Gay immigrants will be helped by immigration reform, even if it doesn’t allow gay Americans to sponsor their partners. But should you support a bill that excludes LGBT families?
When thousands of marchers descend on the National Mall this Sunday to rally support for immigration reform, hundreds of them will be representing the LGBT population.
“Immigration Equality has registered 200 marchers and has also learned that an additional 100 LGBT advocates will be coming to D.C. by bus to join us at the march,” Steve Ralls, director of communications for the organization, said Tuesday. “We’re now expecting a contingent of more than 300, standing for LGBT immigrants and families on the National Mall.”
Immigration activists hope to impress upon Congress that they expect to see action taken on immigration reform this year, even as President Barack Obama dec
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The Immigration Reform Conundrum
Posted by
Fight4theRight 797 days ago
(http://nclrights.wordpress.com)
LGBT contingent to join weekend immigration rally
Posted by
Fight4theRight 797 days ago
(http://www.dcagenda.com)
Proponents of comprehensive immigration reform legislation are planning to rally this weekend in support of the bill — and drum up support for a proposed component that would help same-sex couples.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators — perhaps even up to 100,000 — are expected to gather Sunday at 2 p.m. on the National Mall to call for passing immigration reform this year. Reform Immigration for America, a coalition of immigration reform organizations, is staging the event.
Within this larger protest, a contingent of about 200 protesters is set to advocate for LGBT inclusion in immigration reform, and in particular, a provision to help same-sex bi-national couples.
Because same-sex couples don’t have federal marriage rights that are available to straight couples, LGBT people in same-sex relationships with a foreign national cannot marry their partne
Tens of thousands of demonstrators — perhaps even up to 100,000 — are expected to gather Sunday at 2 p.m. on the National Mall to call for passing immigration reform this year. Reform Immigration for America, a coalition of immigration reform organizations, is staging the event.
Within this larger protest, a contingent of about 200 protesters is set to advocate for LGBT inclusion in immigration reform, and in particular, a provision to help same-sex bi-national couples.
Because same-sex couples don’t have federal marriage rights that are available to straight couples, LGBT people in same-sex relationships with a foreign national cannot marry their partne
Gay Immigration Bill Gains Key Cosponsor (The Advocate)
Posted by
MikeLA 797 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
California Democratic representative Maxine Waters, a member of the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on immigration, has cosponsored legislation that would provide immigration rights to binational gay couples and their families.
Waters’s support comes at a crucial time for LGBT immigration reform. Last week 60 Congress members issued a letter to President Barack Obama and congressional leaders urging passage of the legislation, originally introduced in the House by New York representative Jerrold Nadler and in the Senate by Vermont’s Patrick Leahy.
Waters’s support comes at a crucial time for LGBT immigration reform. Last week 60 Congress members issued a letter to President Barack Obama and congressional leaders urging passage of the legislation, originally introduced in the House by New York representative Jerrold Nadler and in the Senate by Vermont’s Patrick Leahy.
Senate seen as bottleneck for LGBT bills
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 878 days ago
(http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com)
So far the votes are not there to undo DOMA, and an immigration reform bill set to be taken up by a House committee early next year does not include any LGBT language. The out lawmakers did say they believe when the House does schedule a vote on immigration reform the final version of the bill will include the pro-gay provisions for LGBT binational couples.
Immigration Reform Bill in the House
Posted by
USABound 878 days ago
(http://immigration.about.com)
What the bill does not include is language for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families.
Equality Caucus not yet 100 Percent on Immigration Equality
Posted by
UnitedByLove 878 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).
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. ...
No Repeal of DOMA Expected Until 2011 (If Then)
Posted by
ExileComingHome 878 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
Activists disappointed with immigration bill
Posted by
BinatUK 878 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.
How I define an LGBT issue (Open Left)
Posted by
ATLdave 878 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
Gutierrez bill affects LGBT people
Posted by
uluckidog 878 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
Immigration reform on the agenda in the USA (Love Exiles)
Posted by
igualdad 900 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
LGBT and immigration right organizations including Love Exiles have been lobbying Guiterrez to include our families. If you're reading this, please sign the petition right now to ask Guiterrez to make his bill inclusive of all American ...
Senator Arlen Specter signs support for Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
USAFrance 900 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
There has been a recent bevy of co-sponsors signing onto the Uniting American Families Act, the legislation that seeks to provide Lesbian and Gay Americans with the right to Petition for their same-sex spouses/ partners to live in the USA. This law merely seeks to place the words “permanent partners” into the existing Immigration and Naturalization Act. This is no time to let up, but rather imprtant that we make the most of the momentum. I have 14 couples I am trying to help remain together in the US. That is a tip of the iceberg. They are all desperate. They want to stay together and they want to stay at home. We need UAFA legialstion and awareness of the binational issue more so than ever. Please I am asking for your help.
..
Today the news was immense when Senator Arlen Specter sign his support to the Bill. In June this year the Senator attended and spoke at
..
Today the news was immense when Senator Arlen Specter sign his support to the Bill. In June this year the Senator attended and spoke at
Welcome sign from US ending misguided HIV policy
Posted by
USABound 930 days ago
(http://www.chron.com)
The United States has long been a resolute, generous leader in the international struggle to eliminate AIDS, but for the past 22 years it has also been one of a handful of countries to refuse entry to HIV-positive visitors, both tourists and those seeking to become legal residents.
But last week, as he prepared to sign a bill reauthorizing funds for HIV/AIDS programs, President Barack Obama announced an end to the ban, calling it a policy “rooted in fear rather than fact.”
It was a sound and welcome decision, eliminating a discriminatory roadblock that has been in place far too long without any scientific justification.
In 1987, in an atmosphere of fear and confusion over its nature and transmission, the Department of Health and Human Services added HIV/AIDS to the list of communicable diseases that could deny people entry.
But last week, as he prepared to sign a bill reauthorizing funds for HIV/AIDS programs, President Barack Obama announced an end to the ban, calling it a policy “rooted in fear rather than fact.”
It was a sound and welcome decision, eliminating a discriminatory roadblock that has been in place far too long without any scientific justification.
In 1987, in an atmosphere of fear and confusion over its nature and transmission, the Department of Health and Human Services added HIV/AIDS to the list of communicable diseases that could deny people entry.
This Wallet is Now Closed (Preparing Our Exile)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 930 days ago
(http://preparingourexile.blogspot.com)
I watched helplessly on Tuesday night as yet another vote was held on whether or not I deserve equal rights in this country. I watched my countrymen once again say that I am not quite human enough to deserve the same respect, dignity and rights that they enjoy.
I watched President Obama, the self-described "fierce advocate" for gay rights, very very carefully word a statement that was at best lukewarm in his support for those on the side of equality in Maine. I spoke face to face with my Congressman who looked helpless to me while he explained it would be difficult to pass the Uniting American Families Act. I still have the letter he sent me when I wrote him to ask him to co-sponsor that bill. He claimed to support it, but refused to co-sponsor.
o more will I sit back and accept your promises, your urgings to wait for equality. I'm sick of it. Stand up and get
I watched President Obama, the self-described "fierce advocate" for gay rights, very very carefully word a statement that was at best lukewarm in his support for those on the side of equality in Maine. I spoke face to face with my Congressman who looked helpless to me while he explained it would be difficult to pass the Uniting American Families Act. I still have the letter he sent me when I wrote him to ask him to co-sponsor that bill. He claimed to support it, but refused to co-sponsor.
o more will I sit back and accept your promises, your urgings to wait for equality. I'm sick of it. Stand up and get
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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.