A Brazilian man was reunited with his American husband this week after a U.S. senator pressed federal officials to temporarily allow the gay man back into the country on humanitarian grounds.
Nearly three years ago, the couple split when Oliveira was forced to return to Brazil after being denied permanent residency in the U.S. because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages.
The pair maintained contact through online video chats and sporadic visits during holidays.
The case gained international attention from gay rights and immigrant advocates who criticized U.S. officials for separating the couple even though they were legally married.
Search results for senator, arlen, specter, joins, democratic, party
US senator help Brazilian man reunite with his American husband
Posted by
USABound 705 days ago
(http://www.canadaeast.com)
Specter advocates for DOMA repeal and other LGBT initiatives
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 901 days ago
(http://www.epgn.com)
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter made headlines earlier this year when he announced that he was switching the "R" after his name to a "D," and he was again in the headlines late last month when he declared that he had also shifted his position on an LGBT issue that has beleaguered the community for more than a decade.
Senator Arlen Specter signs support for Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
USAFrance 901 days ago
(http://lezgetreal.com)
There has been a recent bevy of co-sponsors signing onto the Uniting American Families Act, the legislation that seeks to provide Lesbian and Gay Americans with the right to Petition for their same-sex spouses/ partners to live in the USA. This law merely seeks to place the words “permanent partners” into the existing Immigration and Naturalization Act. This is no time to let up, but rather imprtant that we make the most of the momentum. I have 14 couples I am trying to help remain together in the US. That is a tip of the iceberg. They are all desperate. They want to stay together and they want to stay at home. We need UAFA legialstion and awareness of the binational issue more so than ever. Please I am asking for your help.
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Today the news was immense when Senator Arlen Specter sign his support to the Bill. In June this year the Senator attended and spoke at
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Today the news was immense when Senator Arlen Specter sign his support to the Bill. In June this year the Senator attended and spoke at
Senator Kerry Supports NEW DOMA Lawsuit
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 931 days ago
(http://www.ontopmag.com)
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry says he supports a new lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Tim Coco and Genesio “Junior” Oliveira, a binational gay couple, announced Monday they would challenge the 13-year-old law that bans the federal government from recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
Oliveira, 30, returned to his native Brazil in 2007 after an immigration judged denied his request for asylum. He sought asylum in the U.S. in 2002 because he said he was raped as a teenager. In March, Senator Kerry sent a letter asking for intervention in the matter to Attorney General Eric Holder. On Friday, Coco told the AP that the deadline for Holder to act had passed without action from the administration, effectively supporting Oliveira's denial of asylum and keeping the men apart.
Tim Coco and Genesio “Junior” Oliveira, a binational gay couple, announced Monday they would challenge the 13-year-old law that bans the federal government from recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
Oliveira, 30, returned to his native Brazil in 2007 after an immigration judged denied his request for asylum. He sought asylum in the U.S. in 2002 because he said he was raped as a teenager. In March, Senator Kerry sent a letter asking for intervention in the matter to Attorney General Eric Holder. On Friday, Coco told the AP that the deadline for Holder to act had passed without action from the administration, effectively supporting Oliveira's denial of asylum and keeping the men apart.
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...
LGBT Democratic Club Will Honor NCLR Immigration Project
Posted by
BrenDAL 942 days ago
(http://nclrights.wordpress.com)
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club will honor NCLR Immigration Project Director. “Noemi is a fierce advocate for the rights of LGBT immigrants, some of the most invisible members of our community,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “Only a handful of years ago, the U.S. immigration authorities had never granted asylum based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Noemi’s careful and meticulous work on behalf of our clients helped to change that. These victories are some of NCLR’s proudest moments—not only because each asylum case won strengthens sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes within immigration law—but even more importantly, because they often mean a person’s life has been saved.”
Is the Democratic Party Even Worth Supporting Anymore
Posted by
DividedByLaw 963 days ago
(http://www.unitingamericanfamilies.net)
I've long since diverted all of the money that I would ordinarily contribute to the Democratic party into other advocacy groups specifically championing our rights: HRC, Immigration Equality, etc. I'm going to have to leave my own damn ...
Feingold is an interesting choice since Wisconsin will have a limited domestic partnership law in place by October, but his constituents won't be able to benefit from the DOMA Repeal as it will only recognize marriage, but not civil union/domestic partnership. So I don't know how enthusiatic he'd be in pushing a DOMA repeal. Granted, it may allow people living in states where gay marriage is not legal to get married in states where it is and enjoy federal benefits.
Now, if it doesn't pass in this session (2009), I don't see how it can get picked up by the next session, where midterm election will be on everyone's mind and controversial topics are avoided at all costs.
But we should take comfort in the fact that progress is happening, albeit at a much lower pace than we'd like. That's the political reality....
Now, if it doesn't pass in this session (2009), I don't see how it can get picked up by the next session, where midterm election will be on everyone's mind and controversial topics are avoided at all costs.
But we should take comfort in the fact that progress is happening, albeit at a much lower pace than we'd like. That's the political reality....
London Gay Pride A Huge Party Without Politics Causes Controversy
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1055 days ago
(http://www.ontopmag.com)
A huge party for Londoners is promised Saturday as more than a million people are expected at the city's annual Gay Pride parade and festival.. But the idea of an extravagant party for gay men and lesbians seems to have caused controversy in the British capital.
“I'm shocked that Pride London has hardly mentioned the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots on its website or in its magazine,” gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell told the Guardian. “Most of the content is about entertainment and partying. To ignore and downplay this important anniversary is an insult to the veterans who began our momentous fight for freedom.”...
“I'm shocked that Pride London has hardly mentioned the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots on its website or in its magazine,” gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell told the Guardian. “Most of the content is about entertainment and partying. To ignore and downplay this important anniversary is an insult to the veterans who began our momentous fight for freedom.”...
Gay people party too much and gay rights activists are not happy
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 1055 days ago
(http://community.livejournal.com)
Echoing Tatchell's call for a stronger political message, Anisa de Jong, the director of the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group, said: "Gay Pride should be providing more of a political space in line with its history which is about ...
My boilerplate response to Democratic campaign Requests (The Blend)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1058 days ago
(http://www.pamshouseblend.com)
We talk a lot about wanting representatives who will display courage and conviction. But the real test of that isn't what they do when it's easy - it's what they do when it's hard. I can't say I've resoundingly seen moves that show any promise that Democrats will fight for people like me on the federal level, and I have gone back to expecting nothing from your party, because that's the best way to avoid disappointment.
The Uniting American Families Act. Gay couples are in a terrible spot with immigration --- even those living in Marriage Equality states. Thanks to DOMA, they can't sponser their spouses. The Supreme Court? ...There is the marriage equality issue, the employment non-discrimination issue, the ability to serve openly in the armed forces issue, the hate crimes law issue, the schools free and safe from bullying issue, the immigration equality for same sex coupl
The Uniting American Families Act. Gay couples are in a terrible spot with immigration --- even those living in Marriage Equality states. Thanks to DOMA, they can't sponser their spouses. The Supreme Court? ...There is the marriage equality issue, the employment non-discrimination issue, the ability to serve openly in the armed forces issue, the hate crimes law issue, the schools free and safe from bullying issue, the immigration equality for same sex coupl
Politico notes how times have changed: gay marriage support used to only come from politicians with no hopes of higher office, now it's a way to drum up support for a difficult reelection campaign. You can read Senator Dodd's letter here.
HRC reports: Senator Dodd also let us know that he was committed to ensuring that federal rights were portable, so that a same-sex couple married in Connecticut would receive the federal benefits of marriage even if they relocated to a state without marriage equality.
This confirms what the Advocate reported back in April. They listed Dodd as one of the several congressional leaders working on a partial DOMA repeal. We can only hope "soon" means ...
HRC reports: Senator Dodd also let us know that he was committed to ensuring that federal rights were portable, so that a same-sex couple married in Connecticut would receive the federal benefits of marriage even if they relocated to a state without marriage equality.
This confirms what the Advocate reported back in April. They listed Dodd as one of the several congressional leaders working on a partial DOMA repeal. We can only hope "soon" means ...
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. “
Senator Vitter does NOT support the UAFA (Pams House Blend)
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1091 days ago
(http://www.pamshouseblend.com)
While we may not agree on this legislation, I will keep your views in mind as I work to improve our security and reform our immigration system. Once again, thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on this issue. ...
10. 41 AM PDT ; Senator Leahy’s office announced today that there will be a hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Please stay tuned. Scheduled for June 03, 2009 in D.C. I will be travelling to DC to attend.
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on “The Uniting American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law” for Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. By order of the Chairman
Please inform your representatives about the hearing. Perhaps bi-national couples should flood their Senators with requests that their stories are told or submitted. Act Now. If you need help co
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on “The Uniting American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law” for Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. By order of the Chairman
Please inform your representatives about the hearing. Perhaps bi-national couples should flood their Senators with requests that their stories are told or submitted. Act Now. If you need help co
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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.