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Let me get this straight. When President Obama was put on the spot after DOJ released the disastrous DOMA brief, he reiterated his support for DOMA repeal but said Congress has to act on it. When Congress answered his call and introduced a DOMA Repeal bill, his associates then called it hopeless. Now they say our only hope is the Supreme Court, which of course is a convenient thing for the White House since the social conservatives can't blame him if DOMA is repealed through the Court.
The New York City Council passed a resolution Wednesday supporting a congressional bill to allow American citizens to sponsor their foreign-born, same-sex partners in the naturalization process.

The resolution on the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 was passed within two weeks of being introduced. Eight people, including Immigration Equality executive director Rachel Tiven, testified to the Immigration Committee on September 29 in favor of the resolution.
In an interview with David Thielen at the Huffington Post, Rep. Polis stated that we'd need 25 to 30 states allowing gay marriage to get Federal recognition.

We discussed the Defense of Marriage Act also (hey, I do know those two) and he think we will have to get to 25 to 30 states recognizing gay marriage and then the federal government will recognize it.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who wrote an article on the Huffington Post explaining his vote for DOMA in 1996 and his current support of the RMA, tells the AP that he thinks there's a 50% chance for this congress to repeal either DADT or DOMA.

Jeana Frazzini, the executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, said Blumenauer's 50-percent prediction might not be that far off.

"It's just a very different climate than it was 10 years ago, so I think it's completely do-able for this congress to repeal 'don't ask don't tell' or the Defense of Marriage Act," Frazzini said....
Politico's Glenn Thrush echoes Frank's conclusion that the DOMA Repeal bill has no hope of passing in this Congress:

Even if Nadler's bill passes the House, it is likely to have a tough time in the Senate, despite the apparent support of Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) who says DOMA needs to go....
Apparently, Rep. Barney Frank, considered the most influential gay congressman, is not signing on to the DOMA Repeal bill due to his "strategic differences" with supporters of the bill. From the Washington Blade:
Sacramento – Today the State Assembly passed a resolution officially endorsing a federal law ending discriminatory immigration policies by permitting U.S. citizens and permanent residents to obtain lawful immigration status for a same-sex partner by a 41-28 vote. The resolution, AJR 15, introduced by Assembly Member Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) and co-sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE), formally requests that the United States Congress pass and President Barack Obama sign the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

“Our current immigration laws keep thousands of families apart simply because they are headed by same-sex couples,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “We urge Congress and the President to stop penalizing these families and to pass the Uniting American Families Act so that all families enjoy equ
At a busy legislative moment, foes of the Defense of Marriage Act are re-starting the campaign against it. Rep. Jerry Nadler is, I'm told, expected to introduce a bill that would repeal the legislation next week, and today Human Rights Campaign is delivering a survey of 50,000 gay and lesbian members and supporters to Congress, intended to convey the concrete harm the bill does them.

The survey results stress the mundane benefits of marriage -- first among them, Social Security survivor benefits. HRC also officially launched their DOMA Repeal push by delivering the surveys results of 50,000 LGBT people on DOMA to Congress. In their announcement, they also confirmed timing of the DOMA Repeal bill, to be introduced by Nadler.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) doesn't believe including pro-gay reforms in a comprehensive immigration bill is the best strategy to win rights for binational LGBT couples. And with Congress bogged down on passing health care reform legislation, she also cautioned LGBT activists not to expect any action on the issue until 2010.

"By making the bill comprehensive it does muddy the waters," said the freshman House member, who predicted "nothing will happen this year on immigration."...
Take Action Now for Immigration Equality! Congress is currently working on a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that he will finish the bill by Labor Day, and it is critically important that ...

We urge you to take action now, and we encourage you to share this with your friends and family. Follow both of these two links - nothing succeeds like excess:
Take action through Immigration Equality
Take action through PFLAG
This is a quick, easy way you can make a difference for all families, including our families.
Apparently, HRC's "No Excuses" campaign was met with considerable skepticism from the LGBT community. Not only did they fail to raise a mere $200K for the campaign, they couldn't even find enough people to fill out their DOMA survey.

When words came out that HRC secretly asked Congress to NOT prioritize some of the more controversial gay rights issues such as DADT, there was a huge backlash against them with many elite members withdrawing their support. Hence the birth of the "No Excuses" campaign attempt to reverse HRC's image of inaction.

I belong to the camp that's willing to support this initiative with a healthy dose of skepticism. Yes, I .... It's a good thing that HRC is changing direction under pressure, and ...
Traveling from a homeland that bans sex except for reproduction, Ray Sin expected fewer restrictions in the United States.But after the student from Singapore fell in love in Minneapolis, his impression that the United States was progressive was punctured. He learned that his partner, Phillip Knoll, could not sponsor him to live in the United States, as can a heterosexual wishing to sponsor a spouse from abroad.

"That's when I realized, 'Oh, no, we have so many obstacles,' " said Sin, 29. Now U.S. lawmakers are drafting immigration-reform bills that would include proposals to let gay people bring their partners to the United States permanently.

Sen. Al Franken is expected to co-sponsor such a proposal, his spokeswoman said. If adopted, the legislation would affect about 40,000 couples in the U.S., including 500 in Minnesota. Gay-rights advocates are courting Mi
Senator Schumer is writing the comprehensive immigration reform bill NOW.
It is critical that this legislation includes the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and thus includes LGBT families. The suffering of our families must end! The UAFA will allow American Citizens and green card holders to sponsor their foreign born same-sex partner for permanent residency in the United States.

If you are in New York - be sure to include your address so they know a constituent is weighing in on this - AND send it to any family or friends in NY that would be willing to help.
In entering such an international relationship, Judy and Karin also joined the ranks of binational LGBT couples who have lived out the difficulties associated with an immigration system that treats gay and lesbian couples differently ...While Judy, Karin, Tom and Aidan have understandably been consumed with their own living situations and the difficult decisions they must make, they are also taking the time to get involved and educate Americans, gay and straight, about the plight of LGBT binational couples.

Earlier this year at a Human Rights Campaign dinner, U.S. Rep. Michael Honda, speaking with U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, both supporters of same sex binational couples legislation, named Judy Rickard and Karin Bogliolo as his educators on this issue. They urge members of the American LGBT community to contact their legislators and, most importantly, spread the word.

In a nutshell, nothing's changed. Obama wants us to believe that immigration reform remains a high priority even though it keeps getting pushed further and further back on the calendar, Napolitano's still on board and advocates are still hopeful and waiting for something to happen. If anyone's still holding their breath expecting some measurable movement on the issue, they might as well relax--at least for a few months....

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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.