For supporters of LGBT rights, the election of President Obama represented an apparent historical turning point for sexual minorities in our country. As a presidential candidate, Obama had said all of the rights things: he criticized the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy (DADT); he called for the enactment of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect employees against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination; and called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
But now that almost a third of Obama's first term has gone by, there is growing despair among many of his LGBT supporters over how little the administration has accomplished on gay rights. We have been here before. Eighteen years ago many gay rights advocates celebrated the election of President Clinton, the first presidential candidate to reach out to the LGBT c
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Obama and LGBT Rights
Posted by
UnitedByLove 704 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
A Binational Xmas Wish in A letter to President Obama
Posted by
BinatUK 878 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
Mr. President, with great respect, I am mentioning this during the holiday season because this time for many is fraught with sadness, fear and pain. Exiled Americans, who are with their spouses, cannot come home to spend Xmas with extended families and if they do, they have to leave spouses abroad. Tens of thousands of same sex couples are unable to spend these holidays together because they are stuck in different countries. These families cannot wait any longer. Our binational spouses and partners are being turned away at US airports, even as I write these words, at the arbitrary instance of an ICE officer....
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
A Gross Unfairness (I Said I Do Today)
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1028 days ago
(http://isaididotoday.com)
A report issued in 2006 by two nongovernmental organizations, Human Rights Watch and Immigration Equality, describes the written response made in 1975 by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to an American citizen's petition to sponsor a foreign same-sex partner for legal residency in the United States. The INS denied the petition for the following reason: "You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots." Except perhaps in the explicitness of language, federal policy toward same-sex binational couples has changed little since then. On June 3 of this year, Congress held its first-ever hearing on the plight of such couples and brought attention to the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), sponsored in the Senate by Patrick Leahy and in the House by Jerrold Nadler (and subsequently folded into a larger immigration reform bill). Introd
A Gross Unfairness The Workings of the Straight State (The Nation)
Posted by
BinatUK 1028 days ago
(http://www.thenation.com)
It is not really news that inhabitants of the United States are governed by what historian Margot Canaday calls, in the title of her excellent book, a "straight state." For some time now, scholars of sexuality (following in the footsteps of those who have studied and challenged the race and gender hierarchies embedded in state policies and actions) have professed the analytical goal of what historian Lisa Duggan, writing in 1994, called "queering the state." These scholars have argued that the supposed naturalness of the heterosexual couple, and the unnaturalness of alternatives, is presumed and reinforced in the ordinary workings of government. Canaday's substantial contribution is to trace, in gripping and at times horrifying detail, exactly how the United States came to operate in this fashion over the course of much of the twentieth century. The Straight State provides a compelling
It was good to slowly find my way (Read Red)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1059 days ago
(http://readwritered.blogspot.com)
I'm working full-time at the moment, which is very bad for my writing. Hopefully that will change at some point soon. But yes, Tristan and I live here because U.S. law won't treat us like spouses. He can't immigrate. Meanwhile, the UK treats me exactly how it would a straight partner, and granted me a spouse's visa with no fuss. There's a law before the U.S. Congress now (Uniting American Families Act) that would change this, and allow citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration. If it passes, Tristan and I will be able to live in the USA.
RR: I assume you're not holding your breath ...
VM: It's got a lot of support, but, yes, I'd be surprised if it passed. Very pleasantly surprised.
RR: I assume you're not holding your breath ...
VM: It's got a lot of support, but, yes, I'd be surprised if it passed. Very pleasantly surprised.
Gay Immigration Rights Good for you CNN
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 1085 days ago
(http://newmoderation.blogspot.com)
At least somebody's talking about gay immigration rights and the HIV travel ban. Whereas, from Obama we get a proclamation. A written statement that's so vague on details it's laughable. "Oh, we're really proud of gay people and it ...At least somebody's talking about gay immigration rights and the HIV travel ban. Whereas, from Obama we get a proclamation. A written statement that's so vague on details it's laughable. "Oh, we're really proud of gay people and it sucks that they suffer everywhere." At least he's said something, I guess, which is better than the endless string of non-answers from Gibbs. Still, I won't be happy until Obama starts actually fighting to overturn DOMA and DADT. Hell, even Cheney is a stronger proponent of gay rights than him. Now that's sad. I'm still disappointed by our "fierce advocate" in the White House.
A Crack in the Floodgates
Posted by
SFbeat 1095 days ago
(http://www.jerekeys.com)
I have a theory (it could be bunnies) about the current foot-dragging of the federal government around LGBT rights. Why has Obama forsaken us on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell? Why is the Senate considering stalling the Matthew Shepard Act by tying it once again into a defense spending bill? Why hasn’t the House moved on an inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act? Why won’t the government end the ban on HIV positive visitors or sponsoring same-sex partners for immigration to the United States? Why isn’t anyone talking about a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and a federal civil union bill (or marriage equality for that matter)? Why can’t we even get our goddammed legal marriages counted on the goddammed census?
For perspective, ask yourself when was the..
...sponsoring same-sex partners for immigration to ... repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and a fe
For perspective, ask yourself when was the..
...sponsoring same-sex partners for immigration to ... repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and a fe
And by moderation they mean eventual deletion from Good As You
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1116 days ago
(http://www.goodasyou.org)
I've been replying to a negative post about same-sex partner sponsored immigration reform (the Uniting American Families Act) tby someone who goes by Michigan Redneck. A few of us have been trying to educate the blogger and her readers ...
A Practical Wedding: Celebrating Freedom In Vermont
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1139 days ago
(http://www.apracticalwedding.com)
meg, you rule. thanks for linking to the heartbreaking post about the mom facing deportation... there's a bill right now called the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)...check out what you can do over at www.immigrationequality.org ...
A Gay Mom Faces Deportation
Posted by
JoseDFW 1139 days ago
(http://overturn8.nclrights.org)
She has 12 year-old twins with her partner of 23 years, but Shirley Tan can’t get her green cards by marrying - unlike heterosexual immigrants.
A Closer Look at the President's Faith-Based Advisory Council
Posted by
DividedByLaw 1142 days ago
(http://blog.faithinpubliclife.org)
...advocates for Indian women who are victims of domestic abuse and other human rights violations. ... advocated for comprehensive immigration
A Tale of Two Settees Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1142 days ago
(http://juanoclock.livejournal.com)
Uniting American Families Act, aka "H.R. 1024", aka "S. 424", aka UAFA However you say it, it's a good thing and I'm rather excited about it. Introduced in February 12 (2 days before Valentine's Day) by New York Democratic Congressman ...
A Call for Pen to Paper/Hand to Keyboard
Posted by
ATLdave 1142 days ago
(http://blogout.justout.com)
The link concerns the letter-writing campaign for the Uniting American Families Act. Click here to make your voice heard.
A Simple Change Would End Couple's Nightmare
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1144 days ago
(http://www.courier-journal.com)
Glance through the snow-framed windows of Vermont homes, and you'll see couples like Sissi and Janet poring through seed catalogues and dreaming of spring.
“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.