Can someone explain to me how those in the armed forces - working for Uncle Sam - are supposed to take advantage of these "benefits" under Don't Ask Don't Tell?
ATLdave | Published 
Is Obamas Same Sex Partners Policy Enough
Posted by
ATLdave 1072 days ago
(http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com)
The debate over federal benefits for gay couples
Posted by
ATLdave 1072 days ago
(http://blogs.chron.com)
You might have heard that President Obama plans on signing an order today requiring the government to offer health care and other benefits to partners of gay federal employees.
It's interesting that the federal government now recognizes that gay couples should be afforded the same priveleges as heterosexuals in one arena, but not in another: immigration....
It's interesting that the federal government now recognizes that gay couples should be afforded the same priveleges as heterosexuals in one arena, but not in another: immigration....
Lets Talk Immigration
Posted by
ATLdave 1074 days ago
(http://www.noquarterusa.net)
Now, this isn’t a new issue - GLB couples having to engage in all kinds of machinations should they fall in love with someone from another country. He is absolutely right - it ISN’T a decision any U.S. citizen should have to make.
Now is when I interject that my sister married some guy from the other side of the world whom she met in a Star Trek chat-room. I am not kidding you (and yes, we were all so proud). Oh, he is now an American citizen - BECAUSE HE CAN BE.
And like everything else dealing with the GLBT community, it is not smooth sailing ahead. Oh, well, when you put it like that, by all means, let’s just back burner the whole thing and continue to make the GLBT community pay a higher price than anyone else in this country to BE citizens of this country.
Now is when I interject that my sister married some guy from the other side of the world whom she met in a Star Trek chat-room. I am not kidding you (and yes, we were all so proud). Oh, he is now an American citizen - BECAUSE HE CAN BE.
And like everything else dealing with the GLBT community, it is not smooth sailing ahead. Oh, well, when you put it like that, by all means, let’s just back burner the whole thing and continue to make the GLBT community pay a higher price than anyone else in this country to BE citizens of this country.
Is this UAFA bill pushing things a bit
Posted by
ATLdave 1076 days ago
(http://answers.yahoo.com)
The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)-im a homosexual, but this gay marriage stuff is stupid. Yeah it lets gay people who have no marital relationship, bring a sex partner into the US for permanent residence. In other words, suddenly 100 million immigrants will claim they're gay and bring their friends in. What a STUPID law!
Immigration Reform faith based or not and same sex marriage
Posted by
ATLdave 1078 days ago
(http://www.religiondispatches.org)
As Julia Preston reported in the New York Times a week ago, the powerful chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, has set off a huge and mainly behind-the-scenes panic among certain religious supporters of so-called comprehensive immigration reform. Bishop John Wester, who heads the Catholic bishops’ Committee on Migration, wrote to the Congressional committee chairs who are beginning to work on immigration that Leahy’s Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would “erode the institution of marriage and family.”
The bishops’ staff director for immigration policy added that “the last thing the national immigration debate needs is another politically divisive issue added to the mix.”
And the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an Evangelical group, called Leahy’s measure a “slap in the face” of right-th
The bishops’ staff director for immigration policy added that “the last thing the national immigration debate needs is another politically divisive issue added to the mix.”
And the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an Evangelical group, called Leahy’s measure a “slap in the face” of right-th
UAFA and Sex Discrimination (Letter to Senator)
Posted by
ATLdave 1078 days ago
(http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com)
Dear Senator: I am writing this in regards to S.424, The Uniting American Families Act, and in particular section 20. It seems unthinkable to me to add the term "permanent partner" to immigration law. It is easy to see that the intent of this bill is to allow same-sex partners equal status as married couples in regards to resident status.
First of all, by including same-sex partners, this encourages unhealthy, immoral behavior that is condemned by every major religion on the face of the earth.
Secondly, "permanent partner" is an inherently ill-defined term. What if people who aren't really "partners" (either same or different sex) say that they are just so that they can get visas, etc.? What are you going to do, watch them while they...? Do they have to sign an affidavit saying that they had sex a certain number of times and plan to continue to do it with cert
First of all, by including same-sex partners, this encourages unhealthy, immoral behavior that is condemned by every major religion on the face of the earth.
Secondly, "permanent partner" is an inherently ill-defined term. What if people who aren't really "partners" (either same or different sex) say that they are just so that they can get visas, etc.? What are you going to do, watch them while they...? Do they have to sign an affidavit saying that they had sex a certain number of times and plan to continue to do it with cert
Obamas Hope and Change
Posted by
ATLdave 1081 days ago
(http://bigqueer.com)
...really to strongly and emphatically encourage Congress to grant immigration equality to GLTB couples under the Uniting American Families Act? There’s a raft of life-changing civil rights just waiting to be won by the Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, Bisexual movement in America and we need the President we helped elect to step up.
Now. I have to believe he’s getting anachronistic and piss poor advice from his handlers. I have to believe that he’s ignoring his own strong political instincts for the sake of larger projects like – yanno – rescuing the American economy and ensuring affordable health care for all. Clearly, these are big, momentous challenges. No one’s denying that. But neither is it impossible for a President, in the midst of such challenges, to repeal discrimination where he sees it. One can walk and chew gum, after all.
What’s new, what’s interest
Now. I have to believe he’s getting anachronistic and piss poor advice from his handlers. I have to believe that he’s ignoring his own strong political instincts for the sake of larger projects like – yanno – rescuing the American economy and ensuring affordable health care for all. Clearly, these are big, momentous challenges. No one’s denying that. But neither is it impossible for a President, in the midst of such challenges, to repeal discrimination where he sees it. One can walk and chew gum, after all.
What’s new, what’s interest
Congress Considers Equal Immigration
Posted by
ATLdave 1081 days ago
(http://rawteeth.wordpress.com)
This week, Immigration Equality launched a campaign that they call the biggest in it’s history: congress is to “convene the first-ever hearings on binational couples.” On June 3, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a proposal, called the Reuniting American Families Act, that denotes ending discrimination against binational couples, allowing Americans to sponsor their same-gender partners for US residency.
A new video that details the common origins of many of the country's leading anti-immigration groups (including Roy Beck; NumbersUSA who gave opposition testimony against Uniting American Families Act) and their ties to White supremacists.
Uniting American Families Act (Feministing)
Posted by
ATLdave 1085 days ago
(http://community.feministing.com)
I don't know what the odds are of UAFA receiving committee approval (not to mention actually passing the labirynth that is congress ), but it draws much needed attention to this discriminatory immigration practice. It is also an important reminder that even though six states now recognize same-sex marriage (yay! ), without overturning DOMA, committed same-sex couples are still precluded from more than 1,138 rights and protections conferred to U.S. citizens upon marriage by the federal government (according to the federal government's Governmental Accountability Office).
The response from opponents has been predictable (and sort of hysterical only because it's so ridiculous )
The response from opponents has been predictable (and sort of hysterical only because it's so ridiculous )
Speaking from Mexico, the former mayor of San Angelo, TX, Joseph W. Lown, said earlier this week he supports the Uniting American Families Act that would allow American citizens and legal immigrants to seek residency in the United States for their same-sex partners, the same as straight American citizens can now petition for foreign-born husbands and wives.
Lown resigned as San Angelo’s mayor after serving six years in that position and moved to Mexico so he and his long-term partner could legally remain together.
Lown resigned as San Angelo’s mayor after serving six years in that position and moved to Mexico so he and his long-term partner could legally remain together.
Obama Pushes US Citizenship for Foreign Homosexuals
Posted by
ATLdave 1089 days ago
(http://culturecampaign.blogspot.com)
Under the radar, Senator Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced bill #S424 to provide "permanent resident status" for alien partners of American homosexuals as if they are married -- just one more assault . . .
Marriage loss does not deter legislative agenda
Posted by
ATLdave 1091 days ago
(http://www.signonsandiego.com)
Resolution Bill No. AJR 15 (De León) - Urge Congress and President Obama to sign, the Uniting American Families Act, which would extend immigration rights to bi-national same-sex couples.
SACRAMENTO - A short gay rights agenda in the Capitol this year appears to be more of a testament to past success and a recognition that the defining issues have run their course in the Legislature. That's the view of not just advocates of more protections for gays, but also conservatives who sometimes are at odds with them as they advance into the post-Proposition 8 battleground.
"The number of bills have dropped off because every one of those legal comparisons to traditional couples has been signed into law," said Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula, who also represents parts of North San Diego County.
Alice Kessler, government affairs direct
SACRAMENTO - A short gay rights agenda in the Capitol this year appears to be more of a testament to past success and a recognition that the defining issues have run their course in the Legislature. That's the view of not just advocates of more protections for gays, but also conservatives who sometimes are at odds with them as they advance into the post-Proposition 8 battleground.
"The number of bills have dropped off because every one of those legal comparisons to traditional couples has been signed into law," said Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula, who also represents parts of North San Diego County.
Alice Kessler, government affairs direct
Barney Frank Says Hate Crime Bills DADT EDNA and UAFA Have No Chance
Posted by
ATLdave 1091 days ago
(http://www.back2stonewall.com)
The Domestic Partner Benefits & Obligations Act, which would make available to the partners of gay federal employees the same benefits available to the spouses of straight employees, was introduced last week. Frank says they “have a shot” at passing that bill, but really can’t even guess at when. But Frank also added that supporters of the Uniting American Families Act “don’t have a shot” at passing that during this session of Congress.
“You got two very tough issues — the rights of same-sex couples and immigration,” he said. “You put them in the same bill and it becomes impossible. We just don’t have the votes for it.”
So there you are kids. Our “supposed” timeline of certain Bills that might or might not be passed and might or might not be soon. WE MUST DEMAND OUR OWN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT and we MUST DO SO ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
We need to start conce
“You got two very tough issues — the rights of same-sex couples and immigration,” he said. “You put them in the same bill and it becomes impossible. We just don’t have the votes for it.”
So there you are kids. Our “supposed” timeline of certain Bills that might or might not be passed and might or might not be soon. WE MUST DEMAND OUR OWN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT and we MUST DO SO ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
We need to start conce
Live Webcast of UAFA Hearing
Posted by
ATLdave 1092 days ago
(http://immigrationequality.org)
Thank you to all of our supporters who have reached out to offer help and encouragement following our announcement of the June 3rd Senate hearings on The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Your calls and emails have been instrumental in making this historic moment possible and more details on the hearing will be posted soon.
Many of you have also asked about attending the hearing in Washington. And, the hearing is open to the public. Seating, however, is very limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no ticketing for the hearing and no assigned seating . . . and hearing rooms tend to be very small.
Many of you have also asked about attending the hearing in Washington. And, the hearing is open to the public. Seating, however, is very limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no ticketing for the hearing and no assigned seating . . . and hearing rooms tend to be very small.
Feedburner
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.