Former San Angelo mayor Joseph W. Lown said 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, just as spouses now petition for foreign-born husbands and wives.
Speaking from Mexico, Lown said the act, which is sponsored in the senate by Patrick J. Leahy, is a fair proposal that could keep others from making the decision he made -- leaving the country.
"I recognize the U.S. needs to have orderly immigration policy, but it needs to be equitable," Lown said.
Lown said his decision to
uluckidog | Published 
Lown voices support for Uniting American Families Act
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://www.gosanangelo.com)
Exclusive Jeff Sessions Makes Children Cry
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://blogs.tnr.com)
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committe held the first-ever hearing on the Uniting American Families Act, which would equalize the status of foreign-born same-sex partners of American citizens. Heterosexual Americans can earn citizenship for their foreign partners by marrying them. Gays, obviously, cannot do that, effectively making a gay American and his or her foreign spouse legal strangers.
Testifying was Shirley Tan, a Fillipino woman who has been with her American partner for 23 years. Together, they are raising twelve-year-old twin boys. She originally left the Phillipines after suffering a violent attack from a man who murdered her mother and sister (one of the reasons why Tan does not want to return to her native country, aside from the fact that her partner and children live in the U.S., is that the man who brutalized her has since been released from prison.) Tan was origin
Testifying was Shirley Tan, a Fillipino woman who has been with her American partner for 23 years. Together, they are raising twelve-year-old twin boys. She originally left the Phillipines after suffering a violent attack from a man who murdered her mother and sister (one of the reasons why Tan does not want to return to her native country, aside from the fact that her partner and children live in the U.S., is that the man who brutalized her has since been released from prison.) Tan was origin
US to Gay Couples Howdy, Partners (Family Research Council)
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://www.frc.org)
U.S. to Gay Couples: 'Howdy, Partners!' Homosexual relationships do not benefit American society. 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.
Read pdf: Regardless of whatever personal benefits homosexual partners may believe that they derive from their relationship, they simply do not provide benefits to society
Read pdf: Regardless of whatever personal benefits homosexual partners may believe that they derive from their relationship, they simply do not provide benefits to society
Gay partner language could doom immigration reform (POLITICO)
Posted by
uluckidog 1086 days ago
(http://www.politico.com)
Advocates for gays and immigrants are clashing over a proposed immigration bill that would let gay and lesbian Americans sponsor their immigrant “permanent partners” for legal U.S. residency.
The chasm inside the immigrant rights community has led the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops — a major partner in the drive for expanded immigrant rights — to withdraw its support from a House bill to be filed Thursday that would speed up reunification of immigrants with their families.
Including the same-sex provision in the family reunification bill “would erode the institution of marriage and family by according marriagelike immigration benefits to same-sex relationships, a position that is contrary to the very nature of marriage, which pre-dates the church and the state,” the bishops said in a letter to Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.). “The last thing the immigration debate needs
The chasm inside the immigrant rights community has led the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops — a major partner in the drive for expanded immigrant rights — to withdraw its support from a House bill to be filed Thursday that would speed up reunification of immigrants with their families.
Including the same-sex provision in the family reunification bill “would erode the institution of marriage and family by according marriagelike immigration benefits to same-sex relationships, a position that is contrary to the very nature of marriage, which pre-dates the church and the state,” the bishops said in a letter to Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.). “The last thing the immigration debate needs
Same sex couples fight for immigration rights (CNN VIDEO)
Posted by
uluckidog 1087 days ago
(http://edition.cnn.com)
(CNN VIDEO) The story
Jared was forced to choose between a dying father and the love of his life. Judy Rickard had to quit her job and lose her full pension to be with the one she loved.
Jared was forced to choose between a dying father and the love of his life. Judy Rickard had to quit her job and lose her full pension to be with the one she loved.
Uniting American Families Act testimony inspires tears
Posted by
uluckidog 1087 days ago
(http://www.sovo.com)
A congressional hearing on a controversial gay immigration bill brought a touching moment when a witness relating her story about wanting to avoid deportation from the United States told her story to lawmakers.
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
Shirley Tan, a Philippines national who has been living in Pacifica, Calif., with her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, described for the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday how U.S. immigration officials took her from her home and family in January this year after showing her a 2002 deportation letter, which she said she had never seen before.
“Before I knew it, I was handcuffed and taken away, like a criminal, as Jay’s frail mother watched in hysterics,” she said. “I was put into a van with two men in yellow jump suits and chains and searched like a criminal, in a way I have only seen in movies.”Tan choked back tears as she described the experience to the committee. T
New in the No 1 Spot The Reuniting Families Act (Opencongress)
Posted by
uluckidog 1087 days ago
(http://www.opencongress.org)
For months, the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act held the number one most-viewed bill slot on OpenCongress. But all of a sudden two bills, both dealing with immigration issues, but from starkly different angles, have surpassed it.
The Reuniting Families Act is now the most viewed bill on OpenCongress.
It’s a bill focused on reforming the family-based and employment-based immigration systems with a goal of putting more focus on these areas in overall U.S. immigration policy. One of its main affects would be to speed up the process for family members of legal immigrants to secure visas. Specifically, it would reclassify spouses and children of legal immigrants as immediate relatives, raise the per-country family-sponsored immigration limits from 7 percent to 10 percent of total admissions, recapture visas that went unused in previous years due to bureaucratic er
The Reuniting Families Act is now the most viewed bill on OpenCongress.
It’s a bill focused on reforming the family-based and employment-based immigration systems with a goal of putting more focus on these areas in overall U.S. immigration policy. One of its main affects would be to speed up the process for family members of legal immigrants to secure visas. Specifically, it would reclassify spouses and children of legal immigrants as immediate relatives, raise the per-country family-sponsored immigration limits from 7 percent to 10 percent of total admissions, recapture visas that went unused in previous years due to bureaucratic er
Same sex couples fight for immigration rights (CNN POLITICS ARTICLE)
Posted by
uluckidog 1087 days ago
(http://edition.cnn.com)
(CNN) -- Jared was forced to choose between a dying father and the love of his life.Martha McDevitt-Pugh, left, moved to the Netherlands and married her partner, Lin, to be together.
3 of 3 Judy Rickard had to quit her job and lose her full pension to be with the one she loved.
Martha McDevitt-Pugh packed up and moved to another country to be with her future spouse. "Nobody should be in that position. Nobody should have to be an exile," Rickard said.
But all three said their hands were forced by federal immigration laws that don't allow Americans to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for citizenship as a man may do for his wife or a woman for her husband.
"The problem is that I, as a woman, cannot sponsor my female partner for immigration. If I was a man or [my partner] Karin was a man, we wouldn't be having this discussion," said
3 of 3 Judy Rickard had to quit her job and lose her full pension to be with the one she loved.
Martha McDevitt-Pugh packed up and moved to another country to be with her future spouse. "Nobody should be in that position. Nobody should have to be an exile," Rickard said.
But all three said their hands were forced by federal immigration laws that don't allow Americans to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for citizenship as a man may do for his wife or a woman for her husband.
"The problem is that I, as a woman, cannot sponsor my female partner for immigration. If I was a man or [my partner] Karin was a man, we wouldn't be having this discussion," said
Uniting American Families Act UAFA Senate hearings now up (VIDEO)
Posted by
uluckidog 1087 days ago
(http://www.inlookout.com)
Please note we will be adding videos to this post throughout the day. Please check back regularly for updates. Watch the clips from the UAFA Senate hearings below.
Shirley Tan
Gordon Stewart
Julian Bond of the NAACP
Christopher Nugent of the American Bar Association
Roy Beck, CEO and Founder of NumbersUSA
Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Jeff Sessions
Senator Charles Shumer
Senator Arlen Spectre
Shirley Tan
Gordon Stewart
Julian Bond of the NAACP
Christopher Nugent of the American Bar Association
Roy Beck, CEO and Founder of NumbersUSA
Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Jeff Sessions
Senator Charles Shumer
Senator Arlen Spectre
READ FULL TESTIMONY By Roy Beck I am scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee later this morning on one of many bills proposed to increase green cards and immigration at a time of incredibly high unemployment. My remarks probably could apply to any bill that increases green cards. Members of Congress almost never consider the cumulative cost of all the green cards they decide to hand out. I call on them to put that consideration first.
We represent urge you to view S. 424 as a piece of the larger fabric of our national community. By adding green cards without reducing others, S. 424 directly contradicts the recommendations of President Clinton’s sustainability commission. passing S. 424 would be irresponsible to the environment, to future generations and to the most economically vulnerable members of our national community.
We represent urge you to view S. 424 as a piece of the larger fabric of our national community. By adding green cards without reducing others, S. 424 directly contradicts the recommendations of President Clinton’s sustainability commission. passing S. 424 would be irresponsible to the environment, to future generations and to the most economically vulnerable members of our national community.
Bishop Wester emphasized “It is extremely important that barriers that keep the nuclear family—husband, wife and child—divided are removed as soon as possible,” he said.
“As you know, the USCCB supported H.R. 6638, similar legislation that you introduced during the 110th Congress. Unfortunately, however, while the bishops support many of the provisions in the Reuniting Families Act, your decision to include in the bill the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would provide marriage-like immigration benefits to same sex relationships, makes it impossible for the bishops to support this year’s version of your bill.”
"UAFA would erode the institution of marriage and family” and called it “a position that is contrary to the very nature of marriage which pre-dates the Church and the state.”
“As you know, the USCCB supported H.R. 6638, similar legislation that you introduced during the 110th Congress. Unfortunately, however, while the bishops support many of the provisions in the Reuniting Families Act, your decision to include in the bill the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would provide marriage-like immigration benefits to same sex relationships, makes it impossible for the bishops to support this year’s version of your bill.”
"UAFA would erode the institution of marriage and family” and called it “a position that is contrary to the very nature of marriage which pre-dates the Church and the state.”
Immigration Equality Bill Faces Senate Judiciary Review
Posted by
uluckidog 1088 days ago
(http://joemygod.blogspot.com)
...hear the Uniting American Families Act, a bill that would allow LGBT Americans to sponsor foreign spouses for immigration to the United States.
We need your organization letter of support for UAFA
Posted by
uluckidog 1090 days ago
(http://lloydletta.blogspot.com)
We need your organization's letter of support for the Uniting American Families Act by Monday!
I hope you are doing well. Please accept my apologies for this mass email. Same sex binational couple's immigration is one of the many issues that I have been working on for the past 10 years.... it will be 10 years to the day on 31st of May when I was finally able to land in the US of A to be with my husband after spending 4 years apart in 2 different countries.
This year, I feel that we are finally at a tipping point and the bill is finally getting some traction. Sen Leahy is going to be holding a hearing about this bill next week and Rep Mike Honda is going to reintroduce the Reunite Families Act which will include language of UAFA in the bill. We are also hoping that when Comprehensive Immigration Reform is introduced next month, LGBT Families will be included u
I hope you are doing well. Please accept my apologies for this mass email. Same sex binational couple's immigration is one of the many issues that I have been working on for the past 10 years.... it will be 10 years to the day on 31st of May when I was finally able to land in the US of A to be with my husband after spending 4 years apart in 2 different countries.
This year, I feel that we are finally at a tipping point and the bill is finally getting some traction. Sen Leahy is going to be holding a hearing about this bill next week and Rep Mike Honda is going to reintroduce the Reunite Families Act which will include language of UAFA in the bill. We are also hoping that when Comprehensive Immigration Reform is introduced next month, LGBT Families will be included u
UAFA Leahys Passport to Same Sex Marriage
Posted by
uluckidog 1092 days ago
(http://www.frc.org)
Under its cheery name, The Uniting American Families Act, lies yet another attack on marriage at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. As part of the movement to give same-sex partners special privileges, Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced a bill, S. 424, to allow any gay or lesbian foreigner who is currently dating an American to immigrate to the U.S. on the same basis as foreign spouses. Like a married couple, these homosexuals would be eligible for "permanent resident status" under the current immigration law.
Although Leahy frames the policy as an anti-discrimination measure, the truth is, this 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 is a violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the liberal leadership wants to repeal DOMA, then they should do so with a
Although Leahy frames the policy as an anti-discrimination measure, the truth is, this 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 is a violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the liberal leadership wants to repeal DOMA, then they should do so with a
Uniting American Families Act VIDEO by autismwithanattitude
Posted by
uluckidog 1097 days ago
(http://youtube.com)
Please go to this site and sign the petition, write to members of congress. Families should not be split apart like this. Please help!
You can sign the petition if you live anywhere in the world and even if you are not married or are not gay. Show that you are a fair-minded individual. More than 20 other countries throughout the world have decided to step up and do the right thing by providing immigration rights for binational couples. Help us bring attention to this injustice and have the USA join these other countries in helping families to live together.
Keywords: UAFA lesbian gay transgender transsexual immigration equality residency same-sex marriage binational couples visa deportation permanent
You can sign the petition if you live anywhere in the world and even if you are not married or are not gay. Show that you are a fair-minded individual. More than 20 other countries throughout the world have decided to step up and do the right thing by providing immigration rights for binational couples. Help us bring attention to this injustice and have the USA join these other countries in helping families to live together.
Keywords: UAFA lesbian gay transgender transsexual immigration equality residency same-sex marriage binational couples visa deportation permanent
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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.