"DOMA is not a 'neutral' policy to the thousands of bi-national same-sex couples who have to choose between family and country because they are considered strangers under our immigration laws," Solmonese continued. "It is not a 'neutral' policy toward ...
President Obama had appeared to be a candidate concerned with equality before the law for America’s gay and lesbians and their families. Even though he did not support marriage equality, Obama spoke of wishing to repeal discriminatory laws such as the 1996 "Defense of Marriage" Act, which does nothing to support marriage except for deny federal recognition of married same-sex couples.
Because of DOMA, same-sex couples wed in the six states where marriage equality is currently legal cannot access any of the federal rights, protections, obligations, and benefits of marriage. Nor will the U.S. Census count gay a
Search results for gay
The Spark that Ignites a Gay Backlash (EDGE Boston)
Posted by
BinatUK 1072 days ago
(http://www.edgeboston.com)
NYT Slams Disturbing DOMA Brief (The Advocate)
Posted by
MikeLA 1072 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
The New York Times published an editorial on Tuesday that is highly critical of the Obama administration for allowing the Department of Justice to file what the newspaper calls a “disturbing” brief in support of the Defense of Marriage Act last week. The New York Times says the Obama administration made a "bad call on gay rights" when it filed a brief that defended the Defense of Marriage Act in a "hurtful way."
Political IQ (Gay and Lesbian Times)
Posted by
igualdad 1073 days ago
(http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com)
The California Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8 is the best thing to happen to the GLBT movement in years – and no, I’m not joking...
Once dominated by such groups as the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the GLBT movement is beginning to dance to the will of online activists. The netroots are as agile and responsive as HRC and NGLTF are clumsy and ...
Once dominated by such groups as the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the GLBT movement is beginning to dance to the will of online activists. The netroots are as agile and responsive as HRC and NGLTF are clumsy and ...
Nations Mayors Speak Up for Equality
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1073 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
The nation’s mayors are proud to take the lead in recognizing the importance of protecting all our citizens equally. It is now time for state legislatures and our federal government to enact the same protections for all our nation’s citizens.”
The resolution, titled Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans, also endorsed federal bills including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The resolution, titled Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans, also endorsed federal bills including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Twisted Politics (Immigration Matters)
Posted by
DividedByLaw 1073 days ago
(http://swktalk.com)
Combustible indeed! When I first posted a story about a binational, same-sex couple, the slew of anti-gay comments was expected but disheartening. As I previously wrote in response to these comments, it’s very difficult to profitably explain why immigration rights should extend to gay and lesbian immigrants when there are folks who still believe that the rights of the gay community should continue to be restricted in the legal, financial and societal sectors of our community. If anything we can see through these personal stories how intertwined all these issues — immigration, gay and lesbian rights, privacy laws — really are and how addressing one (i.e. inherently discriminatory policies against gays and lesbians in our military and society) could positively impact another. I disagree with Appleby (quoted above) — while it’s true the immigration debate does not so extensively overlap wi
What Hate Crimes and Travel Promotion Have in Common
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1073 days ago
(http://jaysays.com)
Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what hate crimes and the promotion of tourism into the United States have to do with each other. However, as is being reported via an “unnamed source” by way of the Washington Blade, Americablog and Pam’s House Blend, The United States Senate has, apparently, deemed adding the current Hate Crimes Bill (which passed the House as H.R. 1913) as an Amendment to S. 1023, also known as the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, proper.
The purpose of S. 1023 is “to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.” But this is, apparently, the bill which will get sexual orientation and gender identity included into existing federal hate crimes legislation – have gays, will travel.
The purpose of S. 1023 is “to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.” But this is, apparently, the bill which will get sexual orientation and gender identity included into existing federal hate crimes legislation – have gays, will travel.
Obama Administrations DOMA Defense Unacceptable (HuffingtonPost)
Posted by
ExileComingHome 1073 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
In fact, one of the lawyers who wrote the brief – Scott Simpson – is a Mormon Republican, and a holdover from the Bush Administration.
In 2007, I asked Hillary Clinton if she would support repealing DOMA. She argued it “served a very important purpose,” but agreed that Part 3 (which bars all federal benefits) should be scrapped. Barack Obama, who was running against her for President, promised to repeal the whole legislation. For this and other reasons, I argued that he would make a better President for the LGBT community. I did not fault Obama for his rhetoric that marriage is “a man and a woman,” because his policy pledges were sound. While many gays and lesbians complained throughout the campaign, I retorted that he (a) opposed Proposition 8 and (b) would repeal DOMA.
Today, Congress has yet to pass – and Obama has yet to sign – legislation repealing DOMA. W
In 2007, I asked Hillary Clinton if she would support repealing DOMA. She argued it “served a very important purpose,” but agreed that Part 3 (which bars all federal benefits) should be scrapped. Barack Obama, who was running against her for President, promised to repeal the whole legislation. For this and other reasons, I argued that he would make a better President for the LGBT community. I did not fault Obama for his rhetoric that marriage is “a man and a woman,” because his policy pledges were sound. While many gays and lesbians complained throughout the campaign, I retorted that he (a) opposed Proposition 8 and (b) would repeal DOMA.
Today, Congress has yet to pass – and Obama has yet to sign – legislation repealing DOMA. W
Lets Talk Immigration
Posted by
ATLdave 1073 days ago
(http://www.noquarterusa.net)
Now, this isn’t a new issue - GLB couples having to engage in all kinds of machinations should they fall in love with someone from another country. He is absolutely right - it ISN’T a decision any U.S. citizen should have to make.
Now is when I interject that my sister married some guy from the other side of the world whom she met in a Star Trek chat-room. I am not kidding you (and yes, we were all so proud). Oh, he is now an American citizen - BECAUSE HE CAN BE.
And like everything else dealing with the GLBT community, it is not smooth sailing ahead. Oh, well, when you put it like that, by all means, let’s just back burner the whole thing and continue to make the GLBT community pay a higher price than anyone else in this country to BE citizens of this country.
Now is when I interject that my sister married some guy from the other side of the world whom she met in a Star Trek chat-room. I am not kidding you (and yes, we were all so proud). Oh, he is now an American citizen - BECAUSE HE CAN BE.
And like everything else dealing with the GLBT community, it is not smooth sailing ahead. Oh, well, when you put it like that, by all means, let’s just back burner the whole thing and continue to make the GLBT community pay a higher price than anyone else in this country to BE citizens of this country.
Gay couples lobby for immigration benefits from US
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1074 days ago
(http://www.chron.com)
Immigration Law Divides Gay Couples. Joseph Racicot and his partner, Roland, will celebrate their eighth anniversary as a couple on Tuesday. They would love to have a quiet dinner in the ranch-style home they picked out in Houston, share a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and rehash the story of how they met.Instead, they will spend their anniversary some 1,500 miles apart — Racicot in Saskatchewan, Canada, and Roland in their Houston home — linked only by cell phones and the belief that they belong together, despite the difficulty of maintaining a long-distance relationship complicated by immigration issues.
“The bottom line is that we wouldn’t be going through this if, as an American, I had the right to sponsor my partner,” said Roland, who asked that his last name be withheld for fear of repercussions at his workplace.
In December 2004, Racicot was questioned b
“The bottom line is that we wouldn’t be going through this if, as an American, I had the right to sponsor my partner,” said Roland, who asked that his last name be withheld for fear of repercussions at his workplace.
In December 2004, Racicot was questioned b
Catholic Bishops Wont Help Immigrants if it Helps Gays
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1074 days ago
(http://atheism.about.com)
Catholic leaders in America have frequently presented themselves as defenders of immigrants against racism and xenophobia, but apparently this "defense" will only be provided so long as immigrants stick to the demands of Catholic dogma. Catholic leaders aren't interested in defending immigrants who are gay, so the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will no longer support the Uniting American Families Act because it would treat gay couples just like married heterosexual couples.
I doubt that anti-gay bigots like Rodriguez and other Catholic bishops are completely ignorant of the fact that how they define marriage is not how marriage has been defined in every culture at every point in time. I doubt that they are ignorant of the different forms marriage has taken or of the fact that marriage today in America is very different from what marriage was a few decades or e
I doubt that anti-gay bigots like Rodriguez and other Catholic bishops are completely ignorant of the fact that how they define marriage is not how marriage has been defined in every culture at every point in time. I doubt that they are ignorant of the different forms marriage has taken or of the fact that marriage today in America is very different from what marriage was a few decades or e
Patience
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1075 days ago
(http://hunteratrandom.blogspot.com)
Obama has been mostly silent on our issues since taking office. Insiders tell us that he will keep his promises. They tell us to be patient. They tell us to wait.
Maybe they're right. Maybe not. Maybe the Obama Administration really is working like crazy behind the scenes to dismantle DOMA and Don’t Ask, to support the Employment Non—Discrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act. Maybe they're just hoping if they placate us enough, we’ll go away.
We made progress on civil rights when we were yelling and screaming. Then we decided to be prudent. Know what? People aren't impressed with how responsible you're being. They're impressed with the emotional reality that you bring to your cause: when they see your face, hear your words, know who you are, that changes them. Sitting on the sidelines being prudent doesn't change anything. It just means you've be
Maybe they're right. Maybe not. Maybe the Obama Administration really is working like crazy behind the scenes to dismantle DOMA and Don’t Ask, to support the Employment Non—Discrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act. Maybe they're just hoping if they placate us enough, we’ll go away.
We made progress on civil rights when we were yelling and screaming. Then we decided to be prudent. Know what? People aren't impressed with how responsible you're being. They're impressed with the emotional reality that you bring to your cause: when they see your face, hear your words, know who you are, that changes them. Sitting on the sidelines being prudent doesn't change anything. It just means you've be
A Press conference in D.C. on Thursday was attended by Shirley Tan and her family when Mike Honda introduced the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would, inter alia, extend to “permanent partners” the same naturalization rights accorded to spouses under the bill, allowing gay and lesbian Americans to seek legal residency for their immigrant same-sex partners. Although designed as comprehensive reform, it would include the LBGT community. This would then in effect amount to a merger (if you will) or an absorption, more appro pro of the Uniting American Families Act. I still have to be convinced that from the LGBT standpoint we have not sold ourselves short, due in part to the greater political debate and invalidation of our families by certain groups. If that is the case though I hope UAFA will continue to stand on its own. I can do not better for now than to refer you to this
Is this UAFA bill pushing things a bit
Posted by
ATLdave 1075 days ago
(http://answers.yahoo.com)
The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)-im a homosexual, but this gay marriage stuff is stupid. Yeah it lets gay people who have no marital relationship, bring a sex partner into the US for permanent residence. In other words, suddenly 100 million immigrants will claim they're gay and bring their friends in. What a STUPID law!
HRC whacks Obama
Posted by
DividedByLaw 1076 days ago
(http://www.politico.com)
The gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, which has generally been slow to whack the White House, criticized a Justice Department filing in California in defense of the Defense of Marriage Act, calling on Obama instead to keep his promise to repeal the legislation:
Obama angers gays with marriage law defense (SFChronicle)
Posted by
igualdad 1076 days ago
(http://www.sfgate.com)
President Obama, who said as a candidate that he would seek repeal of a law denying federal recognition of same-sex marriage, has angered gay rights groups with court arguments portraying the law as a nondiscriminatory measure that "preserves scarce government resources."
The Justice Department's filing with a federal court in Santa Ana was the administration's first statement on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that denies federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples. Those benefits include joint tax filing, Social Security survivors' payments and spousal immigration status.The law also allows states to withhold recognition of same-sex marriages performed in another state or country.
Obama called the law "abhorrent" during the presidential campaign and said he would work to overturn it. He has not presented any such legislati
The Justice Department's filing with a federal court in Santa Ana was the administration's first statement on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that denies federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples. Those benefits include joint tax filing, Social Security survivors' payments and spousal immigration status.The law also allows states to withhold recognition of same-sex marriages performed in another state or country.
Obama called the law "abhorrent" during the presidential campaign and said he would work to overturn it. He has not presented any such legislati
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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.