Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama was openly disdainful of a12-year-old boy who wept throughout a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week on the Uniting American Families Act, which would give equal citizenship rights to the foreign-born same-sex partners of American citizens. Sessions opposes the bill.
The committee was hearing from Shirley Tan, a Filipino woman who had fled her country after being physically attacked by a man who had killed her mother and sister. Tan and her American partner of 23 years are raising 12-year-old twin sons here, but she was almost deported in April, and has been granted only a temporary reprieve.
As Tan began to speak, one of her sons, who was seated behind her, began to cry, and Sessions, who "leaned towards one of his aides and sighed, "Enough with the histrionics."
Which was a little out there even
Search results for jeff, sessions, annoyed, crying, child, hearing
Jeff Sessions Annoyed By Crying Child (Politics Daily)
Posted by
USAFrance 1084 days ago
(http://www.politicsdaily.com)
Jeff Sessions Irked By Crying Child (VIDEO)
Posted by
MikeLA 1084 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee had a hearing on the Uniting American Families Act, a bill that will "amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships." Of course, some of the discrimination that the bill would eliminate would benefit same-sex couples, so, CONTROVERSY!
First Ever Hearing on GLBT Immigration Equality (Windy City Times)
Posted by
DividedByLaw 1085 days ago
(http://www.windycitymediagroup.com)
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
“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
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
Senator Jeff Sessions it is more than words Oblogdeeoblogda)
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 1085 days ago
(http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
I can only imagine what was going through Jeff Session’s mind at that moment. Here he was surrounded by queers, blacks, liberals, Hispanics, immigrants, democrats – a fate worse than hell; his discomfort evident by his inability to acknowledge or thank anyone...
So Mr. Sessions, I suggest that when you judge and grill Judge Sotomayor in the next weeks, remember your own words that you engraved into your historic record those words that will come back to haunt you over and over again, which, unlike Judge Sotomayor’s have no justifiable context.
Senator Ted Kennedy: “Mr. Sessions is a throwback to a shameful era that we thought was in the past. Inconceivable to me that a person of this attitude could be a Judge or even a US attorney. “
So Mr. Sessions, I suggest that when you judge and grill Judge Sotomayor in the next weeks, remember your own words that you engraved into your historic record those words that will come back to haunt you over and over again, which, unlike Judge Sotomayor’s have no justifiable context.
Senator Ted Kennedy: “Mr. Sessions is a throwback to a shameful era that we thought was in the past. Inconceivable to me that a person of this attitude could be a Judge or even a US attorney. “
Jeff Sessions Annoyed By Crying Child At Hearing (The Huffington Post)
Posted by
MikeLA 1085 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
Historic US Senate Hearing Held on UAFA (HRC)
Posted by
BinatUK 1086 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 1086 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 1087 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 1087 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 ...
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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.