This post concerns S.424, The Uniting American Families Act. The dispute between me and those who commented center on whether the act really unites real families, or if it is all about encouraging people to engage in sinful behavior and ...
The term “intimate relationship” clearly indicates that sexual activity is a requirement that one must complete in order for one to benefit from the privileges of this bill. Now, not only does the federal government, in enforcing this law, have to make judgment about whether or not the potential immigrant is really having sex with the “permanent partner”, it must also make a judgment about whether the quantity of sex and degree of intimacy is enough to be considered an “intimate relationship”. Such a subjective choice will nicely tie up the courts while matters of real importance are set aside. But even it’s worse than that! “Both indivi
UnitedByLove | Submitted 
UAFA Sex Discrimination Part 2 (EVIL WARNING)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1072 days ago
(http://agoodchoice.blogspot.com)
HRC criticizes Obama over DOMA brief
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1073 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
"I have seen your administration aspire and achieve," Solmonese writes. "Protecting women from employment discrimination. Insuring millions of children. Enabling stem cell research to go forward. These are powerful achievements. And they serve as evidence to me that this brief should not be good enough for you. The question is, Mr. President — do you believe that it's good enough for us?
"If we are equals, if you recognize that our families live the same, love the same, and contribute as much as yours, then the answer must be no.
"We call on you to put your principles into action and send legislation repealing DOMA to Congress."
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in response that Obama "remains strongly committed to signing a legislative repeal of DOMA into law and looks forward to seeing Congress take action."
"Work that wi
"If we are equals, if you recognize that our families live the same, love the same, and contribute as much as yours, then the answer must be no.
"We call on you to put your principles into action and send legislation repealing DOMA to Congress."
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in response that Obama "remains strongly committed to signing a legislative repeal of DOMA into law and looks forward to seeing Congress take action."
"Work that wi
On June 30th, I will be going to Sacramento with Shirley Tan and her family, to testify in favor of a California State Resolution supporting the passage of the Uniting American Families Act* which was re-introduced into Congress by ...
True Leadership Occurring Way BELOW Obamas pay scale
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1073 days ago
(http://www.pamshouseblend.com)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors today passed a resolution in support of ending the exclusion of gay couples from marriage. The resolution, included support for the freedom to marry along with endorsement of federal bills such as the Uniting American Families Act.
The resolution stated, "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions."
The resolution stated, "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions."
What Hate Crimes and Travel Promotion Have in Common
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1074 days ago
(http://jaysays.com)
Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what hate crimes and the promotion of tourism into the United States have to do with each other. However, as is being reported via an “unnamed source” by way of the Washington Blade, Americablog and Pam’s House Blend, The United States Senate has, apparently, deemed adding the current Hate Crimes Bill (which passed the House as H.R. 1913) as an Amendment to S. 1023, also known as the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, proper.
The purpose of S. 1023 is “to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.” But this is, apparently, the bill which will get sexual orientation and gender identity included into existing federal hate crimes legislation – have gays, will travel.
The purpose of S. 1023 is “to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.” But this is, apparently, the bill which will get sexual orientation and gender identity included into existing federal hate crimes legislation – have gays, will travel.
Patience
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1076 days ago
(http://hunteratrandom.blogspot.com)
Obama has been mostly silent on our issues since taking office. Insiders tell us that he will keep his promises. They tell us to be patient. They tell us to wait.
Maybe they're right. Maybe not. Maybe the Obama Administration really is working like crazy behind the scenes to dismantle DOMA and Don’t Ask, to support the Employment Non—Discrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act. Maybe they're just hoping if they placate us enough, we’ll go away.
We made progress on civil rights when we were yelling and screaming. Then we decided to be prudent. Know what? People aren't impressed with how responsible you're being. They're impressed with the emotional reality that you bring to your cause: when they see your face, hear your words, know who you are, that changes them. Sitting on the sidelines being prudent doesn't change anything. It just means you've be
Maybe they're right. Maybe not. Maybe the Obama Administration really is working like crazy behind the scenes to dismantle DOMA and Don’t Ask, to support the Employment Non—Discrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act. Maybe they're just hoping if they placate us enough, we’ll go away.
We made progress on civil rights when we were yelling and screaming. Then we decided to be prudent. Know what? People aren't impressed with how responsible you're being. They're impressed with the emotional reality that you bring to your cause: when they see your face, hear your words, know who you are, that changes them. Sitting on the sidelines being prudent doesn't change anything. It just means you've be
Obama Administrations Anti Gay DOMA Memorandum In Review
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1077 days ago
(http://jaysays.com)
Summary of US Response: 1) The Court Lacks Jurisdiction. (2) The Plaintiff’s Lack Standing. (3) DOMA Is a Valid Exercise of Congress’s Power under the Full Faith and Credit Clause. (4) DOMA Cannot Be Said to Violate an Asserted “Right to Travel”. (5) DOMA Is Consistent with Equal Protection and Due Process Principles. (6) DOMA Does Not Violate the Right to Privacy. (7) DOMA Cannot Be Said to Infringe Upon any Rights of Speech. (8) DOMA Cannot Be Said to Infringe Upon any “Right” under the Ninth Amendment.
So that is the response of the Department of Justice to the Complaint, generally. The question thus remains, “Is the memorandum, written by attorneys for the Department of Justice, on behalf of the United States of America, whose Chief Executive Officer is Barack Obama, the opinion of the President of the United States?”
The duty of the United States in these
So that is the response of the Department of Justice to the Complaint, generally. The question thus remains, “Is the memorandum, written by attorneys for the Department of Justice, on behalf of the United States of America, whose Chief Executive Officer is Barack Obama, the opinion of the President of the United States?”
The duty of the United States in these
Another Schrug from Obama
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1078 days ago
(http://brad-justbecause.blogspot.com)
It's the same reason he hasn't moved on the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell military ban (which the majority of Americans support) and why he didn’t issue a supportive statement on the Uniting American Families Act when it was being debated in Congress last week.
Gays and lesbians are not his priority. Which is why the only "accomplishment" his administration could claim in proclaiming the White House's support for Gay Pride month. Except — ooops — the Advocate reported that this isn't true. President Clinton nominated Roberta Achtenberg as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and Bruce Lehman as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, both within his first hundred days.
Gays and lesbians are not his priority. Which is why the only "accomplishment" his administration could claim in proclaiming the White House's support for Gay Pride month. Except — ooops — the Advocate reported that this isn't true. President Clinton nominated Roberta Achtenberg as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and Bruce Lehman as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, both within his first hundred days.
Pro Marriage Equality Candidates
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1079 days ago
(http://leaveittoseaver.com)
I’m sure this isn’t a first, but it’s great to see candidates like Jennifer Brunner who are running for national office and not running away from supporting really progressive gay rights positions. Brunner, who is now Ohio’s Secretary of State, has a piece on Huffington on why she supports marriage equality and why understand the opposition. Further, she makes the great point that once marriage equality is law, lots of other issues become resolved. We can legislate each issue individually, or we can do it in one sweeping move. Bills like the Uniting American Families Act, which deals with immigration issues that international gay couples face, would be unnecessary and would free up the time of legislators to focus on the bigger issues rather than my rights on a piece-meal basis.
Love Exiles UAFA Testimony (Love Exiles)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1080 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
America's Love Exiles Support the Uniting American Families Act Testimony submitted to: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing: “The Uniting American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law” ...
Senate Judiciary Committee Reviews Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1080 days ago
(http://www.fairus.org)
On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (S. 424), a bill that would extend so-called “permanent partner” visas to persons involved in same-sex relationships. (New York Times, June 3, 2009; Politico, June 3, 2009). The bill’s supporters used the hearing to emphasize what they perceive to be the unfairness of current visa rules, while critics pointed to what they view as significant loopholes that will guarantee widespread fraud and higher immigration enforcement costs. (Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, June 3, 2009).
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) addressed much of the pro-UAFA testimony by noting that the UAFA's creation of a visa for same-sex partners would be a de facto federal recognition of same-sex relationships that might impact other areas of federal law. Sessions al
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) addressed much of the pro-UAFA testimony by noting that the UAFA's creation of a visa for same-sex partners would be a de facto federal recognition of same-sex relationships that might impact other areas of federal law. Sessions al
Drawing about obscure stories (Berges Cartoon Blog)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1081 days ago
(http://bergetoons.blogspot.com)
This week's cartoon (check back Wednesday for it) is about a pretty obscure news story, reported by James Kirchik on The New Republic's blog pages.
One can explain these stories on a blog (quoting entire paragraphs, for that matter), but that doesn't work in a cartoon -- unless, like Tom Tomorrow, you have no qualms about having smaller print in your cartoon than the legal disclaimers in the medical and insurance advertisements. It's impossible to be pithy; I'd like to have Sessions saying just "Enough with the histrionics" in it, but I need someone in the cartoon to explain why boys are crying, what Sessions has to do with them, what's going on, even who's who. So much for brevity, the soul of wit!
I'm therefore not very satisfied with this week's oeuvre. I'm also hoping that I can come up with a cartoon very soon that is NOT about marriage equality.
One can explain these stories on a blog (quoting entire paragraphs, for that matter), but that doesn't work in a cartoon -- unless, like Tom Tomorrow, you have no qualms about having smaller print in your cartoon than the legal disclaimers in the medical and insurance advertisements. It's impossible to be pithy; I'd like to have Sessions saying just "Enough with the histrionics" in it, but I need someone in the cartoon to explain why boys are crying, what Sessions has to do with them, what's going on, even who's who. So much for brevity, the soul of wit!
I'm therefore not very satisfied with this week's oeuvre. I'm also hoping that I can come up with a cartoon very soon that is NOT about marriage equality.
Stories of Immigration Inequality (Big Gay Empire)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1082 days ago
(http://big-gayempire.blogspot.com)
Uniting American Families Act is legislation pending before Congress to place same-sex couples in legally recognized relationships on an equal footing with heterosexual married couples for the purposes of immigration. ...Under current law, and unlike heterosexual married couples, American citizens and permanent residents in same-sex legally recognized relationships (including marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships) are barred from sponsoring their partners for permanent residency in the United States. Thousands of same-sex couples have been forced apart, or forced to move abroad, because of this legal inequity.
To email your Senators and Representatives concerning the Uniting American Families Act, click on the Senate and House links in "Big Gay Links" below.
To email your Senators and Representatives concerning the Uniting American Families Act, click on the Senate and House links in "Big Gay Links" below.
US to Gay Couples Howdy Partners
Posted by
UnitedByLove 1083 days ago
(http://prayer-and-action.blogspot.com)
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the "Uniting American Families Act," a bill that would allow homosexuals to immigrate to the U.S. with their partners under the same resident status as married spouses. As FRC has argued, there is no reason for Congress to carve out an exception to the immigration rule to accommodate these "partnerships." In my written testimony, which was submitted today to the Judiciary Committee, I reiterated the fact that "families" are legally recognized by blood, marriage, or adoption. In other words, these same-sex "partnerships" don't constitute "family" relationships.
Although Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) frames the policy as an anti-discrimination measure, the truth is, it weakens our federal law and chips away at the unique status of marriage. For the federal government to recognize homosexual pairs in any way, shape, or form
Although Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) frames the policy as an anti-discrimination measure, the truth is, it weakens our federal law and chips away at the unique status of marriage. For the federal government to recognize homosexual pairs in any way, shape, or form
It is unclear if the pro-LGBTI wording will cause a mass defection of support for this bill, but it seems to have a few powerful supporters in Congress right now. In many ways, this bill will only fail if these groups choose to remove themselves from the process over the rights of others no matter how much they may think that their behaviors and their lives are abhorrent. There was a time when Hispanics were treated as abhorrent, filthy, lazy, amoral and stupid. One only needs to look back at Slow-Poke Rodriguez, cousin of Speedy Gonzales, to see some of those stereotypes in action. Many Latinos suffer inequities and deprived conditions in the United States currently. Back in the 1980’s I lived in Florida and I remember the laws which made it impossible for Latino children to get educations because the laws prevented them from entering school mid-year. Perhaps these groups should rememb
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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.