Watch History Unfold: Live Webcast of UAFA Hearing
Thank you to all of our supporters who have reached out to offer help and encouragement following our announcement of the June 3rd Senate hearings on The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Your calls and emails have been instrumental in making this historic moment possible and more details on the hearing will be posted soon.
Many of you have also asked about attending the hearing in Washington. And, the hearing is open to the public. Seating, however, is very limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no ticketing for the hearing and no assigned seating . . . and hearing rooms tend to be very small.
If you will be in Washington, the best bet is to arrive at the hearing as early as 8am, to get in line for a seat. But if you are unable to be in Washington, you can still watch the hearing live on the Senate Judiciary Committee website. Just click here to visit the hearing page. On Wednesday morning, you’ll be able to also access the webcast icon, which will stream the hearing directly to your web browser.
Be sure to check back here for more information soon . . . and tune in on Wednesday as history unfolds!
Dear Committee on the Judiciary,
My name is Brian and I am a 39 year-old man living in Los Angeles, California, that has been happily teaching high school and college English for 17 years. I am a two time Fulbright, Fund for Teachers, & Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund recipient awaiting a grant from the National Endowment of Humanities and I have earned a Master’s degree as well. I am lucky to have a great life, a promising marriage and a wonderfully supportive family!
On August 2, 2008 I married my husband Michael after having met three years prior. Michael is from Malaysia. Our wedding celebration was the most glorious event of our lives! Over 120 of our friends and family came to encircle us with their love and blessings for a fruitful life together, full of love, intimacy and caring. We decided to get married because we love one another and we share the same values and goals. I also married Michael because he is my hero, having come to the United States just three and a half short years ago to pursue his dreams of becoming a nurse. Now he IS a Registered Nurse (RN). How brave you must be to leave everything you know behind and come to a different country. I know you can relate to that! I was so very lucky to have snatched him up soon after his arrival. A year later I proposed to Michael in 2006, in a surprise atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It was a dream come true for both of us. When we came together on his 30th birthday to wed on August 2, 2008, we were both overwhelmingly excited. In West Hollywood park, in a circle of rose petals, friends and loved ones, we had our wedding performed flawlessly by our dear friend Donna, with whom I work with and went to Africa with two years ago on an educational grant. As we approached the park at dusk, a sunset glow hallowed our friends as we joined in the circle as Michael’s mother (I surprised him by bringing her from half way across the world without his knowledge.), who flew all the way from Malaysia with his pregnant sister in law, escorted him, as both my parents and stepmother walked me into the circle as well. We then shared tea with the elder guests as a sign of reverence, which was a symbol of Michael’s culture. After the tea ceremony my stepmother sang a gorgeous Beatles song to us. Our ring ceremony followed and was very special. Each member of the wedding party held a red ribbon, as our two rings were passed with the ribbon going through the two rings around the circle, as each member of the wedding blessed the rings and held our two hearts. This was an extraordinary bonding experience, for our love is forever blessed by everyone we know. We then exchanged our vows with emotional intensity as we were wrapped in a talis, a tradition of my culture. There was not a dry eye in the park! We broke glass and then headed, with our guests, to our lounge reception next door to the park and celebrated all night. It was the best wedding I have ever been to! We flew off the New York City with his family for our honeymoon soon after. It all seemed so extraordinary, yet paradoxically it was just like everyone else who has been married before us. Now Michael and I are bonded in the love of our friends and family to live a beautiful life together: So we thought…
On November 4, 2008, our lives changed forever. I had the opportunity to vote for the only candidate I have ever believed in into office. That candidate was Barack Obama! We congratulated him and the entire country for having won and for running the bravest, most positive election in modern times! He managed to stay above the fray and inspire millions! I am overwhelmed just thinking about it now! Tears of joy filled our eyes as the world recognized the United States, once again as a place of hope! However, in the state of California, we were beginning to hear the overwhelmingly sad news that Proposition 8, a proposition that was in favor of changing our state constitution that marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman, had won. We know from the President and Vice President Joe Biden that they both support Civil Unions and that they both support that same-sex couples have the same rights as couples of the opposite sex. We have read his letter to the LGBT community several times as a beacon of hope and I have included his words below as a reminder of all of our commitments to global equality! We are now wondering when will all of this happen? We are aware that politically it may not be expedient. That is too bad for the millions awaiting such change.
Michael graduated from Nursing and has passed his board exam. He has been offered several great jobs from prestigious hospitals, like Cedar Sinai Medical Center, but when he asked about sponsorship he is shockingly turned down, and the jobs revoked. In 2006, the retrogression from the United States Government went into effect, concerning the distribution of H1C Visas for skilled nurses. This has greatly impacted Michael’s and my future together; and since the United States does not recognize our marriage and with Proposition 8 passing in California, we are losing hope, an ideal we inspired to in my vote for Barack Obama. He did finally land a position at another hospital, but can only work one year under an OPT. Then he has to go back to school or go home, since retrogression has not lifted and since the federal government does not recognize our union. Now we are unclear as to when the Congress and the Senate will take a stand and fulfill the promise you all have made for same sex couples all over America. We know the economy and the two wars are priority for our country, however we are curious as to when and how you all will make these changes for same sex couples everywhere? Will it be part of the first positive changes you all will make for our country? We are worried, terrified and just plain saddened by our, and many others, dilemma. For the first time in our lives we feel that there is hope for us with the new administration. We are sure you all are inundated with requests and mail. We are asking for President Obama to make an executive order or bring quick legislation in order for many same sex couples to live out their American Dreams!
We also know that “small things” get brought up in our legislature daily and get passed with expediency. For instance, the news reported that there was a bill to make sure American flags are made in the USA. Another example is a bill that was presented to stop scalpers at the inauguration. I know that is important to the economy, but how many real lives does that effect? I know there are bigger fish to fry!
Around the world, activists are stepping up to demand passage of UAFA. Join us fair-minded people, to demand equal immigration rights for same-sex couples. Anything less is un-American! We will pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), but together we will pass it sooner.
In the debate we heard in front of tens of millions of people: “…In an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple.”
On record President Obama has also said, “Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
Our time is running out. We are growingly frustrated by the turns of events in California, where we have taken to the streets, and we are terribly worried about our future together. Will we have to leave the United States of America? I cannot even fathom the thought! This has been my home for 39 years and it is where I have established my life. I am AMERICAN! I should not even have thoughts of leaving the country I love in my mind! Michael and I have discussed this a lot and for the first time in our lives we truly feel like second-class citizens. Could you imagine what that must feel like? Could you imagine contemplating those thoughts TODAY when you look into YOUR own family’s eyes? Please help us live the American Dream and end discrimination in our country for good! We are stressed out! We even want to buy a house! We can now if we wanted but with the uncertainty of getting Michael a visa or a green card, we cannot even make a move. We are paralyzed. All our money has to be saved, just in case he has to go back to school or leave the country. THIS IS A SHAME!
We wish you all good luck in your endeavors for the world and we look forward to seeing you all grow as a leaders and make the right decisions for your citizens. We are amazed by the turn of events with Barack Obama as our President and we thank you for your consideration and service. We are also at service to you so please do not hesitate to contact us for any reason!
Below you will find a letter to the LGBT community from President Obama. We are not only impressed with his words, but that many of the things he says is on the White House website.
Yes we can! Yes we will! Thank you again!
Peace!
Brian Jacobs
“I’m running for President to build an America that lives up to our
founding promise of equality for all ‐ a promise that extends to our gay brothers
and sisters. It’s wrong to have millions of Americans living as second‐class
citizens in this nation. And I ask for your support in this election so that together
we can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans.
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have
fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co‐
sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of
both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the
workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I
have co‐sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same‐sex couples
and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as
President, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of
the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and pass a fully inclusive
Employment Non‐Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same‐
sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally
believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment.
But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of
states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and
lesbian couples ‐whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a
civil marriage. I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA). Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and
lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to
repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I have worked to improve the Uniting
American Families Act so we can afford same‐sex couples the same rights and
obligations as married couples in our immigration system.
The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it
comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science.
While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use
common sense. We should have age‐appropriate sex education that includes
information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat
infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on
needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug
users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing
contraceptives.
We also need a president who’s willing to confront the stigma ‐ too often
tied to homophobia ‐ that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this
stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church,
and will continue to speak out as president.
That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right
positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad
support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping
outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and
discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality
to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones ‐ and that’s what I’ve done
throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America
in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the
need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I
have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this
campaign ‐ from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer
Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.
Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say.
I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT
Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need
to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is
difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.
Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for
what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality
for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership
that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will
provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all
Americans, gay and straight alike.”
CC
President Barack Obama
Vice President Joe Biden
LA Mayor Antonio Villarigosa
US Senator Barbara Boxer
US Senator Dianne Feinstein
Representative Henry Waxman
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Attorney General Jerry Brown
Comment by Brian — May 28, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
@ Rachel, can you confirm if the video of the hearing can still be accessed after the original broadcast, or is the live stream going to be the only opportunity to watch it? Just occurred to me that someone may post the C-SPAN coverage on YouTube but I thought I better ask.
Comment by Tim — May 28, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
@1, Brian, great blog. Keep sending reminder to the parties u mentioned inyour msg till u receive any proper response.
Comment by Kim — May 28, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
IE: Thank you so much for arranging this webcast so that we can all attend. You have once again risen to the occasion! Bravo!!
Comment by Joe — May 28, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Brian – have you sent your letter to the staffers of the members of the Judiciary Committees? Or did you fax it over to their offices?
Comment by Tom Tierney — May 29, 2009 @ 6:54 am
I would love it if someone from IE could explain the process a bit. What happens at the hearing? Do they decide then if it will go to a vote/when/etc? Can it die in the hearing? If the hearing goes well, how long would it take to get from a hearing to a floor vote? Thanks!
Comment by Tyler — May 29, 2009 @ 8:41 am
The Human Rights Campaign’s website did mention today about UAFA hearing being scheduled for next Wednesday. HRC is NOT ignoring us like someone previously suggested.
Equally speaking:
http://www.hrc.org/equally_speaking.htm
I’ll be whatching the hearing online and/or connected to this blog for more news. Good news, I hope.
Good Luck to anyone!
I love you guys!
Comment by Osman — May 29, 2009 @ 10:33 am
What will happen after the hearing????? How long more we should wait? Shoul I start to be happy or is another republican is gonna stop my dream righ there!!!! SAME TAX SAME RIGHTS SAME SEX!!!!!!
Comment by Julian Vieira — May 29, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Junlian, I think it will have hearing first, then vote on the floor, and it also needs to do it in the Congress too. So it’s just one step forward.
Comment by Clarence — May 29, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Would share this report from Washington Blade under the title:
“Gay rights bills remain stalled in Congress
Hate crimes, ENDA strategies debated; Frank says UAFA won’t pass this year ”
http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-29/news/national/14609.cfm?page=2
Don’t be too pessemistic. Instead, let’s raise our voice LOUDER and reach out for more support for OUR EQUALITY.
Comment by kim — May 29, 2009 @ 8:21 pm
For those who will not be able to attend, is there anything we can do to help? Please let us know so we can prepare and provide additional help.
Comment by Jeff — May 30, 2009 @ 12:16 am
Yes as #10 Jeff, I’m willing to help, let us know what you need.
Comment by bkbzipper — May 30, 2009 @ 5:12 am
Good Day People! I am from Philippines, and I have someone special in Los Angeles, California. We’ve been waiting for this chance for almost 3 years now! This is only our chance to be together… I hope this hearing is in our favor and hopefully to hear a positive result…
If there is just something I can help here in the Philippines, I will do it willingly…
I LOVE YOU RON!
God Bless to everyone and God Bless AMERICA!
Comment by Ernesto — May 30, 2009 @ 6:30 am
Guys, sad story. Rep. Barney Frank said that the UAFA will not be passed by this session of this congress. I found the information at washingtonblade.com here is the link, the 2nd page.
http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-29/news/national/14609.cfm?page=2
Comment by Dozel — May 30, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
@Dozel. Don’t feel discouraged. Frank was talking about UAFA as a stand-alone bill. Included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform, UAFA will have a much better chance. Plus, we have the additional option to achieve the same goal by having DOMA repealed by Congress or struck down by courts.
Comment by Rick — May 30, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
@Dozel(12) and Rick (13): Yes Rick I completely agree with you “Dozel, don’t feel discourage”…all you folks, don’t feel pessimistic at all!! The situation is so fluid that no one, not even Barney Franks can know where and how quickly this is moving!! All we should do is keep up the emails, letters, videos, and spread the word to all friends and families to do the same…remember, no one dreamed there would be a hearing set up for UAFA this soon…It all happened because of the sheer pressure of your collective work (emails, letters, phone calls, bla bla bla).Pls stay optimistic as that will keep us all moving in the right (oopppss, I mean correct, to be precise) direction, LOL.
Comment by Joe — May 31, 2009 @ 9:02 am
@ Dozel, thanks for linking to this article. I’ve always been curious as to the status of the ENDA bill and I’m glad to hear Frank say he’ll introduce it in June. There are allegedly rumours that the administration will make LGBT-related announcements in the next few weeks, and I suspect the introduction of the ENDA bill etc will be part of this.
Re UAFA, I appreciate he was honest and only confirmed what many of us have suspected all along, that it won’t pass as a stand-alone bill. I hope though that the hearing on Wednesday will help to guarantee that it is included in CIR. As for the other bills: looks as though the only bill that may be passed by Congress this year is the Matthew Shephard Anti-Hate Crime Act. ENDA and the repeal of DADT might follow next year, hopefully along with CIR. If a UAFA-inclusive CIR bill is passed, say, in the fall next year, you’d have to add another 12 months for full implementation of the new law and training of immigration officials to get up to scratch before foreign partners can get into the US. I know it sounds harsh but I would urge people not to expect to be able to join their loved in the US before mid-2011 at the earliest (unless you’re lucky enough to claim a work or student visa). Don’t lose heart though: the harder and the more passionate we work on this, the sooner this will become reality.
Comment by Tim — May 31, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Thanks Tim (15) for that timeline. Is it the best, worst or middle of the spectrum scenario though?
Comment by Joe — May 31, 2009 @ 9:31 am
Hate to say it Joe but sometime in 2011 looks like the most optimistic scenario at the moment. We have to keep hanging in there, folks.
Comment by Tim — May 31, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Well….there’s time to save up money for the big wedding…LOL
Comment by Joe — May 31, 2009 @ 10:11 am
i’m maried to my partner last aug 30′09 here in california…. i hope he can sponsor me… i cant hardly wait… we’ve been together for 5 yrs now…. his white and im filipino
Comment by derick — May 31, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
I cannot drive, work in a descent job because I am gay and I live with my gay american partner…. Freedon in the United States…Sorry where is it???? Racist and hypocrat american fake society…
Comment by Julian Vieira — May 31, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
iam married to a white guy last year here in california we been together for 5 yrs now i hope he can sponsor me
Comment by derick — May 31, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
This will be historic. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I am 27, gay, from the Philippines, and a registered nurse. My partner of 7 years can’t be sponsored by me and can’t get a US tourist visa because he’s young (25), a nurse (but due to the backlog in the USCIS he cannot come here to work yet), and the fact that I am here the consular officers suspected that he will stay here illegally. After 5 unsuccessful visa applications, we’re losing hope and I am thinking of moving to the UK instead and leave my family, friends and my two Siberian huskies. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that this bill gets passed…
Comment by Jon — June 1, 2009 @ 1:30 am
2011 is much too long to wait! Reading the article listed above makes me sick. Our community must FORCE the issues to the front of the line. Today I read about a march on Washington for Equality Oct. 10-11. We need to demand our rights, not ask for them!
Comment by InExile — June 1, 2009 @ 6:31 am
@Tim: The video of Wednesday’s hearing will be archived on the Senate Judiciary Committee. At present, it appears that hearing videos are archived for approximately 30 days.
Comment by sralls — June 1, 2009 @ 7:25 am
Miracles do happen, and I would not be discouraged with somewhat malicious comments by some people who probable have no clue how is to live separate from your partner.
UAFA have chance since the bill merely gives us the right only to sponsor our loved one, immigrants have right to sponsor their immediate family anyway so sponsoring your partner is our right.
When the bill passes it will be hard anyway to deal with immigration, even straight people have to produce bunch of paperwork for their spouses for immigration.
So I would not be discouraged or give any timeline for success or the failure of the bill.
Some of you guys act like you know everything when in fact you have no clue about UAFA and its future success.
Comment by robert — June 1, 2009 @ 7:25 am
I posted earlier, not sure why my comment disappeared from here. As I said…Agreed, we have waited far too long for UAFA to pass, if not now, then how much longer should we wait? I work on Cap. Hill and spoke to Barney Frank about this a few months ago when he visited with our gay employees group FEDGLOBE. He was quite pessemistic about UAFA passing, but if it can be included in comprehensive immigration reform, it has a better chance of passing. We need to keep up the pressure. Barney is knowledgeable and savvy, but he doesn’t know the future, so don’t lose hope.
Comment by Will — June 1, 2009 @ 10:55 am
@robert: in case your comment was directed at me. As a matter of fact, my comments about a likely timeline were in no way meant to be malicious or discouraging but simply trying to be realistic about our prospects. And for what it’s worth, I am the foreign half of a binational couple myself and it IS very painful for me to be parted from my US partner like this. I’m not acting like I know everything about UAFA’s prospects but simply take from Frank’s and other politicians’/activists’ comments that, unfortunately, the bill won’t be passed this year, and given how volatile the debate about CIR is likely going to be, we can be lucky if they sign omnibus immigration reform into law anytime next year. So, unless you have reliable sources to suggest we have reason to believe that we can all be together within the next year or so, then quote them please, and don’t ever accuse me of negativity or not knowing what it feels like to be parted. I would love it if we could all be reunited with our partners as soon as possible but barring a miracle it is simply unlikely that immigration laws will change anytime soon. Frank says so, so does John Kerry and probably many more. These are some of our staunchest supporters in the administration believing it doesn’t have a chance on its own. What I would like to see is that the hearing on Wednesday results in greater support for LGBT- inclusive omnibus immigration reform and that IE & co lobby very hard with the Hispanic community to get a CIR bill introduced this year still.
Comment by Tim — June 1, 2009 @ 11:00 am
We all wish UAFA had been passed years ago. But now it does appear that we are in a much better position than ever before. While we remain hopeful and positive, we also need to be realistic. This is especially important for bi-national couples who have to make weighty decisions about their immigration status and life plans.
Comment by Rick — June 1, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
yea that is right rick we have to think positive about it. something will happen soon and we will know it.
Comment by robert — June 1, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Hillary Clinton issues a great statement re Gay Pride Month:
“Forty years ago this month, the gay rights movement began with the Stonewall riots in New York City, as gays and lesbians demanded an end to the persecution they had long endured. Now, after decades of hard work, the fight has grown into a global movement to achieve a world in which all people live free from violence and fear, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In honor of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and on behalf of the State Department, I extend our appreciation to the global LGBT community for its courage and determination during the past 40 years, and I offer our support for the significant work that still lies ahead.
At the State Department and throughout the Administration, we are grateful for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees in Washington and around the world. They and their families make many sacrifices to serve our nation. Their contributions are vital to our efforts to establish stability, prosperity and peace worldwide.
Human rights are at the heart of those efforts. Gays and lesbians in many parts of the world live under constant threat of arrest, violence, even torture. The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end. As Secretary of State, I will advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Though the road to full equality for LGBT Americans is long, the example set by those fighting for equal rights in the United States gives hope to men and women around the world who yearn for a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
This June, let us recommit ourselves to achieving a world in which all people can live in safety and freedom, no matter who they are or whom they love.”
If she competes against the “fierce advocate” in 2012 or runs in 2016, she gets my vote. Hubby Bill and the Prez should follow her lead, damn it.
Comment by Tim — June 1, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Nice (32). I wish Mrs. would whisper to Mr. Clinton to shout out loud how wrong he was in signing DOMA, how he regrets it and how he endorses its repeal. That would help our movement bigtime!!
Comment by Joe — June 1, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
I am absolutely sickened to hear of this story about Barney Frank saying UAFA will not be passed this year. Why can’t he take a more positive approach, be more pro-active, and actually stand up and fight for our rights rather than saying it won’t happen.
Comment by Craig — June 1, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
@Craig (34) and others who are discouraged: Read the article again carefully and with a broader perspective. It was not an explicit statement. The singular statement (in my opinion) was taken out of context and thus I think it sounds much more ominous out of context. In the context of the article, it sounded more like he was trying to emphasize how several of these related bills need to be clustered together in a coherent strategy. I think he was pointing out more how strategies will help all bills. I didn’t get the sense that he was pointing out the hopelessness of any one of them.
Comment by Joe — June 1, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
Politic is very Nasty. I see it now.
Hillary Support Gay. Why don’t u do something then? tell your husband “Bill” to do something. Not screaming out loud about Human Right!!!
Easy to sign a name, but, it kills million bi-national family.
Comment by Ken — June 1, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Sorry if this is a repost, but here is the schedule for the witness list at the UAFA Senate hearing.
http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/uafa-senate-judiciary-committee-releases-hearing-witness-list/
Comment by nola — June 1, 2009 @ 9:57 pm
Obama has released his own Pride Statement today and he still insists on civil unions. To which I say: separate but equal is not true equality and you, Mr Prez, ought to know this better than anyone else as a black man your age. Your parents’ interracial marriage was only ruled legal by the SCOTUS in 1967. Way behind the times, Mister! Not that Dick “I support marriage equality but don’t think it should be decided on the federal level” Cheney.
Re UAFA: I’m still hopeful that omnibus immigration reform which includes UAFA will be signed into law within the next 12 months or so. Obama can’t do without the support of the LGBT and Hispanic community if the Dems want to keep their majority.
Comment by Tim — June 2, 2009 @ 5:53 am
Meant to say, “not that Dick Cheney is any better”
Comment by Tim — June 2, 2009 @ 5:54 am
you are right craig, i am sick of negative posts here too. we need to stay optimistic. we all know it is not going to be easy, even when they pass UAFA we have work to do proving to Immigration that we are in commited relationship etc.
but guys please stay positive. let me just tell you what my partnert told me.
i told him that i was worried if the law does not pass. he replied to me not to use IF but WHEN THE LAW PASS. and that is how we have to think.
instead negative thinking make a donation to IE, tell you friends and family, even 5 dollars can help them.
Comment by robert — June 2, 2009 @ 6:56 am
@Tim (38,39): Did you ever see or hear Cheney actually use the word “marriage”? I don’t think so, but let me know if you did (where?).
Comment by Joe — June 2, 2009 @ 8:50 am
@Joe, this is what Cheney said:
“As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don’t support. I do believe that the historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. … But I don’t have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that.”
This may sound more supportive than what Obama said but it really isn’t. To say that the federal government should keep out of the marriage business ultimately has the same effect as Obama saying he’d only support civil unions on federal level.
Re negative posts and Barney Frank: I also think it’s not a question of whether immigration law is changed but when. But when you consider that Obama is not willing to use political capital on the LGBT issue with the highest public profile, i.e. DADT, and that the other best-known cause, the Matthew Shephard Act, is currently stalling in the Senate because they can’t get 60 votes for it together, does anyone seriously think UAFA on its own is going to get passed in Congress? It’s about LGBT rights & immigration in one, and the GOP is going to have a field day on this. Frank is almost certainly right when he says that it’ll only be passed as part of another bill when it can be smuggled past the GOP bigots and the few assholes in the Democratic party who won’t vote for anything LGBT related either. With that in mind, let’s try and equal the lobbying efforts of the Hispanic community who said from day one that they want to see action, and they already got Sotomayor as Obama’s pick for the SCOTUS. It is achievable to get UAFA passed next year as part of omnibus reform. Looking forward to tomorrow’s hearing.
Comment by Tim — June 2, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Thanks Time (42): I agree with you, they (actually, both Dems and GOPs) are very careful about expending political capital, and the word marriage for GLBTs automatically ratchets up the political price. So, with UAFA, having evolved into a finely tuned bill semantically, from title down to details of the bill, there just may be a chance at passing through below the radar. As you say, let us see…stay tuned!
Comment by Joe — June 2, 2009 @ 3:00 pm