A resolution supporting the federal bill that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor their partners for a visa passed the California Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote.
Our cover story this week, "Worlds Apart," tells the story of three Bay Area couples whose lives would be changed by the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a federal bill that allows "permanent partners" to be treated the same as straight spouses in immigration matters. Currently, gay couples have no legal pathway to sponsor their foreign partners to stay in the country.
While the federal UAFA bill is on hold while lawmakers decide whether to include it in the comprehensive immigration reform, California legislators such as Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced a resolution last year urging the U.S. Congress to pass the s
LauREN | Submitted 
Resolution To Support Gay Binational Couples Heads To California Senate
Posted by
LauREN 600 days ago
(http://blogs.sfweekly.com)
Congress has promised to begin the process of reforming America's broken immigration system later this year. There is widespread consensus that reform is urgently needed, and a growing insistence among lawmakers that any reform effort must adhere to our nation's long-standing commitment to family unification. Under current immigration law, millions of families remain separated because of inexcusable visa backlogs, unnecessary bureaucratic paper trails and discriminatory policies that do not recognize lesbian and gay families for the purposes of equal immigration rights.
For all of those families, time is of the essence. Every day, loved ones are forcibly separated from each other. For too many, the American dream is one that cannot yet be shared with their spouse, sibling or significant other.
As Congress begins to debate immigration reform, all of our families
For all of those families, time is of the essence. Every day, loved ones are forcibly separated from each other. For too many, the American dream is one that cannot yet be shared with their spouse, sibling or significant other.
As Congress begins to debate immigration reform, all of our families
Gay Marriage Meets the Immigration Debate
Posted by
LauREN 990 days ago
(http://feetin2worlds.wordpress.com)
A bill in Congress would allow citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners to immigrate legally in the same way heterosexuals sponsor their spouses. David used to be one of those people who say: “Get out of our country if you don’t belong here.” That was until he fell in love with an undocumented immigrant.
After seven years of living together, David, an American citizen, worries about his same-sex partner’s ability to remain in the country. Guille, 38, came to the U.S. over nine years ago from Colombia, and his tourist visa has expired.While federal immigration laws allow heterosexual residents to sponsor their spouses to immigrate to the country, gay and lesbian couples are not afforded the same benefit.
“My rights are being denied because Guille is a ‘boy,’” said David, 48, who asked for both of their last names to be withheld because of his partner’s immig
After seven years of living together, David, an American citizen, worries about his same-sex partner’s ability to remain in the country. Guille, 38, came to the U.S. over nine years ago from Colombia, and his tourist visa has expired.While federal immigration laws allow heterosexual residents to sponsor their spouses to immigrate to the country, gay and lesbian couples are not afforded the same benefit.
“My rights are being denied because Guille is a ‘boy,’” said David, 48, who asked for both of their last names to be withheld because of his partner’s immig
UAFA Senate Hearing Set For June 3rd (Aboutcom)
Posted by
LauREN 994 days ago
(http://us.rd.yahoo.com)
Immigration Equality just broke the news announcing Senator Patrick Leahy will convene a Congressional hearing on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). The hearing, set for June 3, 2009, is...
Lesbian mom gets deportation reprieve (North County Times)
Posted by
LauREN 1023 days ago
(http://us.rd.yahoo.com)
SAN FRANCISCO ---- A Philippines-born lesbian mother who was ordered to leave the country next month for overstaying her visa will likely be allowed to stay through next year due to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's intervention in the case.
Out4Immigration Applauds Nadler-Leahy Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (PR.com)
Posted by
LauREN 1038 days ago
(http://us.rd.yahoo.com)
Congress introduces bill to give same-sex binational couples same rights as heterosexuals [PR.com - May 11, 2007]
Deportation of Lesbian Mother Delayed (The Advocate)
Posted by
LauREN 1041 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
Shirley Tan, the 43-year-old San Mateo, Calif. woman who was on the verge of being separated from her partner and twin sons by immigration officials, has been allowed a two week reprieve from deportation.
Fighting For Equality (Aboutcom)
Posted by
LauREN 1041 days ago
(http://immigration.about.com)
Sen. Leahy calls it a "basic fairness." Rep. Nadler says that keeping people who love each other apart is a "wanton, gratuitous cruelty." The comments are in reference to the...
Good News for Binational Same-Sex Couples (Gay Wired)
Posted by
LauREN 1041 days ago
(http://www.gaywired.com)
Earlier this week, The Washington Post came out in support of the Uniting American Families Act, a piece of legislation that would “right a gross unfairness” in the Post ’s eyes by “[allowing] gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency in the United States.”
Group to Celebrate One-Year Anniversary at San Francisco Pride Parade on June 24 [PR.com - June 21, 2007]
Out4Immigration Applauds Nadler-Leahy Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)
Posted by
LauREN 1042 days ago
(http://www.pr.com)
Congress introduces bill to give same-sex binational couples same rights as heterosexuals [PR.com - May 11, 2007]
Documentary details the struggles of same-sex binational couples against unjust US immigration laws [PR.com - June 05, 2007]
New Hampshire Set to Offer Civil Unions for Gay and Lesbian Couples (PR.com)
Posted by
LauREN 1042 days ago
(http://www.pr.com)
State and Local Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships and Marriage Wont Help Same-Sex Binational Couples Stay Together in the United States [PR.com - May 02, 2007]
Lesbian Mother Faces Deportation (The Advocate)
Posted by
LauREN 1042 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
Advocates for binational same-sex couples say the wrenching predicament of a lesbian mother in California illustrates why Congress needs to pass the Uniting Americans Families Act.
There are thousands of couples in the United States who worry everyday about being forcibly torn apart by their government. Even more LGBT citizens...
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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.