Uniting American Families Act hearing set for next week The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on a proposal to change U.S. immigration policy so that gay Americans can sponsor their same-sex partners for residency.
ATLdave | Published 
Congress to consider gay immigration bill
Posted by
ATLdave 1092 days ago
(http://c.moreover.com)
This Just In: "The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first-ever hearing on The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a bill to end...
I read the story at Immigration Equality dot org several days ago. The current word is the committee has lots of personal stories and are mainly interested in hearing from the various organizations involved like Immigrationequality.org and out4immigration.com, ACLU, LAMBDA legal, and some others. This committee has plenty of stories and letters in their offices. I myself have written truck loads of letters as well as the many other bi-national couples have also done the same. This hearing is a very big deal since the various organizations have been trying to get a hearing for 10 years!
Senator Leahy is the Senator that not only made this hearing happen but also authored the Senate version of UAFA. Representative Nadler authored t
I read the story at Immigration Equality dot org several days ago. The current word is the committee has lots of personal stories and are mainly interested in hearing from the various organizations involved like Immigrationequality.org and out4immigration.com, ACLU, LAMBDA legal, and some others. This committee has plenty of stories and letters in their offices. I myself have written truck loads of letters as well as the many other bi-national couples have also done the same. This hearing is a very big deal since the various organizations have been trying to get a hearing for 10 years!
Senator Leahy is the Senator that not only made this hearing happen but also authored the Senate version of UAFA. Representative Nadler authored t
Congress to Hold Hearings on the Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
ATLdave 1092 days ago
(http://gayrights.change.org)
Steve Ralls, a spokesperson for Immigration Equality, said the committee's witness list would be posted later this week.
This news is huge for LGBT advocates working on the issue of immigration. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA for short) was introduced earlier this year in Congress by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (in the U.S. House) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (in the U.S. Senate). The UAFA will eliminate discrimination in U.S. immigration laws by permitting same-sex partners of U.S. citizens to obtain permanent resident status. Kind of like how straight people who marry someone from outside the country can obtain legal resident status for their partner.
This news is huge for LGBT advocates working on the issue of immigration. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA for short) was introduced earlier this year in Congress by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (in the U.S. House) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (in the U.S. Senate). The UAFA will eliminate discrimination in U.S. immigration laws by permitting same-sex partners of U.S. citizens to obtain permanent resident status. Kind of like how straight people who marry someone from outside the country can obtain legal resident status for their partner.
McDermott Receives Immigration Equality Safe Haven Award
Posted by
ATLdave 1092 days ago
(http://www.echelonmagazine.com)
May 27, 2009 -- McDermott Will & Emery LLP was one of five law firms to receive the annual “Safe Haven Award” from Immigration Equality, a national organization that works to advance equality under U.S. immigration law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive individuals. The Award was presented by Immigration Equality at a special Presentation Gala held May 19, 2009 in New York City, the location of the organization’s national headquarters.
“We are committed to our Immigration Equality clients for the long haul,” Linsky added. “In each case, McDermott has pledged to represent each pro bono asylum client until all appeals and avenues of relief are exhausted. We believe in our clients and we believe in this work, and are pleased to celebrate our partnership with Immigration Equality.”
“We are committed to our Immigration Equality clients for the long haul,” Linsky added. “In each case, McDermott has pledged to represent each pro bono asylum client until all appeals and avenues of relief are exhausted. We believe in our clients and we believe in this work, and are pleased to celebrate our partnership with Immigration Equality.”
Today in Gay Mayors
Posted by
ATLdave 1099 days ago
(http://slog.thestranger.com)
J.W. Lown, the mayor of San Angelo, Texas, has a gay lover living in Mexico who isn't a U.S. citizen. So he handed in his resignation just before he was supposed to be sworn in for his fourth term:
Lown said he did not want to take the oath of office knowing he was “aiding and assisting” someone who was not a citizen.
Lown said the man came to the United States five years ago. He attended Angelo State University. Lown said the relationship started after March. Lown and the man are in Mexico awaiting a visa to come back legally.
“I did the best I could,” Lown said. “I had to get down here and get everything in order to make a life for myself.”
If Lown's lover were a woman, she could just get married and move to Texas, right? But no such equality for his male lover—even the male lover of an upstanding mayor. Seems like a case for Immigration E
Lown said he did not want to take the oath of office knowing he was “aiding and assisting” someone who was not a citizen.
Lown said the man came to the United States five years ago. He attended Angelo State University. Lown said the relationship started after March. Lown and the man are in Mexico awaiting a visa to come back legally.
“I did the best I could,” Lown said. “I had to get down here and get everything in order to make a life for myself.”
If Lown's lover were a woman, she could just get married and move to Texas, right? But no such equality for his male lover—even the male lover of an upstanding mayor. Seems like a case for Immigration E
HIV travel ban DOMA and UAFA
Posted by
ATLdave 1105 days ago
(http://airhen.tumblr.com)
I also didn’t know about the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow American citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners for green...
Peter Sprigg vs Joe Solmonese on Same-Sex Marriage
Posted by
ATLdave 1105 days ago
(http://www.towleroad.com)
You may remember Sprigg's 2008 interview I posted here about the Uniting American Families Act. Said Sprigg: "I would much prefer to export...
Obama Slow-Peddling Change?
Posted by
ATLdave 1105 days ago
(http://bootstrappingas.blogspot.com)
It's been just 113 days, today (including weekends!). So, my sense is to press for full repeal of DADT, true immigration equality, etc.
Local support needed for Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
ATLdave 1113 days ago
(http://www.pridesource.com)
Currently, the U.S. government does not allow gays and lesbians to sponsor their foreign-born partners for immigration.
Immigration Equality Again
Posted by
ATLdave 1113 days ago
(http://fanniesroom.blogspot.com)
Fortunately, Senator Dianne Feinstein came to the rescue and introduced a bill that stayed the deportation order.
HR 1024 GIVES SPECIAL RIGHTS TO LESBIAN ILLEGALS
Posted by
ATLdave 1117 days ago
(http://www.resistnet.com)
A pro-family activist says it is "ridiculous" that California Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced legislation designed to help an illegal alien who is a lesbian remain in the U.S.
The case involves 43-year-old Philippines national Shirley Tan, who came to the United States on a visitor's visa in 1989. She overstayed that visa and has been living in a lesbian relationship with a naturalized citizen in Pacifica, California.
Immigration authorities have ordered her to leave the country, but at the urging of homosexual rights groups Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) intervened, arguing that if Tan's homosexual partner was a man, they could marry, and she could be eligible for residency.
Feinstein has now introduced an emergency immigration bill on behalf of Tan. That means Tan cannot be deported unless Congress votes down the legislation or it
The case involves 43-year-old Philippines national Shirley Tan, who came to the United States on a visitor's visa in 1989. She overstayed that visa and has been living in a lesbian relationship with a naturalized citizen in Pacifica, California.
Immigration authorities have ordered her to leave the country, but at the urging of homosexual rights groups Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) intervened, arguing that if Tan's homosexual partner was a man, they could marry, and she could be eligible for residency.
Feinstein has now introduced an emergency immigration bill on behalf of Tan. That means Tan cannot be deported unless Congress votes down the legislation or it
Update on the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban
Posted by
ATLdave 1118 days ago
(http://ourcuriousimmigrationlaws.blogspot.com)
April 14, 2009 - Immigration Equality - Last Friday (April 10), HHS forwarded regulations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
Anti LGBT extremist says Deport Shirley Tan
Posted by
ATLdave 1119 days ago
(http://ca-ripple-effect.blogspot.com)
...legislation that delays the deportation order and helps highlight the need to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), since binational...
Choosing between love and country
Posted by
ATLdave 1119 days ago
(http://www.basicrights.org)
The Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024 / S. 424) would provide a way for gay and lesbian couples to sponsor their partner for...
Senator Arlen Specter Joins the Democratic Party
Posted by
ATLdave 1121 days ago
(http://stonewalldemocrats.ngphost.com)
...reform that reflects the needs of LGBT people, immigration equality, and other pieces of legislation to bring full equality under the law for...
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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.