You're from the United States. You fall in love with a foreign national. Straight couples have legal recourse in this situation: get married and sponsor your spouse for citizenship.
Gay couples in this situation have no legal recourse, an issue that SF Weekly recently highlighted with the stories of several same-sex couples who were separated by US immigration law, or had one partner living in the United States illegally.
Because the federal Defense of Marriage Act prohibits legal recognition of same-sex relationships, couples married in California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont can't sponsor their spouses for citizenship either.
Democrats in the Senate have included a provision for same-sex couples in their immigration reform proposal released April 29, which will give them the same immigration rights as straight cou
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Is Immigration rights for same sex couples possible
Posted by
BinatUK 705 days ago
(http://www.sfgate.com)
Immigration Equality announces action fund
Posted by
USAFrance 879 days ago
(http://sdgln.com)
Immigration Equality, a non-profit advocacy and legal aid organization serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive immigrants and their families, announced today that it has established a “501(c)4” entity, the Immigration Equality Action Fund, to significantly increase its federal advocacy and grassroots organizing work. The Action Fund’s launch also includes an expanded office in Washington, D.C., where a new policy staffer and an online grassroots organizer will soon join the organization.
“The launch of the Immigration Equality Action Fund comes at a critical moment in our work to advocate on behalf of LGBT immigrant families,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the organization’s executive director. “As Congress turns its attention to comprehensive immigration reform, and as a record number of lawmakers signal their support for the Uniting American Families A
“The launch of the Immigration Equality Action Fund comes at a critical moment in our work to advocate on behalf of LGBT immigrant families,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the organization’s executive director. “As Congress turns its attention to comprehensive immigration reform, and as a record number of lawmakers signal their support for the Uniting American Families A
UAFA Gains Influential New Cosponsor
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 900 days ago
(http://sdgln.com)
Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (and formerly that committee’s Republican Chairman), has signed on as a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).
At last June’s Senate Judiciary Committee UAFA hearing, Specter expressed strong support for ending discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans and their families in immigration law. Immigration Equality applauds Senator Specter for his support for LGBT binational families.
Eight of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s twelve Democrats are now cosponsors of UAFA. A ninth, Senator Ted Kaufman of Delaware, recently publicly stated his support for equal immigration rights for LGBT families
At last June’s Senate Judiciary Committee UAFA hearing, Specter expressed strong support for ending discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans and their families in immigration law. Immigration Equality applauds Senator Specter for his support for LGBT binational families.
Eight of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s twelve Democrats are now cosponsors of UAFA. A ninth, Senator Ted Kaufman of Delaware, recently publicly stated his support for equal immigration rights for LGBT families
Maine Marriage Setback a Call to Action for Federal LGBT Rights
Posted by
BinatUK 931 days ago
(http://www.indybay.org)
The State of Maine’s rejection of marriage equality at the ballot box yesterday is being heeded as a call for federal LGBT rights by activists and organizations around the US, including Out4Immigration.
The Maine vote was 53% in support of taking away civil marriage rights granted to gays and lesbians by approval of the state legislature and signed into law by the state’s governor 6 months ago. 47% of voters supported marriage equality. “Subjecting minority rights to majority vote repeatedly denies equality to LGBT families,” said Mickey Lim, vice president and co-founder of Out4Immigration, a grassroots organization that works closely with same-sex marriage groups for recognition of same-sex binational couple rights tied to federal immigration policies.
Out4Immigation advocates for same-sex binational couples, relationships in which one partner is American and
The Maine vote was 53% in support of taking away civil marriage rights granted to gays and lesbians by approval of the state legislature and signed into law by the state’s governor 6 months ago. 47% of voters supported marriage equality. “Subjecting minority rights to majority vote repeatedly denies equality to LGBT families,” said Mickey Lim, vice president and co-founder of Out4Immigration, a grassroots organization that works closely with same-sex marriage groups for recognition of same-sex binational couple rights tied to federal immigration policies.
Out4Immigation advocates for same-sex binational couples, relationships in which one partner is American and
Dallas groups push for equality
Posted by
igualdad 987 days ago
(http://www.ebar.com)
Ahonen-Jover, 52, and Bare, 46, agreed that the first year of President Barack Obama's administration provides an opportunity for movement on LGBT-related legislation such as repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," reforming immigration policies to include binational couples, and access to health care without discrimination.
Speier questions pro gay immigration reform strategy
Posted by
BinatUK 993 days ago
(http://www.ebar.com)
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."...
"By making the bill comprehensive it does muddy the waters," said the freshman House member, who predicted "nothing will happen this year on immigration."...
Shirley Tan and Family to March with Out4Immigration at San Francisco Pride 2009
Posted by
BinatUK 1066 days ago
(http://www.indybay.org)
Shirley Tan, her partner Jay Mercado, and their two children will join Out4Immigration—the all volunteer, grassroots advocate for same-sex binational couples and their families—at the San Francisco 2009 Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28th. Together, they will be marching for equal immigration rights for same-sex binational couples to remain together in the U.S. by urging Congress to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).
Mayor JW Lown Lacking Basic Rights (LETTER)
Posted by
USAFrance 1091 days ago
(http://news.google.com)
LETTER: Rights lacking Reading through the responses that were published from readers about the resignation of Mayor J.W. Lown, it’s obvious that many people have a high opinion of him and are sorry to see him leave. Another thread that runs through the comments were more along the lines of: “He’s ditching a relationship with our community for a relationship of two months?”
Under U.S. law, Americans in same-sex relationships with people from another country have no legal grounds to be with that partner on the basis of the relationship alone. Indeed, federal law treats those of us in such relationships as legal strangers, with no legitimate basis to be together.
Comment: Oh brother....... so now the excuse of love will be used to skirt immigration laws........what next......???? It is bad enough that we allow married heterosexual illegal aliens to live here. D
Under U.S. law, Americans in same-sex relationships with people from another country have no legal grounds to be with that partner on the basis of the relationship alone. Indeed, federal law treats those of us in such relationships as legal strangers, with no legitimate basis to be together.
Comment: Oh brother....... so now the excuse of love will be used to skirt immigration laws........what next......???? It is bad enough that we allow married heterosexual illegal aliens to live here. D
San Francisco Mayor Newsom Urges Census Count Same-Sex Couples
Posted by
OneVoice 1104 days ago
(http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com)
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom submitted a resolution Wednesday to the Board of Supervisors that would urge the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau to recognize same-sex couples in the 2010 Census.
The city and county of San Francisco has passed a resolution supporting the passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) by Congress. The UAFA would eliminate the barrier that same-sex binational couples now face when a gay or lesbian American tries to sponsor their foreign life partner for a green card and the right to stay together legally in the US. Opposite-sex binational couples have long been afforded such protections under US immigration law.
Amos Lim, a founding board member of Out4Immigration and a San Francisco resident was instrumental in getting this resolution passed, first by the Board of Supervisors and then by the Immigrant Rights Commission. The resolution makes San Francisco the first municipality to call for equal immigration rights for gays and lesbians at the federal level. It is only change at the federal level for any LGBT rights -- including m
Amos Lim, a founding board member of Out4Immigration and a San Francisco resident was instrumental in getting this resolution passed, first by the Board of Supervisors and then by the Immigrant Rights Commission. The resolution makes San Francisco the first municipality to call for equal immigration rights for gays and lesbians at the federal level. It is only change at the federal level for any LGBT rights -- including m
Kerry pushes asylum status for gay man separated from spouse but (Bay Windows)
Posted by
igualdad 1142 days ago
(http://news.google.com)
Kerry pushes asylum status for gay man separated from spouse, but ...Bay Windows, MAThe bill has the backing of the advocacy groups Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Immigration Equality. Yet advocates and lawmakers believe the prospects of passing UAFA in the short term are slim. In a statement to Bay Windows Kerry wrote that he ...
Sen Kerry Goes To Bat For Binational Gay Couple (San Francisco Bay Times)
Posted by
ExileComingHome 1142 days ago
(http://news.google.com)
Sen. Kerry Goes To Bat For Binational Gay CoupleSan Francisco Bay Times, CAKerry is a co-sponsor of a bill in Congress to extend spousal immigration rights to same-sex couples. Gay couples can marry in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont’s Senate passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage March 24. The vote was 26-4. ...
For US immigration partnered doesn't count (San Francisco Chronicle)
Posted by
MikeLA 1142 days ago
(http://us.rd.yahoo.com)
Shirley Tan has been with her partner, Jay Mercado, for 23 years. The Pacifica women have twin 12-year-old sons and have been registered domestic partners since 1991. That means nothing to the federal government, which recognizes only a marriage between a man...
Io-wha???
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1145 days ago
(http://www.sfbg.com)
Lat night, I attended the annual gala for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Campaign -- last year's gala feted Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and this one, while considerably smaller, was also mega-inspiring. It was held mostly to honor Helem , an incredible and youthful gay rights organization based in Lebanon, but it also served as an ...
Bay Area family's life upended by immigration nightmare
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1145 days ago
(http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com)
A family could be ripped apart: Twins Joriene and Jashley sit with their parents, Jay Mercado and Shirley Tan, while Jay's mother, Renee Mercado, looks on in the back in their living room.
“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.