Legislative progress for LGBT and immigrant rights after the midterm elections will proceed at a snail's pace at best or screech to a grinding halt at worst. I tend to think the latter, considering the current political climate and lack of leadership in Congress and the White House on civil rights and immigration reform.As such, I think it is crucial that we all go back to the basics and continue chipping away at the ground level by changing hearts and minds one at a time. An effective way to achieve this is by sharing our stories as queer folk, as immigrants, or as both. This puts forth faces that challenge stereotypes thereby encouraging some fair-minded individuals to change their positions and take on seemingly intractable issues.So when the Michael Eric Dyson Radio Show invited me to tell my story as both a gay man and an immigrant, I jumped at the opportunity. I was able to shed
Search results for on, agenda, gays, ask, obamas, telling
Conversations: The Importance of Story Telling
Posted by
uluckidog 571 days ago
(http://erwinsdeleon.blogspot.com)
LGBT contingent to join weekend immigration rally
Posted by
Fight4theRight 798 days ago
(http://www.dcagenda.com)
Proponents of comprehensive immigration reform legislation are planning to rally this weekend in support of the bill — and drum up support for a proposed component that would help same-sex couples.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators — perhaps even up to 100,000 — are expected to gather Sunday at 2 p.m. on the National Mall to call for passing immigration reform this year. Reform Immigration for America, a coalition of immigration reform organizations, is staging the event.
Within this larger protest, a contingent of about 200 protesters is set to advocate for LGBT inclusion in immigration reform, and in particular, a provision to help same-sex bi-national couples.
Because same-sex couples don’t have federal marriage rights that are available to straight couples, LGBT people in same-sex relationships with a foreign national cannot marry their partne
Tens of thousands of demonstrators — perhaps even up to 100,000 — are expected to gather Sunday at 2 p.m. on the National Mall to call for passing immigration reform this year. Reform Immigration for America, a coalition of immigration reform organizations, is staging the event.
Within this larger protest, a contingent of about 200 protesters is set to advocate for LGBT inclusion in immigration reform, and in particular, a provision to help same-sex bi-national couples.
Because same-sex couples don’t have federal marriage rights that are available to straight couples, LGBT people in same-sex relationships with a foreign national cannot marry their partne
Gays Stand Up to be Counted in Upcoming Census
Posted by
UnitedByLove 901 days ago
(http://www.edgemiami.com)
GLBT equality advocates are looking to see that gay and lesbian families are represented on the 2010 U.S. Census .
Immigration reform on the agenda in the USA (Love Exiles)
Posted by
igualdad 901 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
LGBT and immigration right organizations including Love Exiles have been lobbying Guiterrez to include our families. If you're reading this, please sign the petition right now to ask Guiterrez to make his bill inclusive of all American ...
Assessing the Barack Obama Presidency
Posted by
DividedByLaw 931 days ago
(http://www.spursreport.com)
History will judge Barack Obama over the long haul. But we've learned something in the short term that is simple, obvious, and has less to do with him than with the Founding Fathers. This is a country that often has transformational ambitions but is saddled with an incremental system, a nation built on revolution, then engineered so the revolutionary can rarely take hold.
Checks and balances: that's how we learn about it in social-studies class, and in theory it is meant to guard against a despotic executive, a wild-eyed legislature, an overweening judiciary. And it's also meant to safeguard the rights of the individual; as James Madison, president and father of the Constitution, once said, "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." But what ou
Checks and balances: that's how we learn about it in social-studies class, and in theory it is meant to guard against a despotic executive, a wild-eyed legislature, an overweening judiciary. And it's also meant to safeguard the rights of the individual; as James Madison, president and father of the Constitution, once said, "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." But what ou
When we hear this tried crap about Obama being too busy for gay rights, and how he's got bigger things to deal with, it helps, but remains unfortunate, that we have stories like Genesio "Junior" Oliveira and Joe Smith (a fake name) — two men forced to leave the United States because this nation endorses discrimination.
Wasn't assistant attorney general Tom Perez — Obama's "civil rights czar" — just saying how he was going to stick up for queers? Yes, he was: "We must fight for fairness and basic equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters who so frequently are being left in the shadows [and to] ensure that there's a level playing field in which our LGBT brothers and sisters are judged by the content of their character."
So how come it's Perez's own Justice Department that just let expire an asylum claim from Oliveira, who was raped in his native Brazil and fled
Wasn't assistant attorney general Tom Perez — Obama's "civil rights czar" — just saying how he was going to stick up for queers? Yes, he was: "We must fight for fairness and basic equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters who so frequently are being left in the shadows [and to] ensure that there's a level playing field in which our LGBT brothers and sisters are judged by the content of their character."
So how come it's Perez's own Justice Department that just let expire an asylum claim from Oliveira, who was raped in his native Brazil and fled
Gays Icon in America (Economist)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 942 days ago
(http://www.economist.com)
THE charge that Barack Obama delivers soaring rhetoric but little action is in the air these days.
Moves from Obama Could Rattle Key Constituencies (The Rose Garden)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 942 days ago
(http://www.rollcall.com)
President Barack Obama is playing a perilous political game with some of his core constituencies, pursuing policies that threaten to diminish the enthusiasm of groups that helped put him into office.
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
Obama to End Gay Military Ban
Posted by
igualdad 957 days ago
(http://online.wsj.com)
Other special interest groups that contributed to, and campaigned for, Mr. Obama, such as unions and Latino voters, have begun to question when he will address issues important to their members, such as legislation to facilitate union organizing at the workplace and an overhaul of immigration law.
Mr. Obama acknowledged some in the crowd believe that he hasn't done enough so far to address issues facing the gay community. But he said, "Do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach."
Mr. Obama acknowledged some in the crowd believe that he hasn't done enough so far to address issues facing the gay community. But he said, "Do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach."
Obama Speech to the Human Rights Campaign
Posted by
DividedByLaw 957 days ago
(http://gaytheists.org)
President Obama gave a speech to the HRC last night, and, as usual, it was wonderfully crafted and moving.
However, that’s where the positive things I can say stop.
President Obama has promised everything he can to the LGBT community: a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, ending Bush’s horrid HIV travel ban [Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(a)(1)(A)(i)], creating equality for gay couples, ending employment discrimination, etc.
He hasn’t done anything on any of those issues. Nothing at all. In fact, this paragraph is pretty much just filler, because there’s absolutely nothing to talk about with Obama’s track record (or lack thereof) of sticking to his word on matters that affect the gay community. He’s done nothing but give pretty speeches.
To top it all off, Joe Solmonese, president of the HRC, is all but fellating the Pre
However, that’s where the positive things I can say stop.
President Obama has promised everything he can to the LGBT community: a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, ending Bush’s horrid HIV travel ban [Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(a)(1)(A)(i)], creating equality for gay couples, ending employment discrimination, etc.
He hasn’t done anything on any of those issues. Nothing at all. In fact, this paragraph is pretty much just filler, because there’s absolutely nothing to talk about with Obama’s track record (or lack thereof) of sticking to his word on matters that affect the gay community. He’s done nothing but give pretty speeches.
To top it all off, Joe Solmonese, president of the HRC, is all but fellating the Pre
Obama to End DADT Military Ban
Posted by
UnitedByLove 957 days ago
(http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com)
President Obama, speaking to the nation’s largest gay rights organization, pledged tonight to end the law prohibiting openly gay and lesbian citizens from serving in the military.
“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’; that is my commitment,” said Obama, adding that he is also committed to ending the Defense of Marriage Act.Obama, speaking to nearly 3,000 gay and lesbian activists at a dinner-fundraiser hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, addressed the larger effort for equality. “I’m here with you in that fight,” he said. The president also said that there were “still laws to change and hearts to open.”
Obama’s address came amid growing concern in the LGBT community that he’s not acting fast enough on campaign pledges to more fully incorporate gays and lesbians into the fabric of American life.
“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’; that is my commitment,” said Obama, adding that he is also committed to ending the Defense of Marriage Act.Obama, speaking to nearly 3,000 gay and lesbian activists at a dinner-fundraiser hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, addressed the larger effort for equality. “I’m here with you in that fight,” he said. The president also said that there were “still laws to change and hearts to open.”
Obama’s address came amid growing concern in the LGBT community that he’s not acting fast enough on campaign pledges to more fully incorporate gays and lesbians into the fabric of American life.
Powering up our big gay agenda
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 987 days ago
(http://www.pridesource.com)
If (Obama's) health care reform goes down in flames, he will not have enough capital, power, strength to successfully take on DADT or DOMA or UAFA as part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. And if health care reform goes down the tubes..... you might have to kiss United ENDA good bye for a while, too."
First the Gays Now the Immigrants Think Obama is Breaking Promises
Posted by
BinatUK 997 days ago
(http://www.queerty.com)
Remember when President Obama promised to be our fierce advocate, then got to the White House and sat on his hands, and then invited us over for tea to make nice? Looks like LGBTs aren't the only "special interest" (hah!) group outraged at the way he operates.
Some of us (bi-national couples) are waiting for comprehensive immigration reform that also includes same sex bi-national couples, my name is InExile for a reason. Some of us are sitting here waiting for immigration reform ...
Some of us (bi-national couples) are waiting for comprehensive immigration reform that also includes same sex bi-national couples, my name is InExile for a reason. Some of us are sitting here waiting for immigration reform ...
Asian groups trying to push immigration reform to top of agenda
Posted by
BinatUK 1010 days ago
(http://www.sgvtribune.com)
They have also turned up the heat on the already highly controversial immigration debate by including rights for same-sex couples in their desired reforms.
About 36,000 same-sex binational couples live in the United States, and those in which one of the partners is legal but the other is not are not allowed to apply for residency the way heterosexual couples can.
Because the Asian Pacific Islanders' call for immigration reform is largely based on family reunification, same-sex immigration reform is a natural fit, Sadhwani said.
Family reunification is the primary reason Asians and Pacific Islanders come to the United States. And though a path to citizenship exists for most family members of U.S. citizens and green card holders, many wait for years in their home countries to get a visa, according to the APALC.
About 36,000 same-sex binational couples live in the United States, and those in which one of the partners is legal but the other is not are not allowed to apply for residency the way heterosexual couples can.
Because the Asian Pacific Islanders' call for immigration reform is largely based on family reunification, same-sex immigration reform is a natural fit, Sadhwani said.
Family reunification is the primary reason Asians and Pacific Islanders come to the United States. And though a path to citizenship exists for most family members of U.S. citizens and green card holders, many wait for years in their home countries to get a visa, according to the APALC.
American Gays and Lesbians find refuge in the Netherlands
Posted by
NLXile 1024 days ago
(http://lotusopening.blogspot.com)
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. From Love Exiles Foundation. Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Four hundred years after Henry Hudson first set...
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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.