Chicago Council Committee Supports UAFA
The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Human Relations has passed a resolution supporting the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the inclusion of LGBT couples in comprehensive immigration reform.
The Committee vote was unanimous, and the resolution now moves to the full city council for a vote, Windy City Times reported earlier today.
The text of the resolution, which was introduced by Aldermen Tom Tunney ( 44th Ward ) and Daniel Solis ( 25th Ward ) reads, in part, “The limited legal options for same-sex partners to keep their relationships unified exacts an enormous emotional, financial, and mental toll, disproportionate to opposite-sex couples in binational relationships…
“The City of Chicago fully supports the measures of Congress to allow gay and lesbian partners to access immigration benefits in an equal and fair manner, equivalent to opposite sex partners who currently enjoy such legal rights.”
For a full report on the Committee hearing and vote, visit Windy City Times online.
..I took but one moment ….and called them to thank them on the article
THEY WERE SO sweet and appreciative of the fact I called….to say a thank you
you-all/others should do so …I know they would appreciate it.
ask for the editor ( in charge)……..773. 871. 7610.
thnx
Comment by Derek — December 16, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
It is a great news but we still need a lot of other groups to support UAFA
Comment by Phu Bai — December 16, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
Great news. Thanks. Now to review the record of co-sponsorships from Illinois, esp the bailiwicks of and around Chicago to see how this endoresement can be translated into votes/co-sponsors. I think it is especially remarkable that they recognize how our situation: “exacts an enormous emotional, financial, and mental toll”!!
Comment by Joe — December 16, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
..Just call!…..
Comment by Derek — December 16, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
Yeah, even though it doesn’t have the direct impact of UAFA, but at least, the passage of this resolution, hopefully, might force Guiterrez the importance of the inclusion of LGBT families in his CIR bill. Thanks to the Chicago city council.
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — December 16, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
This is great news, and it should be brought to the attention of Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez whose Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill introduced this week in the house with the support of the Progressive Caucus, excluded us from the family unification provisions. It is vitally important to build local support and this is a great development, but we must mobilize and use this victory to build support in Congress. Congratulations to the Windy City. To those out there reading this, if your city or state has not yet passed a resolution in support of UAFA’s inclusion in CIR, there is no time like the present to get working on it. And don’t forget to call your Representative to express your disappointment that CIR ASAP 2009 excluded us. We must do this ourselves by the thousands or nothing will change. The power is in our hands.
Comment by Lavi Soloway — December 17, 2009 @ 2:47 am
brothers and sisters,
there is an article in advocate
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/12/17/HRC_President_Memo_on_2009/
please go read it, HRC mention UAFA, but we need to post as many comments as possible that UAFA was not included in Gutierrez CIR bill,
please, please, please go read this and post a comment.
we can do it
yours in fight robert
Comment by robert — December 17, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
I don’t see UAFA being mentioned in that article,,
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — December 17, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
at chung, it is on page 3 close to the end
Comment by robert — December 17, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
…Ok I read it ….’It’s There!”…mentioned….Im not sure what to say on it ?..
(after reading through it..what really stands out/sticks out..
IS HOW MUCH THESE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE/CHURCHES interfer and the money they have and are able to re-direct….IT’S TIME CHURCHES WERE TAXED!!)……
otherwise.. .”lets start a so “called” church ourselves…the church of “F.A.I.R”
(First American immigration rights)…. ? what do you think ? ? ?
Comment by Derek — December 17, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
This is great news. It at least helps get the word out about our situation and shows that we DO have public support. Though not a Chicagoan, I will be sure to call the council members and the Times with my thanks.
Comment by Shawn — December 17, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
Hi everyone, posted a new video trying to get the message across what the UAFA is all about and the meaning of if! here’s the link I hope you like it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE1_mOohzyQ
Comment by kev uk — December 18, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Good job Chicago!
Comment by Alex — December 18, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
Good Day all.
A british woman here, who is having to leave the country with my Partner Dana. We leave here on December 28 heading for a much more civilized UK where we will become civil partners when the Visa fro Dana has arrived. I have been here in the USA for 2 and half years overstaying my welcome, but I could not possibly have left my one true partner here in the USA and just become a frequent visitor.
I am so pleased that under the new administration we possibly will have a chance at living together here in the country I have fallen in love with.
What a shame the American people who vote and slander against us cannot accept many miles do not discriminate against love.
I take it as a personal attack that my life can be scrutinized by someone who knows nothing about me and my life with my wonderful partner. And feel that to be English in America, is a rightful place for me. After all were not my ancestors some of the first white english speaking people to come here.
Please please Mr Obama, make it right for us to be together, regardless of our sexuality. I couldnt help who I was born, nor could I help a huge ocean in between me and my wonderful Dana.
God bless and help us all.
Comment by Lynn Norris Webb — December 19, 2009 @ 8:50 am
@14 Lynn: Thanks. So well said. My partner and I have very similar sentiments, but he is much more able to keep it from boiling over to anger and resentment, like you too are able. And to think that our situation (separation due to immigration related apartheid policies) only fell down notches about 20 months ago, while so many of our friends here have been waiting for years (if not decades). One basic concept that comes to fore again these days is: “Justice delayed is justice denied”. For the US LGBT community, maybe more like: “apartheid perpetuated is shame on all of congress”. And to adopt one of their member’s quotation: “…the US Congress is on the wrong side of history” in this issue. Oh well…there you did it Lynn…got me started!!!
Comment by Joe — December 19, 2009 @ 11:29 am
@14 Lynn: it is really sad and you are right. We do not have a choice where we were born but we should have a choice where we should live with our love one.
Comment by Phu Bai — December 19, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
Thanks for the very wonderful sentiments. My whole point to this concept, is this. If a man from the USA can fall in love with a woman from Europe and marry her, then why can’t we have just the same rights. I am no drain on the American economy, I have my own high income. I have set my partner up in business, and made a great first years profits. And in the times of recession that the USA is in we are very blessed. I just want to be at the side of my wonderful partner with no questions asked. So please lobby riends and family, and make this a bigger deal and change.
Comment by Lynn Norris Webb — December 19, 2009 @ 7:13 pm
I agree. We want to be productive members of US society; we’ll contribute to the economy, and we’ll pay taxes. The way it is now, people are being forced out of the country instead.
Comment by Shawn — December 20, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
I rcommend a great website that has stories about binational people – it is on a site called lezgetreal in a column. The column is called UAFA or 1,666 years of stories- something like that. On Christmas the story is about the writer who is sending good wishes to President Obama against a backdrop holiday cheer to highlight the hardship to binational couples in exile and everywhere. People like Lynn Norris Web should give their stories.
Comment by Loreta — December 25, 2009 @ 10:43 pm