Quigley New Congressional Champion of Binational Families
Rep. Mike Quigley
Rep. Judy Chu
Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) has emerged as a new outspoken champion of binational LGBT families.
He gave the following remarks on the floor of the House last month:
“Madam Speaker, as we begin to consider substantial comprehensive immigration proposals, I strongly urge my colleagues to remember what it means to achieve “comprehensive” reform.
We cannot forget a very important immigrant group in our country: Bi-national, GLBT couples.
If we are to consider a proposal deemed “comprehensive” we must truly include everyone.
We must mean it when we say that you can be an American no matter the color of your skin, your religion, or who you love.
Congressman Honda has been courageous enough to tackle the issue of amending the nation’s immigration laws to allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for family-based immigration through the Uniting American Families Act.
In this debate, we’ve talked about keeping families together, but we cannot turn a blind eye to the children who have been taken from a family because they have two moms or two dads and one doesn’t live in this country.
We talk about doing what is right, what is fair, and what is just – but we neglect to imagine the pain and the suffering these families are going through because we as a government think it’s our right to tell people who they can love.”
Luckily, Congressman Quigley, who is a freshman and has quickly become a strong advocate for LGBT rights in Congress, sits on the Judiciary committee, the committee of jurisdiction over immigration.
Eighteen other House Judiciary committee members are also cosponsors or former cosponsors of the Uniting American Families Act. This list includes newly elected Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) who entered Congress only last July and has already become a cosponsor of RFA and UAFA; Rep. Chu sits on the Judiciary committee’s immigration subcommittee.
This is very nice to know. These Democrats are the ones we should continue supporting. Donations are for those who actually kept their words and really went out there to fight for our rights.
Comment by Alex — November 12, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
…..absolutly….
Comment by derek — November 12, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
….DITTO……
Comment by scb — November 13, 2009 @ 2:38 am
Good points, good words and let us all turn them to good actions. Personally, I have diverted all my donations away from the DNC and other democratic party solicitations. I have started to focus my donations specifically to IE, LGBT active mov’ts and congresspersons actively supporting LGBT current initiatives.
Comment by Joe — November 13, 2009 @ 5:15 am
Share your stories… the more the congress people hear the more they will know we exist and want our rights. Thank you to these democrats for standing up for human rights.
Comment by bkbzipper — November 13, 2009 @ 10:41 am
at,6. Chung Cheng Fang, where did you read that Gutierrez did not include UAFA in CIR? please send us the link
Comment by robert — November 16, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
Robert, I don’t remember when he mentioned it, maybe I was confused between him and the senator from Arizona who also introduced an immigration bill a couple of months back. What about Mike Honda’s RFA?? I believe his bill has way more co sponsors than Gutierrez’s. Oh my god, I always get so mad when I think about those millions of illegal immigrants might get their green cards, and a lot of us have been trying to stay legal, and we are going to be screwed??? That will be very unfair if that happens, we need to voice our concerns and make sure UAFA is both gaining momentum by itself and in CIR.
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — November 17, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
I feel your frustration Fang, but we have to do what we have to do. And it is sad how they are unfair toward us, can you imagine how will i feel when i vote next year for my democratic congressman who did not want to cosponsor UAFA, but i will not have any choice, since we will get nothing from republicans.
Comment by robert — November 18, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
@9: If you’re getting nothing from your democratic congressman, they’re doing the same as a republican. Vote based on other issues, and not just party.
Comment by mark — November 18, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
That is true, but if GOP gains back back, it is over, all this, UAFA, gay rights, DOMA will all go down the toilet. No matter how much you dislike both parties, I think dems and Obama are our only hopes, if we don’t get major gay rights issue settled before 2012, and if Obama loses, we can all say goodbye to our hope and dreams in staying with our love ones. Let’s make sure we are not going to come to that,,,
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — November 18, 2009 @ 8:16 pm