The United States has long been a resolute, generous leader in the international struggle to eliminate AIDS, but for the past 22 years it has also been one of a handful of countries to refuse entry to HIV-positive visitors, both tourists and those seeking to become legal residents.
But last week, as he prepared to sign a bill reauthorizing funds for HIV/AIDS programs, President Barack Obama announced an end to the ban, calling it a policy “rooted in fear rather than fact.”
It was a sound and welcome decision, eliminating a discriminatory roadblock that has been in place far too long without any scientific justification.
In 1987, in an atmosphere of fear and confusion over its nature and transmission, the Department of Health and Human Services added HIV/AIDS to the list of communicable diseases that could deny people entry.
Search results for welcome, cozieland, encouraging, day, sacramento, pride
Welcome sign from US ending misguided HIV policy
Posted by
USABound 931 days ago
(http://www.chron.com)
The Day After (Gay Immigration Rights)
Posted by
OurHero-Tan 931 days ago
(http://gayimmigration.blogspot.com)
A year later, another Election Day, another heartbreak. But this time I have no illusion about President Obama being the Savior of gay people. As many times as he has repeated the promises he made before the Election, he has done next to nothing for us. The fact that Organizing for America, his former campaign arm, sent out a message before Election Day to urge Mainers to support the governor race in New Jersey, while failing to mention the fight in Maine that's on everyone's mind, speaks volume about the President's avoidance on gay issues.
In spite of hard times in Sacramento LGBT rights advance in California
Posted by
UnitedByLove 971 days ago
(http://socalvoice.net)
... that bans healthy gay and bisexual men from donating blood; and passage of the Uniting American Families Act, which would keep bi-national same-sex couples together by allowing one partner to sponsor the other for immigration. ...
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."
Get ready to laugh. I'm going to lead you through the twists and turns of one of the most ridiculous places known to humankind: the U.S. Congress. The purpose of this exercise is to explain what has happened to the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
But I have a deeper goal. The hate crimes bill is the first in a series of pro-LGBT proposals expected to come before Congress. These include the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, changes in immigration laws and repeals of the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbians and gays in the military.
Given that President Obama has said he favors these proposals, the trick for LGBT America is to get them through Congress and onto his desk. This is no easy task. To succeed, our community and allies must understand how Congress really works. We need to know when to relax and let the pro
But I have a deeper goal. The hate crimes bill is the first in a series of pro-LGBT proposals expected to come before Congress. These include the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, changes in immigration laws and repeals of the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbians and gays in the military.
Given that President Obama has said he favors these proposals, the trick for LGBT America is to get them through Congress and onto his desk. This is no easy task. To succeed, our community and allies must understand how Congress really works. We need to know when to relax and let the pro
Americans Marry During Amsterdam Gay Pride
Posted by
freedom2immigrate 1026 days ago
(http://www.ontopmag.com)
The five married Americans are from New York where their marriages might be legal – the state recognizes legal gay marriage – but the couples could not have wed there.
If the couples wish to remain together they will have to live in the Netherlands. Federal law denies gay and lesbian couples the right to sponsor an immigrant spouse to become a U.S. citizen under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
If the couples wish to remain together they will have to live in the Netherlands. Federal law denies gay and lesbian couples the right to sponsor an immigrant spouse to become a U.S. citizen under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Canal Pride in Amsterdam (Love Exiles)
Posted by
igualdad 1026 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
Talking to Americans along the route it was painfully clear that people know we are discriminated against by US immigration law, but they seem to accept that that is just the way things are. Only exiles I met along the way know the pain of exile and want to become active. But we need all of us to demand our rights....
Washington moves on parts of the gay agenda
Posted by
igualdad 1049 days ago
(http://www.pridesource.com)
ENDA reintroduced, hate crimes hearing held, health concerns addressed
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.”...
Stonewall Profiles of Pride A Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
Posted by
SFbeat 1056 days ago
(http://www.youtube.com)
...explores past and present issues such as discrimination, HIV/AIDS, marriage equality, transgender rights, and immigration law, and explores...
It’s not as if gaining marriage equality in California makes everything equal for same-sex couples. We’ve still got DOMA—the Defense of Marriage Act—to contend with, and that’s a big problem. Our agenda is to repeal DOMA. So basically, while Courage Campaign and Marriage Equality USA are focusing here in California on repealing [Proposition] 8, our agenda is about repealing DOMA at the federal level.
I think that most same-sex couples don’t recognize how serious the effects of DOMA are until they become married, and then all of a sudden, it’s real. What we’ve found, over the last seven months, is that ...
I think that most same-sex couples don’t recognize how serious the effects of DOMA are until they become married, and then all of a sudden, it’s real. What we’ve found, over the last seven months, is that ...
Marriage rights top agenda for Gay Pride celebrations
Posted by
BinatUK 1059 days ago
(http://www.abs-cbnnews.com)
Meanwhile in San Francisco, Filipino Shirley Tan and her partner Jay Mercado, who have been fighting for equal immigration rights for LGBT families, sat and waved with their twin 12-year-old boys atop a convertible, as they led a contingent during the city’s Gay Pride parade.
Earlier this year, Tan faced deportation. She would have been torn away from Mercado, a U.S. green card holder and their twin boys, both American citizens. But after intense lobbying from immigrant rights groups, a private bill was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein to keep Tan in the country until the end of 2010.
“It has been a rough year for us, but I am so overwhelmed with the support of people to keep my family together,” said Tan.Tan and Mercado’s dilemma illustrates the inequity between same-sex civil unions and the right to marry, and they are not alone. There are about 36,0
Earlier this year, Tan faced deportation. She would have been torn away from Mercado, a U.S. green card holder and their twin boys, both American citizens. But after intense lobbying from immigrant rights groups, a private bill was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein to keep Tan in the country until the end of 2010.
“It has been a rough year for us, but I am so overwhelmed with the support of people to keep my family together,” said Tan.Tan and Mercado’s dilemma illustrates the inequity between same-sex civil unions and the right to marry, and they are not alone. There are about 36,0
(Watch) Full Video of Obama White House LGBT Pride Celebration
Posted by
ATLdave 1059 days ago
(http://www.towleroad.com)
I told him of a conversation I had just had: 'So I said, 'Will you support the Uniting American Families Act — Jerry Nadler's bill?' He said...
Encouraging Day at Sacramento Pride with Out4Immigration
Posted by
DividedByLaw 1066 days ago
(http://welcometocozieland.blogspot.com)
Out4Immigrations presence at this year’s Sacramento Pride has and will continue to make a difference in working towards Immigration equality. During the course of the day we able to reach out to so many in the community and gain support from those who are currently facing LGBT immigration difficulties as well as those who aren’t but are willing to help us in our efforts.
One of the most remarkable experiences that transpired was the opportunity to reach out to other binational couples that weren’t aware of our organization. We were given the chance to speak with over a dozen couples who didn’t know that there are people diligently working towards immigration equality. Many of the couples, as we were told, were planning to leave the country, while others were fighting to keep their work visas. Hearing about their struggle in trying to remain together, these couples spoke abo
One of the most remarkable experiences that transpired was the opportunity to reach out to other binational couples that weren’t aware of our organization. We were given the chance to speak with over a dozen couples who didn’t know that there are people diligently working towards immigration equality. Many of the couples, as we were told, were planning to leave the country, while others were fighting to keep their work visas. Hearing about their struggle in trying to remain together, these couples spoke abo
What a day UAFA
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1086 days ago
(http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
The futile testimony of the opposing GOP witnesses fell flat on its meritless belly, with its inability to acknowledge the desperate plight of Shirley and Gordon and their respective families. Senator Sessions sat stone faced through Shirley’s testimony and completely ignored her as if she was not there. Had I not been sitting in the front row, to witness this offensive parody I doubt I would have believed the the extent of the invalidation.
Then the most remarkable occurrence, Jorienne asked to if he could go to Senator Session’s office because he had a question he needed to ask. So we all trudged off to the very Senator who mere ours before had begrudged our existence or so it felt. He was not in the office and so his chief immigration Counsel came and took us into the conference room to talk. Jorienne blurted out his question:
Then the most remarkable occurrence, Jorienne asked to if he could go to Senator Session’s office because he had a question he needed to ask. So we all trudged off to the very Senator who mere ours before had begrudged our existence or so it felt. He was not in the office and so his chief immigration Counsel came and took us into the conference room to talk. Jorienne blurted out his question:
“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.