferred to
The Sunday Star-Times (via Stuff) reported that the longtime aide to former Prime Minister Helen Clark, Heather Simpson, has married her partner, Sue Veart, in a civil union at their home in Wellington. Clark, whose government created civil unions, did not attend.
The article talked about Simpsons political power during Clark’s Labour-led government, before moving on to how Simpson had her “arm twisted” to work for Clark at the United Nations in New York City. Apparently Veart recently left her job so she could join Simpson.
The article said: “One acquaintance said she believed the civil union would make it easier for Veart to live in the US.” Personally, I doubt that’s true, given Simpson’s well-known political nous. She would know that no foreign or domestic legal recognition of same-sex relationships—whether civil unions or marriages—are recognised by the US
The article talked about Simpsons political power during Clark’s Labour-led government, before moving on to how Simpson had her “arm twisted” to work for Clark at the United Nations in New York City. Apparently Veart recently left her job so she could join Simpson.
The article said: “One acquaintance said she believed the civil union would make it easier for Veart to live in the US.” Personally, I doubt that’s true, given Simpson’s well-known political nous. She would know that no foreign or domestic legal recognition of same-sex relationships—whether civil unions or marriages—are recognised by the US
Gay immigrants
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 939 days ago
(http://www.houstonvoice.com)
Images from last week's National Equality March shared and posted on the Internet feature the energized and bright faces of the next generation of activists - the Proposition 8 generation. ...
We can help gay newcomers by welcoming them and by continuing our efforts to pass legislation that benefit us all. The Uniting American Families Act and the Respect for Marriage Act will allow binational couples and families to stay together in the United States. The repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" will keep gay immigrant soldiers fighting for their adopted country and eventually allow them to be proud and loyal citizens. ...
We can help gay newcomers by welcoming them and by continuing our efforts to pass legislation that benefit us all. The Uniting American Families Act and the Respect for Marriage Act will allow binational couples and families to stay together in the United States. The repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" will keep gay immigrant soldiers fighting for their adopted country and eventually allow them to be proud and loyal citizens. ...
The principles of comprehensive immigration reform legislation are being unveiled today and they are LGBT inclusive:
25 KEY PRINCIPLES TO MEANINGFUL REFORM :
11. Included the language of the Uniting American Families Act that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow permanent partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, including same-sex partners, to obtain permanent residency....
25 KEY PRINCIPLES TO MEANINGFUL REFORM :
11. Included the language of the Uniting American Families Act that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow permanent partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, including same-sex partners, to obtain permanent residency....
Washington man gets 18 months in gay immigration fraud
Posted by
Fight4theRight 939 days ago
(http://www.thenewstribune.com)
A man accused of advising straight immigrants to claim homosexuality - and potential persecution in their home countries - when they applied for asylum has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Steven Mahoney held himself out as an expert in immigration affairs and ran Mahoney and Associates in Kent, which advised immigrants on how to stay in the U.S. He pleaded guilty in April, acknowledging that between 1998 and 2007 he filed as many as 99 false immigration documents and was paid between $1,000 and $4,000 for each.
In addition to false claims of homosexuality, he advised some clients to claim they could be tortured due to their religious practices or political views.
His ex-wife, Helen Mahoney, was sentenced to six months. Both are naturalized U.S. citizens from Russia.
Steven Mahoney held himself out as an expert in immigration affairs and ran Mahoney and Associates in Kent, which advised immigrants on how to stay in the U.S. He pleaded guilty in April, acknowledging that between 1998 and 2007 he filed as many as 99 false immigration documents and was paid between $1,000 and $4,000 for each.
In addition to false claims of homosexuality, he advised some clients to claim they could be tortured due to their religious practices or political views.
His ex-wife, Helen Mahoney, was sentenced to six months. Both are naturalized U.S. citizens from Russia.
Moves from Obama Could Rattle Key Constituencies (The Rose Garden)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 939 days ago
(http://www.rollcall.com)
President Barack Obama is playing a perilous political game with some of his core constituencies, pursuing policies that threaten to diminish the enthusiasm of groups that helped put him into office.
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
Obama under attack from the LEFT
Posted by
UnitedByLove 939 days ago
(http://www.nydailynews.com)
President Barack Obama has taken some heat not just from conservative critics, but from liberal ones too. To be sure, Obama's favorable rating among Democrats in general remains a stratospheric 89%, according to a Gallup Poll released last week.
But increasingly, noisy factions on the party's most liberal flank - among them gay rights proponents, pro-choice activists and immigration reformers who Obama courted last year - are incensed that their causes have taken a backseat to the White House's all-out push on health care reform. ...
But increasingly, noisy factions on the party's most liberal flank - among them gay rights proponents, pro-choice activists and immigration reformers who Obama courted last year - are incensed that their causes have taken a backseat to the White House's all-out push on health care reform. ...
President Obama Declares War on Marriage and the Catholic Church
Posted by
UnitedByLove 939 days ago
(http://www.catholic.org)
The 'so-called' Defense of Marriage Act? That 'so-called' is the sound of contempt toward the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim understanding of marriage.
Gays Icon in America (Economist)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 939 days ago
(http://www.economist.com)
THE charge that Barack Obama delivers soaring rhetoric but little action is in the air these days.
Pass the Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
uluckidog 943 days ago
(http://thehill.com)
We must change the law to end the gratuitous cruelty being imposed on Greg, Jaime and the thousands of other couples just like them around the country. We urge Congress to incorporate UAFA into the forthcoming comprehensive immigration reform. No immigration reform we enact can be truly comprehensive unless it also addresses this deprivation of the civil rights of bi-national families. There is no rational reason to continue this discriminatory treatment. It is long past time that Congress did something about it....
Senator Leahy and Rep Nadler plea for inclusion of UAFA and I SAY NOW
Posted by
uluckidog 943 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
I for one have always feared that UAFA will take a back seat as a stand alone bill to Comprehensive Immigration Reform. while I understand and truly appreciate the Senator and Congressman’s plea for inclusion in CIR, I fear that this may derogate from the work that still needs to be done to sweeten UAFA and pass it as a stand alone, this year. My own comments, together with the very valuable input by Lavi Soloway, founder of Immigration Equality, are noted in the posting’s comment section. I for one believe that if organizations such as Immigration equality worked directly with the Senator and Congressman, they could forward UAFA. Instead IE has nailed their hat onto the Comprehensive Immigration reform hat stand. This action could have served well to compliment out4immigrations letter writing campaign, but again we find our organizations’ inability to unite in strategy.
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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.