As if we didn't have enough proof that far-right Republicans are lacking in empathy, and possibly actual human hearts, comes this charming vignette from Wednesday's Senate hearing on the Uniting American Families Act. Shirley Tan, the 43-year-old mother of twins and partner of 23 years to Jay Mercado, testified about recent attempts by immigration officials to deport her to the Philliipines.
I suppose I should stop being surprised when some wingers keep proving they're even more crass and craven that we thought them to be. But it's certainly indicative of how some still feel about us and our families, and how important the UAFA legislation is.
I'm sure it would break Senator Sessions' crusty heart as well, because it's a tragedy that's played out in a relationship he considers "valid" - the death of a husband who leaves behind a wife and child. But the tears o
Search results for mother
Only the Coldest Heart Can Dismiss Child Tears
Posted by
uluckidog 1083 days ago
(http://dc.bilerico.com)
Jeff Sessions Annoyed By Crying Child At Hearing (The Huffington Post)
Posted by
MikeLA 1084 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
Heterosexual Americans can earn citizenship for their foreign partners by marrying them. Gays, obviously, cannot do that, effectively making a gay American and his or her foreign spouse legal strangers.
For most people, the sight of a 12-year-old boy in tears at the prospect of his mother being deported halfway around the world would invoke some sympathy. Unmoved, however, was Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, ranking minority member of the Committee and the only Republican to bother to attend the hearing. At the sight of the weeping boy, according to a Senate staffer who was at the hearing, Sessions leaned towards one of his aides and sighed, "Enough with the histrionics." Sessions's press secretary did not return a call seeking comment.
For most people, the sight of a 12-year-old boy in tears at the prospect of his mother being deported halfway around the world would invoke some sympathy. Unmoved, however, was Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, ranking minority member of the Committee and the only Republican to bother to attend the hearing. At the sight of the weeping boy, according to a Senate staffer who was at the hearing, Sessions leaned towards one of his aides and sighed, "Enough with the histrionics." Sessions's press secretary did not return a call seeking comment.
So said Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) according to a staffer when one of Shirley Tan’s sons broke into tears as his mother testified at the UAFA hearings in Washington yesterday. In the clip below, Senator Patrick Leahy stops the hearing briefly near the 5 minute mark as Tan’s son weeps.
When it was his turn to speak, Sessions cited the usual arguments and suspects in his remarks, his opposition to same-sex marriage in full view of the hearing. His remarks can be viewed here.
When it was his turn to speak, Sessions cited the usual arguments and suspects in his remarks, his opposition to same-sex marriage in full view of the hearing. His remarks can be viewed here.
Exclusive Jeff Sessions Makes Children Cry
Posted by
uluckidog 1085 days ago
(http://blogs.tnr.com)
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committe held the first-ever hearing on the Uniting American Families Act, which would equalize the status of foreign-born same-sex partners of American citizens. Heterosexual Americans can earn citizenship for their foreign partners by marrying them. Gays, obviously, cannot do that, effectively making a gay American and his or her foreign spouse legal strangers.
Testifying was Shirley Tan, a Fillipino woman who has been with her American partner for 23 years. Together, they are raising twelve-year-old twin boys. She originally left the Phillipines after suffering a violent attack from a man who murdered her mother and sister (one of the reasons why Tan does not want to return to her native country, aside from the fact that her partner and children live in the U.S., is that the man who brutalized her has since been released from prison.) Tan was origin
Testifying was Shirley Tan, a Fillipino woman who has been with her American partner for 23 years. Together, they are raising twelve-year-old twin boys. She originally left the Phillipines after suffering a violent attack from a man who murdered her mother and sister (one of the reasons why Tan does not want to return to her native country, aside from the fact that her partner and children live in the U.S., is that the man who brutalized her has since been released from prison.) Tan was origin
Pacifica Mom Urges Passage of Gay Immigration Bill (KCBS NEWS AUDIO)
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1085 days ago
(http://www.kcbs.com)
A Pacifica mother of two testified on capitol hill Wednesday about how immigration officials took her away from her home in handcuffs for ignoring a deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
Uniting American Families Act testimony inspires tears
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
A congressional hearing on a controversial gay immigration bill brought a touching moment when a witness relating her story about wanting to avoid deportation from the United States told her story to lawmakers.
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
Mecado Tan Family
Posted by
NLXile 1089 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
Each of us did one or two things that we could do. And for that moment, we gave up feeling powerlessness, stopped being resigned and cynical. We know we will wake up again tomorrow as second class citiznens in the eyes of US federal law. And all we can do is take one more step. It is the only way we will win. It’s up to us.
On 23 March 2009, Lin and Martha McDevitt-Pugh of the Love Exiles Foundation had the opportunity to meet the Mercado-Tan family: two moms and their twin sons who live in Pacifica, California.
Mother Shirley Tan is an asylum seeker and was scheduled to be deported to a country she hasn’t visited in more than 20 years and where she nearly lost her life at age 14 when a cousin killed her mother and sister over an inheritance. This morning, April 23 2009, Melanie Nathan of Private Courts, who has...
On 23 March 2009, Lin and Martha McDevitt-Pugh of the Love Exiles Foundation had the opportunity to meet the Mercado-Tan family: two moms and their twin sons who live in Pacifica, California.
Mother Shirley Tan is an asylum seeker and was scheduled to be deported to a country she hasn’t visited in more than 20 years and where she nearly lost her life at age 14 when a cousin killed her mother and sister over an inheritance. This morning, April 23 2009, Melanie Nathan of Private Courts, who has...
Dear Mr President VIDEO Listen to Your Mother Reunite this Family (UAFA, DOMA)
Posted by
uluckidog 1100 days ago
(http://youtube.com)
Dear Mr. President,
Did you see any difference between these families? The U.S. government does! Listen to your mother.
You are aware of our situation. Joseph Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Eric Holder and all of Congress are too. Why do you think it is fair for us to wait forever and ever? We used to have a dog together, a family to go out and share little things that life brings, but for almost 2 years we have lost all the moments that you and most Americans have.
When are you going to act? We don't even have the right to sit at the back of the bus.You said, "You read about some injustice and you say, Thats not right. Some one should fix that. We realize no one else is going to fix it if you don't." With all due respect Mr. President, our situation is not right and you should fix it.
Genesio Oliveira and Tim Coco (www.reunitethisfamily.com)
05
Did you see any difference between these families? The U.S. government does! Listen to your mother.
You are aware of our situation. Joseph Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Eric Holder and all of Congress are too. Why do you think it is fair for us to wait forever and ever? We used to have a dog together, a family to go out and share little things that life brings, but for almost 2 years we have lost all the moments that you and most Americans have.
When are you going to act? We don't even have the right to sit at the back of the bus.You said, "You read about some injustice and you say, Thats not right. Some one should fix that. We realize no one else is going to fix it if you don't." With all due respect Mr. President, our situation is not right and you should fix it.
Genesio Oliveira and Tim Coco (www.reunitethisfamily.com)
05
Editorial A test case on same-sex fairness
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1117 days ago
(http://www.sfgate.com)
Shirley Tan is a 43-year old Pacifica homemaker and mother of twin seventh-grade boys.
US lesbian mother given deportation reprieveDallas Voice, TX... immigration reform bill, known as the Uniting American Families Act, that would give gay Americans the right to sponsor foreign-born partners for residency. “The long-term health of their family completely depends on the passage of UAFA,” Nathan ...
Lesbian mom OK to stay through 2010
Posted by
WantMyFreedom2 1123 days ago
(http://news.google.com)
Lesbian mom OK'd to stay through 2010Monterey County Herald, CAAPhilippines-born lesbian mother who was ordered to leave the country next month for overstaying her visa will likely be allowed to stay through next year after Sen. Dianne Feinstein's intervention in the case. Feinstein introduced an emergency ...
Jay Mercado, second from left, and Shirley Tan pose with their twin 12-year-old sons Jashley and Joriene Mercado and grandmother Renee Mercado, at their home in Pacifica on March 28.
A Philippines-born lesbian mother ordered to leave the country next month for overstaying her visa will likely be allowed to stay through next year thanks to intervention from U.S. Sen.
California lesbian mother given deportation reprieve (AP)
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1126 days ago
(http://www.guardian.co.uk)
A Philippines-born lesbian mother ordered to leave the country next month for overstaying her visa will likely be allowed to stay through next year thanks to intervention from U.S. Sen.
Sen Feinstein gets reprieve for foreign-born lesbian mother (Los Angeles Times)
Posted by
OneVoice 1126 days ago
(http://news.google.com)
Sen. Feinstein gets reprieve for foreign-born lesbian mother ...Los Angeles Times, CASAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Philippines-born lesbian mother ordered to leave the country next month for overstaying her visa will likely be allowed to stay through next year thanks to intervention from US Sen. Dianne Feinstein. ...
“How may I assist with these stories, if at all?...”
“My question back to you is how do we get immigration reform defined as a...”
“Watch the actual video on ABC 7's website, and you'll see that he's really...”
“Thanks. I shortened it through tinyurl. Works now....”
“Note from imeQ about this editorial: This is an independent project which...”
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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.