Our earlier reports came to fruition when today the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals, urged through a press call for support of comprehensive immigration reform and specifically for the exclusion of same-sex partners from immigration reform, thereby insisting on the status quo for gay and lesbian couples – exile, detention, hiding and no visas or sponsorship for same-sex couples in loving committed relationships.
However Immigration equality thinks this is no big deal and assert that the gay community has the upper hand on this one.
Today Steve Ralls, the spokesperson for Immigration Equality, speaking again to Kerry Eleveld at to the Advocate – said the breadth of support that has developed for folding gay families into the bill puts conservatives at a disadvantage. The combination of all those things
Search results for lebarbera, uafa, bring, homosexual, activists
Evangelicals Push Exclusion of UAFA (Advocate)
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 705 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
Evangelical leaders on the far right held a press call Wednesday urging lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass comprehensive immigration reform but exclude LGBT families from the legislation.
Groups such as the National Association of Evangelicals and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference have joined Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of the conservative legal group Liberty Counsel, in vehemently opposing inclusion of the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow American citizens and green card holders to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for residency.
Groups such as the National Association of Evangelicals and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference have joined Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of the conservative legal group Liberty Counsel, in vehemently opposing inclusion of the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow American citizens and green card holders to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for residency.
Calling for a New Direction by Marrying DREAM ACT to UAFA
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 705 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
Grassroot sloggers amount to a handful, a small dedicated group that has done an enormous amount of work with no resources at hand. This group of people, some under the Out4Immigration banner and others unpaid independent activists have fought hard for the ideal of one basic right – Equality – and in this instance equality under the immigration law.
Gays and Lesbian spouses in the USA cannot sponsor foreign born partners for immigration to the USA, commensurate with that very right, freely exercised by different-gender couples.
Contextually, this fight has been going on for well over a decade and has a history of Bills introduced, none of which garnished as much traction as the Bill introduced by Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New last year, The Uniting AMERICAN Families Act. (UAFA)
Gays and Lesbian spouses in the USA cannot sponsor foreign born partners for immigration to the USA, commensurate with that very right, freely exercised by different-gender couples.
Contextually, this fight has been going on for well over a decade and has a history of Bills introduced, none of which garnished as much traction as the Bill introduced by Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New last year, The Uniting AMERICAN Families Act. (UAFA)
This is big news. Although Rep. Gutierrez had initially introduced CIR legislation that omitted us, he is now committing to include us! (Thanks, maybe to the Senate's Democrat-only "framework" for comprehensive immigration reform?)
Immigration activists call out Obama
Posted by
UnitedByLove 798 days ago
(http://www.blogger.com)
Imagine Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, standing up to the president like this.Given all on Obama's political plate, is immigration doable before the Nov.
March in DC and Tell Congress to PASS UAFA NOW
Posted by
uluckidog 798 days ago
(http://nclrights.wordpress.com)
On Sunday, March 21st, thousands will march in Washington for March for America, to call on Congress for comprehensive immigration reform. Please join NCLR and Immigration Equality and send a message that comprehensive reform must include LGBT families too!
Current immigration policy unfairly discriminates against LGBT binational couples by not allowing U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor foreign-born partners for immigration. We must call on Congress for the swift passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), proposed legislation that would provide LGBT couples with the same immigration benefits as different-sex couples.
Current immigration policy unfairly discriminates against LGBT binational couples by not allowing U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor foreign-born partners for immigration. We must call on Congress for the swift passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), proposed legislation that would provide LGBT couples with the same immigration benefits as different-sex couples.
Activists disappointed with immigration bill
Posted by
BinatUK 879 days ago
(http://www.windycitymediagroup.com)
Immigrant rights and LGBT activists have expressed dismay as a major immigration-reform bill introduced into the U.S. Congress by Rep. Luis Gutierrez failed to include key provisions they had sought.
Chief among these was an allowance for LGBT people to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration—which would, at least in this regard, put gay couples legally on par with heterosexual married couples.
Chief among these was an allowance for LGBT people to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration—which would, at least in this regard, put gay couples legally on par with heterosexual married couples.
UAFA Now ANOTHER American Exiled (WEEKLY FEATURED STORY) Melanie Nathan
Posted by
uluckidog 879 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
Here is the plan – I will post a new true life story, bi- monthly featuring a story of one binational lesbian or gay couple who are either in hiding in the US, waiting for a visa to run out, living in exile or living alone unable to be with a beloved partner. I vow to do this until one of two things happen first:
a. UAFA (or equivalent) is passed into law, giving us our equal right to sponsor our partners for green-cards, equally; or
b. I run out of binational couples – The estimate is between 40,000-100,000 binationals which means I can keep writing – lets see- 2 per month for 12 months – divide into – lets do the smaller amount in case the big amount is inaccurate – so divide 24 into 40,000 = 1,666 years – please check my math….. okay I hope “a” happens first!
a. UAFA (or equivalent) is passed into law, giving us our equal right to sponsor our partners for green-cards, equally; or
b. I run out of binational couples – The estimate is between 40,000-100,000 binationals which means I can keep writing – lets see- 2 per month for 12 months – divide into – lets do the smaller amount in case the big amount is inaccurate – so divide 24 into 40,000 = 1,666 years – please check my math….. okay I hope “a” happens first!
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
With the nation's attention still focused on health care, it may seem like comprehensive immigration reform has been swept under the rug. Don't worry--it may be quiet right now, but CIR is not dead. This past week members of Congress have shown us that immigration reform legislation is still on the agenda.
The legal center report said repealing DOMA is “an obvious and necessary step to ending federal discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.”
Entitled “A Devastating Wait: Family Unity and the Immigration Backlogs,” the report includes a long laundry list of recommendations for immigration legislation, including reclassifying spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents as immediate relatives, exempting Filipino World War II veterans from annual quotas and placing a permanent three-year cap on wait times for family-sponsored visas – which woul
The legal center report said repealing DOMA is “an obvious and necessary step to ending federal discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.”
Entitled “A Devastating Wait: Family Unity and the Immigration Backlogs,” the report includes a long laundry list of recommendations for immigration legislation, including reclassifying spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents as immediate relatives, exempting Filipino World War II veterans from annual quotas and placing a permanent three-year cap on wait times for family-sponsored visas – which woul
Immigration reform bill intrigues gay activists
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 942 days ago
(http://www.washblade.com)
LGBT rights supporters on Capitol Hill are looking to an Illinois congressman for inclusion in his upcoming immigration reform bill that's expected to appeal to more liberal members of the U.S. House.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) on Tuesday issued a statement of core principles for his planned comprehensive reform legislation, which includes a belief in family "as a cornerstone of our immigration system."
"Family is the bedrock of our society, and immigration reform must support strong, united families and treat all immigrant families fairly and equally," says the statement. "Right now, our broken immigration system keeps too many American families apart for years and even decades, when they have done everything legally."
The statement calls for immigration rules "predicated on family values" that keep family members together.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) on Tuesday issued a statement of core principles for his planned comprehensive reform legislation, which includes a belief in family "as a cornerstone of our immigration system."
"Family is the bedrock of our society, and immigration reform must support strong, united families and treat all immigrant families fairly and equally," says the statement. "Right now, our broken immigration system keeps too many American families apart for years and even decades, when they have done everything legally."
The statement calls for immigration rules "predicated on family values" that keep family members together.
This may be interpreted to confirm that CIR will in fact include UAFA, when introduced by Senator Schumer. However in August of 2009, when I asked Julie Kruse of Immigration Equality why would we be concerned that an overt champion of UAFA and LGBT issues such as Schumer would fail to include LGBT in CIR, she cautioned that there was no guarantee that Senator Schumer would in fact include UAFA. However it would seem that Senator Gillibrand may now be providing some valuable insight as to what we can expect. ...
The Senator emphasized the importance of Senator Schumer introducing Immigration reform legislation by year’s end; and the fact that it is imperative that the legislation passes by Spring 2010, the latter in her estimation possibly being a last opportunity...
The Senator emphasized the importance of Senator Schumer introducing Immigration reform legislation by year’s end; and the fact that it is imperative that the legislation passes by Spring 2010, the latter in her estimation possibly being a last opportunity...
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
Road to Washington #NEM activists speak
Posted by
USABound 956 days ago
(http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com)
"It has been 40 years since the Stonewall rebellion launched the modern movement for our equality. We have been marching and struggling for 40 years. We will not wait 40 more," he told the crowd. Then, invoking Milk’s name and demanding "equal protection under the law in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states," as opposed to a piecemeal equality of a hate-crimes law in one jurisdiction, marriage equality in another state, employment protection in that county, and so on, Jones told the crowd that it was time again to march in Washington.
Earlier this week, Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-12) , a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) which would allow gays and lesbians to sponsor their foreign-born partners for citizenship, expressed her concerns about passing the bill as a part of larger immigration reform.
...
Speier’s view seems to have changed since a town hall earlier this year, where she indicated “the only way that bill is going to get passed is if its part of a larger immigration reform measure.” In addition to the standalone act, UAFA compatible language also exists in the omnibus immigration reform bill called Reuniting Families Act, sponsored by Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15).
In her short 16 months in Congress, Speier has proven herself to be a strong ally and advocate for the LGBT community, and was instrumental in staying the deportation of a lesbian mother this past sp
...
Speier’s view seems to have changed since a town hall earlier this year, where she indicated “the only way that bill is going to get passed is if its part of a larger immigration reform measure.” In addition to the standalone act, UAFA compatible language also exists in the omnibus immigration reform bill called Reuniting Families Act, sponsored by Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15).
In her short 16 months in Congress, Speier has proven herself to be a strong ally and advocate for the LGBT community, and was instrumental in staying the deportation of a lesbian mother this past sp
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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.