First Ever Hearing on GLBT Immigration Equality - Windy City Times. Filed under: Featured — jessica s law - Google News @ 5:41 pm. table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont ...Julian Bond, the lion of the civil rights movement, threw the support of the National Association of Colored People ( NAACP ) behind the legislation “because the NAACP strongly believes that the definition of ‘family is not restrictive and can and should also include non-traditional family units.” He is the chairman of the board of the group.
“Too much of the debate [ on immigration reform ] has focused on enforcement and undocumented workers,” Bond said the NAACP feels strongly that the focus should be on a reinvigoration of the reunification of families.
Supporter Sen. Charles Schumer ( D-New York ) argued, “What truly engenders fraud is the
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This was a historic event because it marked the first time in history that the Senate held hearing regarding Same-Sex Family Immigration matters.
For those unfamiliar with the UAFA, it is a bill that would add the term “Permanent Partner” to the list of those eligible for US Immigration benefits based upon a family relationship. Under the Defense of Marriage Act, the Federal government only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. The UAFA creates a new category of family member, namely: Permanent Partners.
A note of importance, the President of AILA , The American Immigration Lawyers Association, submitted a statement to the committee supporting the enactment of the Uniting of American Families Act. An interesting quote from the statement:
“[S]ame sex partners of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are not recognized as family member
For those unfamiliar with the UAFA, it is a bill that would add the term “Permanent Partner” to the list of those eligible for US Immigration benefits based upon a family relationship. Under the Defense of Marriage Act, the Federal government only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. The UAFA creates a new category of family member, namely: Permanent Partners.
A note of importance, the President of AILA , The American Immigration Lawyers Association, submitted a statement to the committee supporting the enactment of the Uniting of American Families Act. An interesting quote from the statement:
“[S]ame sex partners of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are not recognized as family member
Jeff Sessions Annoyed By Crying Child At Hearing (The Huffington Post)
Posted by
MikeLA 980 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.
Historic US Senate Hearing Held on UAFA (HRC)
Posted by
BinatUK 982 days ago
(http://www.hrc.org)
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today lauded the first-ever congressional hearing on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). The hearing, held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, was titled “The Uniting American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law” and featured a number of witnesses testifying in support of the bill, which would allow U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes.
“For far too long, our elected officials have ignored the devastating real-life consequences that current immigration policies have had on thousands of same-sex couples in loving, committed relationships,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We thank Senator Leahy for his leade
“For far too long, our elected officials have ignored the devastating real-life consequences that current immigration policies have had on thousands of same-sex couples in loving, committed relationships,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We thank Senator Leahy for his leade
EQCA is sponsoring a resolution, authored by Assemblymember Kevin de León, that would put the state of California on record in support of the Uniting American Families Act.
Uniting American Families Act Congressional Hearing (Steve and Don)
Posted by
Fight4theRight 982 days ago
(http://www.stevenrowe.org)
It is possible that UAFA will go into the pot for immigration reform later on in the year, but certainly has numerous hurdles to go through first. Probably the major one in my opinion is the opposition thinking this will set a precedent ... They are calling it a historical event, for the first time the Uniting American Families Act gets its say in front of a Congressional hearing. This certainly gives a lot of people some hope for the future, that maybe discrimination can be written out of immigration legislation. I personally don’t feel hopeful, following the California Prop 8 decision I am not sure the American public are educated enough to understand the concept of the legislation or of same sex relationships.
The positive part of this is the publicity (CNN / New York Times), this is surely to generate some media interest and raise awareness of the issue. It’s one th
The positive part of this is the publicity (CNN / New York Times), this is surely to generate some media interest and raise awareness of the issue. It’s one th
PFLAG Applauds Hearing, Urges Congress to pass UAFA
Posted by
BinatUK 983 days ago
(http://pflagblog.blogspot.com)
“We applaud Senator Leahy for organizing the hearing today about the Uniting American Families Act and for advocating for the inclusion of lesbian and gay binational families in comprehensive immigration reform. This bill is critical to our mission of promoting the health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. UAFA is one step towards ending discrimination and securing civil rights for this population.”
Immigration Equality sent out an announcement about the Senate Judiciary hearing being held on Wednesday June 3rd on the Uniting American Familes Act (UAFA). On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first-ever ...
UAFA Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 983 days ago
(http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
Today I enjoyed lunch with Shirley Tan, Jay, the twins, Martha and Lin McDevitt-Pugh (Love Exiles founders, from the Netherlands), Becky Bransky, Legislative Director of Lesbian and Gay Task Force and Julie Kruse, Policy Director Immigration Equality. The Brown Bag was a perfect choice for our informal gathering. It was a well deserved lunch after an emotional meet-up with the witnesses who are testifying in tomorrows Senate Judiciary hearing. The LGBT Immigration cause has a stupendous team. The choice of witnesses is an exciting compliment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first-ever hearing on The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a bill to end discrimination against lesbian and gay Americans in U.S. immigration law and allow lesbian and gay citizens to ...
Live Webcast of UAFA Hearing
Posted by
ATLdave 987 days ago
(http://immigrationequality.org)
Thank you to all of our supporters who have reached out to offer help and encouragement following our announcement of the June 3rd Senate hearings on The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Your calls and emails have been instrumental in making this historic moment possible and more details on the hearing will be posted soon.
Many of you have also asked about attending the hearing in Washington. And, the hearing is open to the public. Seating, however, is very limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no ticketing for the hearing and no assigned seating . . . and hearing rooms tend to be very small.
Many of you have also asked about attending the hearing in Washington. And, the hearing is open to the public. Seating, however, is very limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no ticketing for the hearing and no assigned seating . . . and hearing rooms tend to be very small.
Shirley Tan Invited to UAFA Hearing
Posted by
Fight4theRight 989 days ago
(http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
By Melanie Nathan – Breaking – Today, 1.30 PM. Senator Leahy , (D-VT) extended an invitation to Shirley Tan to testify at the UAFA hearing on June 3rd before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Shirley Tan, her wife Jay and their twelve year old twinsons, together with ‘yours truly’ will be traveling next week to DC for the hearings and congressional briefings. Earlier this month Shirley’s deportation was stayed at the last minute ( for the duration of this Congress 111) by the introduction of a rare Private Bill on her behalf by Senator Feinstein. (D-CA)
Now with thanks to the efforts of Immigration Equality, this hearing ought to shed more light on the inequities in the law and the flagrant exclusion of the LGBT community under the Immigration Act. It will also highlight the suffering of families under the current immigration law, regardless of sexual orientation, as
Now with thanks to the efforts of Immigration Equality, this hearing ought to shed more light on the inequities in the law and the flagrant exclusion of the LGBT community under the Immigration Act. It will also highlight the suffering of families under the current immigration law, regardless of sexual orientation, as
This historic event is to be webcast! I will drag myself out of bed at 2am out here in New Zealand, make a large pot of coffee and phone Cas. "Together" we will BE THERE for this event! I would not miss it for the world. Sadly our upcoming reconciliation will not occur soon enough to allow us to share this event in person.
Helen: Dunedin, New Zealand: My American partner Cas and I are a same sex bi-national couple profoundly affected by the inequalities of American immigration law. For much of the nine years we have been together we have been forced to ...
Helen: Dunedin, New Zealand: My American partner Cas and I are a same sex bi-national couple profoundly affected by the inequalities of American immigration law. For much of the nine years we have been together we have been forced to ...
UAFA Gets Congressional Hearing
Posted by
Fight4theRight 992 days ago
(http://www.stevenrowe.org)
I am not sure if the bill will go forward on its own or as suggested by Immigration Equality will be part of the bigger picture that is reform of immigration law. In other good news there are more co-sponsors who have signed up for UAFA ...
Gay Immigration Rights Senate to hold UAFA Hearing
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 992 days ago
(http://gayimmigration.blogspot.com)
An encouraging development: Senator Patrick Leahy will convene a congressional hearing on UAFA next Wednesday, June 3rd.
For a legislation that never made it out of the committee, this is indeed a significant step forward. However, the outcome of the hearing remains unclear: will it mean that UAFA will finally come to a committee vote and advance to the full senate/house for a floor vote? Or is it merely a move to make sure UAFA has a place in the upcoming Comprehensive Immigration Reform? From the IE blog post, it seems that the latter is more likely.
If UAFA does become a part of CIR, how optimistic should we be?
Many prominent Democrats like Harry Reid and Charles Schumer have expressed confidence of a CIR passage by the end of the year. The unknown factor is whether or not the
Gay Immigration Rights. Sunday, May 24, 2009. Senate t
For a legislation that never made it out of the committee, this is indeed a significant step forward. However, the outcome of the hearing remains unclear: will it mean that UAFA will finally come to a committee vote and advance to the full senate/house for a floor vote? Or is it merely a move to make sure UAFA has a place in the upcoming Comprehensive Immigration Reform? From the IE blog post, it seems that the latter is more likely.
If UAFA does become a part of CIR, how optimistic should we be?
Many prominent Democrats like Harry Reid and Charles Schumer have expressed confidence of a CIR passage by the end of the year. The unknown factor is whether or not the
Gay Immigration Rights. Sunday, May 24, 2009. Senate t
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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.