Notes from the Senate
Our historic week in Washington is wrapping up with even more good news. Following Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing . . . and Thursday’s announcement of an inclusive Reuniting Families Act that includes our families, too . . . we’ve now picked up more co-sponsors for The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in the Senate.
Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have officially signed on in support of UAFA, bringing the total number of Senators co-sponsoring to 21. And that marks the highest number of co-sponsors since UAFA was first introduced. (In the last session of Congress, we finished with 20 Senate co-sponsors.) Durbin, who is a widely respected member of the Senate’s Democratic leadership team, is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, where UAFA is currently pending.
And late yesterday, another Senate co-sponsor asked us to send along a message to Immigration Equality supporters.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), an original co-sponsor of UAFA, told the Immigration Equality team yesterday that he remains a strong proponent of UAFA and our inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform, even though his Senate version of The Reuniting Families Act does not include permanent partners.
“As a co-sponsor of The Uniting American Families Act, I look forward to working with Senator Leahy on this important effort as we move toward comprehensive immigration reform,” Senator Menendez said in an exclusive statement to Immigration Equality. ” This legislation can help prevent the separation of of permanent partners, and should be included in the comprehensive immigration bill.”
Yesterday, we told The Advocate that, while Immigration Equality is disappointed in the lack of an inclusive Senate bill, we are grateful for Senator Menendez’s continued support of UAFA, and his support of comprehensive immigration reform that includes lesbian and gay families, too.
We have 105 co-sponsers in the house!!! We are making an impact.
Comment by concerned citizen — June 5, 2009 @ 7:32 am
Thanks to Tom at Out4immigration for relaying the news that we have 3 new co-sponsors in the House!
They are:
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] – 6/4/2009
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] – 6/4/2009
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] – 6/4/2009
Thanks everybody for your letters and calls!
Comment by TheHeatIsOn — June 5, 2009 @ 7:33 am
Wow, I don’t know how to take all of this – its so hard to believe!! After all these years, it seems like we are suddenly seeing success! The last 3 days have been an absolute love and joy fest! I know there will be disappointments between here and reaching the ultimate goal, but I am SO thankful to Rachel and Julie. You both have a HUGE place in our hearts!!!!
Comment by Carmen Gilotte — June 5, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Keep writing and calling!!! and donating! Dare to dream… no time to relax now, it is so important to keep this snowball rolling…
Comment by bkbzipper — June 5, 2009 @ 7:59 am
I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news but, there is a mistake in this latest posting. The official count of Senate co-sponsors is 20 not 21. Including the chief sponsor- Patrick Leahy, the total count is 20.
Comment by Jamie — June 5, 2009 @ 8:09 am
I watched the hearing online and, could have sworn that Senator Arlen Spector said he supports this bill. So, hopefully we will see his name added to the co-sponsors list soon. I was also thinking that we should especially be trying to get more co-sponsors from states that already have one Senator co-sponsoring. For instance: Illinois (Rolland Burris), California (Diane Feinstein), Pennsylvania (Bob Casey….who supported UAFA in 2007), Wisconsin (Herb Kohl), Massachusettes (Ted Kennedy…also a former UAFA supporter), Conneticuit (Joe Leiberman) and Rhode Island (Jack Reed). **Also** Two other Senators we should REALLY be going after, are: Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). These two moderate Senators have spoken in favor of gay rights before. I keep writing to Michigan’s two Senators- Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow but, never hear back from them.
Comment by Jamie — June 5, 2009 @ 8:19 am
does anyone know why robert mendez did not include us in his bill but yet he cosponsored the UAFA
Comment by robert — June 5, 2009 @ 8:24 am
I want to take everyone at IE and I also want to show them just one of the couples their fighting for.. please take a look at our link on myspace I am trying so hard to get the message out there aswell to everyone. good luck to everyone….we have the right to be counted…we matter too!
http://www.myspace.com/kevandnando
Comment by kev uk — June 5, 2009 @ 8:34 am
@Jamie – Are you writing to Senators Levin and Stabenow through their websites? Email me: tptierney@gmail.com Senator Roland Burris was the Senator that was targeted last week by Out4Immigration. Senator Dick Durbin was one of the targets this week, and with his co-sponsorship this week, let’s hope Senator Burris signs on soon. Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan Collins are the targets for next week. I would URGE YOU – and ALL WHO ARE READING AND POSTING HERE – to take part in these efforts if you don’t already. They are clearly having an effect! Please join in our efforts today – go here to sign up:
http://out4immigration.org/immigration/homepage.html
Comment by Tom Tierney — June 5, 2009 @ 9:40 am
Can anyone tell me if applying for the Diversity Lottery would yield negative consequences? Is information from those applications shared with Immigration so that we could be denied entry at the airport? Does anyone have experience with this?
Comment by Al — June 5, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Jamie#6: I live in RI and have worked very hard on Jack Reed, and he sent me a very insulting reply that he would NOT co-sponsor UAFA and that “America is not ready for it”. That was over a year ago and I was and still am terribly upset and hurt by his answer and the demeaning terminology he chose to use. He’s surely a homophobe. I subsequently sent him emails saying that I would never vote for him and such. I was angry. In any case, I fear I’ve burned that bridge that was never there to begin with. The pleas and queries from other friends and family in RI have been met with utter silence, no replies of any kind from Reed, both before and after I finally got him to reply to me. BTW: I was only able to get him to reply to me after contacting is aide on Civil Rights by directly addressed snail mail letter. Her name is Kara Stein.
Reed is an old school power player (not deserving of the term, “represetative of the people”). He’s all about money and power, and the only people he will listen to are those with power. I think HRC and IE should work on him directly because he is deaf to individuals even in his own state. And he runs in this state virtually unopposed, so I’ve given up on him.
Comment by Charles — June 5, 2009 @ 9:55 am
Don’t give up Charles, we got one from RI yesterday… just keep on chipping away, try not to let your anger show… I’m trying to “respectfully” disagree… even when I wrote Sessions another email the other day. And I’ve sent thank you letters to those who support…
Comment by bkbzipper — June 5, 2009 @ 10:51 am
I’m writing a whole bunch of thank you letters today, and a few more letters to those from my state who aren’t yet in support. A hand-written letter makes a big impact!
Comment by Kai — June 5, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Senator Reed is the only member of the Rhode Island delegation who is not a co-sponsor now. This should be brought to the attention of his aides when contacting them. His State is also the only hold out in New England for Marriage Equality. Things have certainly changed quite a bit since last year and I wouldn’t give up on Senator Reed just yet. If we can get Senators Snowe and Collins on board, I think many more Democrats will sign on. We need Arlen Specter officially as a co-sponsor as well.
Comment by Tom Tierney — June 5, 2009 @ 11:34 am
A lot of us commented how unempathetic Sen. Sessions was during the UAFA hearings. Now The Huntington Post is reporting that he turned to an aide when Shirley Tan’s son was crying and said, “Enough with the histrionics.” Real nice guy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/jeff-sessions-irked-by-cr_n_211786.html
Comment by Don George — June 5, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Charles, don’t give up on him. If he’s only after power, maybe you should remind him that President Barak Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are both for UAFA. What more power than that? Of course, if he’s after power, he was after B*sh last year. Now that the shrub is history, he will need to look for power somewhere else. I think you and other gays and lesbians of RI should still contact him, respectfully, mentioning the current co-sponsors and status of this bill.
Comment by Diego — June 5, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Hi guys,
In case some didn’t notice – Shirley Tan is (rightfully) enjoying her own (allbeit) very mini Susan Boyle moment on youtube as her Testimony has amassed over 7000 hits and some great comments.
This is FAR more action than any other video for UAFA has received on YouTube, in a very short time.
Obviously, people feel her story and family are very compelling. The more that see it, the better.
Please add your hits and comments. Hopefully, those who have posted or will post will link to it, as well.
Let’s do our share and get this seen by as many as possible. (oh and someone needs to add Sessions, “histrionics”, comment as well. (what a pig)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cTojNqjnP4&feature=related
Comment by Rile2009 — June 5, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
It’s important let him (Sen. Reed) know that even some Republicans are for UAFA now. Maybe America IS ready for it now!
Comment by Diego — June 5, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
I just spoke to Senator Leahy’s staff person, Susan Sussman, who told me that the senator was moved by the testimony he heard on Wednesday and that he graciously hosted the Tan family and Gordon Stewart who testified in his office after the hearing (unusual for him to set aside the time to do this given his busy schedule). He gave Shirley and Jay’s two son’s autographed copies of the Batman movie posters he has from the Batman movie where he had a cameo appearance. Senator Leahy’s offices have had little response (positive or negative) to the hearing.
While it is most important that Senator Leahy hear from Vermonters, I am sure he would appreciate support from anyone in our community. Anyone can go to his web page and make a comment. If you have friends or supporters in Vermont, let them know they can do this. I just sent an email to about 20 friends and family asking them to thank the senator for doing this and asked them to do it as a favor to me.
Gay marriage won in Vermont because thousands of Vermonters reached out to their state representatives and senators and told them our stories and why Marriage Equality was important to us. I urge everyone to contact your senators and representatives in Washington. Tell them why UAFA matters and urge them to sponsor (if they haven’t already) or thank them for signing on as sponsors if they already have.
Senator Leahy’s web page is: leahy.senate.gov and their is a link at the top to “contact” the senator.
Thanks everyone. Let’s push and push and push and make the momentum of this week result in a victory for UAFA.
Michael
Comment by Michael Upton — June 5, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
What Republicans are for UAFA?
Comment by Rick D — June 5, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
@ Michael. Thanks for sharing the wonderful stories after the hearing. I just called Senator Leachy’s DC office to express my deep appreciation. Everyone can see from the hearing Senator Leachy’s genuine compassion and care for bi-national couples. It’s so rare nowadays to see a politician exhibit such humanity on a controversial issue. I hope my partner and I will be able to thank Senator Leachy in person someday soon.
Comment by Rick — June 5, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
…..for the “record”….
I made a special point “YESTERDAY”…I faxed BOTH Sen Leahy and Jackie Speier
yesterday…a BIG THANK YOU (with the word “Thank You’ )..HUGE in the center of the page…….
.but Im sure a few more faxes would’nt hurt.
BUT I DID send……
Comment by derek — June 5, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Hi all, I know everyone’s excited about the hearing and what will happen next (we are too!), but I have a question about something different.
My original post seems to have disappeared, so I’ll ask again: Does anyone have experience with the Diversity Lottery? If we were to apply for it, would it have negative consequences for us, the next time we arrive at the airport?
Comment by Al — June 5, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
My hearing in removal procedure is due in August. Hurry, UAFA bill!!!
Thank you for all the hard work!
Comment by M — June 5, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Kev uk @ 8, what a great collection of video in your space / weblink. Everyone here in this blog should go and visit his space
http://www.myspace.com/kevandnando
Comment by Kim — June 5, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Can someone answer this question for me? Menendez’s version of RFA does not include gay families, and yet, he said he would work closely with Leahy to include UAFA in the CIR. Mike Honda’s RFA does include us, so does that mean Menendez would work with Honda and come up with a final bill that includes us before it gets voted? Please answer, thanks.
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — June 5, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
Thanks Kim for that and I’m glad you liked our page
I also meant to say I want to thank everyone at IE not take! unless that was take them to the pub for a well deserved drink for all their hard work they’ve done lol
Comment by kev uk — June 5, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
I think the goal is that a bunch of legislation is going to be “bundled together” and voted on as a group. Menendez didn’t include UAFA in RFA, but he does support including UAFA in the “bundle”.
My guess is that it’s a political strategy. If both the House and Senate RFA included UAFA, then it might be more likely to be shunned. If only one includes it, then we’ll get more broad support for RFA and then we can slip UAFA into the Senate bundle near the end and no one will really notice.
At least that’s my hypothesis…
I hope everyone realizes that at this point, the more “under the radar” all this stuff is, the better (IMHO).
I too will be writing tonight to Senator Leahy to express my immense support for his work.
Comment by Matt — June 6, 2009 @ 2:05 am
Congressman Nadler was on CNN with Lou Dobbs defending the UAFA and its inclusion in the CIR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSEnu_449mg
Comment by nola — June 6, 2009 @ 10:15 am
Go Nadler!
Comment by bkbzipper — June 6, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Go Nadler indeed. That dude is from the same conservative organization as that Vaughn who gave the non-argument testimony at the hearing. These people are just against immigration, and for the most part against lgbt too. No matter how hard they try to squint their eyes, pretending to be this pseudo specialist of immigration, their argument on fraud is just baseless. Both tried to help alleviate the task of immigration officials at the expense of lgbt couples suffering from the fear of separation. Its like risking a child life so doctors don’t have to treat patients to stay away from infection. It is the responsibility of immigration officials to serve the people, its their freaking job! Why in the world suddenly the job description is no longer appropriate! IDIOTS!!! Urghhhhhhh
Comment by Alex. A — June 6, 2009 @ 11:56 am
David Seminara and the Center for Immigration Studies is trying to paint this as a huge problem, which it is not. It they say it enough times people will begin to believe them. The reality is that we are a very small part of the immigration problem. I think we should investigate the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS)and see what their real agenda is, most likely it is to keep America white and straight. The Southern Poverty Law Center had this to saw about CIS:
The Southern Poverty Law Center has released reports connecting the Center to John Tanton, who also founded various other nativist organizations, including the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA. These reports were comprised by research of personal letters and public statements from Tanton, alleging Tanton’s ties to white supremacy and the eugenics movement.[
Comment by nola — June 6, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
The Center for Immigration Studies is an extremist organization which even opposes legal immigration across the board. Because their views are SO out of mainstream, I don’t believe they will carry much credibility in the debate.
Comment by Rick — June 6, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
Yes, we are a very small part of people in United State. However, it seems many conservative people do not want to give us a space to survive.
I feel so bad to the Bishop in the hearing that he didn’t support UAFA base on the points he didn’t want to encourage gay marriage. My partner and I are catholic, we go to the Catholic church every Sunday. However, it seems the Catholic churches want to kick you out of United State, and they don’t give you brace and love from God. I want to question the Catholic churches, it said God loves all people, no matter you are good people or bad people. How come you have a bias to the gay people. You should know that like Shirley Tan and many bi-national same sex couples are counting on UAFA. If gay immigration do not pass, there’s no other options for Shirley Tan to remain in United State. Many of us do know how long we can wait.
Comment by Dennis — June 6, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
True that Dennis. Whatever happened to “love thy neighbor”. This so called self righteousness only makes themselves God, making their ego the God that lead their way. It’s really offensive when they start trying to regulate others based on their belief. Its basically imposing one’s religion on others, and I thought we are all suppose to be free to practice our own beliefs. Talk about a breach of civil rights!
Comment by Alex. A — June 6, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
Absolutely! I see, according to Pam’s House Blend, the ‘family values’ crowd are trying to destroy the UAFA by a concerted effort of letter-writing to the Congress using the argument that it would undermine marriage!!
Comment by Jude — June 6, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
When it comes to the fraud argument, I don’t understand why nobody ( hearing and CNN) argues that other countries with high immigration rates ( and probably also fraud) have same sex immigration rights. Even countries where same sex marriage and / or civil unions don’t exist. There are countries in which you only have to prove that you have been in a committed relationship for a certain period of time.
It’s a powerful argument, why don’t they use it?
Comment by Lee — June 6, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
Yeah, it is a good idea to use other countries as an example to argue with those right wing nuts. What I find it remarkable is that there is something so obvious and transparent about their political agenda. Organizations like Center for Immigration Studies or National Organization for Marriage. They are clearly designed to be anti gay rights, but nowadays, they can’t be too obvious in labeling themselves as bigots and anti gay civil rights, so they came up with such ridiculous euphemism to blind their real agenda as if they are some kind of organizations that are designed to peruse the liberty and happiness.
I am sick and disgusted by those organizations. They are clearly anti gay rights, but they just cowardly don’t say it, and they come up excuses or reasons such as green card marriage fraud to try to stop a bill like UAFA from being passed. Anyway, I have a feeling they don’t have much weight on social issues like they did before anymore since GOP is in such a disarray, let’s keep writing and calling the senators and congressmen and women, and tell them our stories. We need to get all the democrats locked in, and we need to persuade the moderate Republicans to lean towards us, and one thing that is very important is that we need to stay away from gay marriage. Gay marriage is one of main excuses for UAFA’s opponents/conservatives/extremists to stop this bill from being passed. We need to focus on this bill being a same sex
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — June 6, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
Continue from 32. We need to focus on UAFA as part of the same sex benefits rather than gay marriage.
We have come through the first important step(The hearing), we have to keep fighting and keep educating the public, the congressmen/women and senators the importance of this bill. I think we have a very good chance this time around. I am being hopeful, maybe the time of the passage of UAFA has come. Let’s keep fighting and keep our fingers crossed!!
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — June 6, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
**If immigration officers can’t do their job, maybe they should quit and let other unemployed people do their job. I’m sure there would be lots of people applying for those high-paid jobs.
**I was raised a Catholic too, but I found out religion is just a different way for Politics. I didn’t want to be part of an entity which was against me (and the rest of us GLBT). I can’t believe in something or someone that is against me. They preach God loves everybody, but then you find out God doesn’t love you if you’re gay. Sorry, I don’t want to be part of all that bullshit. If I’m gonna believe in God, it will certainly NOT be through the Catholic Church.
**The fraud fraud (yes, it’s their fraud) is just a complete nonsense. Gays are committing fraud NOW by marrying women (and viceversa), because they don’t have the right of being sponsored by their same-sex partner. Is that really so hard to understand? I’m sick and tired of hearing things from uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics! (thanks John!)
**I got 2 more people to contact their congressmen today, and counting! One from NJ and one from TX. And they will be spreading the word too! I’ve been working so hard on this, I’ve been called an activist!!!
**I agree in that we should keep controversial gay marriage aside for now. Let’s not give them any reason for them to be against UAFA. Let’s take one step at a time.
Comment by Diego — June 6, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Diego – please e-mail me. I can help you contact Congress in a very effective way. tptierney@gmail.com
If you are getting others involved, that is great. Please get in touch and I can give you some advice as to what has worked for me when reaching out.
Comment by Tom Tierney — June 6, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
I’ll email you Tom, however, I’m from (and in) Argentina, therefore there is not much I can do from here, other than have as many American friends as possible to do their part. I will email you anyway, so we can keep in touch.
BTW, someone told me today that he was against immigration because there are so many people unemployed. LOL I can see there are people that don’t understand a THING about politics and economy! With his narrow-minded thought, maybe he thinks Americans should stop having children too, because they will grow older and will start looking for jobs too!
Comment by Diego — June 6, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
Diego, you can email congress peoples’ staffers and it’s really easy and you’ll feel great when you do because you will know you are doing all that is in your power. There are websites on which to find staffers names and a format to follow so you can know ALL THE EMAIL ADDRESSES once you have their names. Please contact Tom and let him help you. He’s very good and clear and you’ll know what to do and feel empowered when you do it. “THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE” – Thomas Jefferson
Comment by zoeO — June 6, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
It seems as though the high unemployment rate is more cause to get as many people documented as possible and contributing to the system that supports us as a nation! Keeping people out of the country is not going to fix the economy.
Comment by Greg — June 6, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
Any CIR that does not include UAFA is unacceptable. The thought that they would grant citizenship to non Americans who broke the law to get here before allowing me to claim my partner of 5 years who has never violated his visa is insane. The President has stated that he supports UAFA now he needs to put some pressure on Congress to make sure it is part of CIR. For those who think it will be stripped out, make the calls and send email and letters to your Representatives. Now is the time when we have to work even harder.
UAFA will happen but we need to make sure there is separation of church and state.
Comment by SeaMex — June 7, 2009 @ 2:26 pm
I agree with SeaMex. I’ve never violated any law, I’ve never overstayed my visas in the US, I’ve never worked in the US illegally. Why would those who have broken the law be granted citizenship, and not me? That would be totally unfair…
Comment by Diego — June 7, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
[...] Reuniting American Families Act is currently co-sponsored by 21 Senators and has 105 co-sponsors in the [...]
Pingback by Congress Considers Equal Immigration « — June 7, 2009 @ 8:36 pm
@diego: I agree with you. I’ve been with my partner for over 5 years, traveling back and forth between our countries, waiting and hoping for something to come up. Neither of us broke the laws in either countries by overstaying visas or attempting to stay when we couldn’t. We should get some priority over those who have decided to break the law.
Comment by mark — June 8, 2009 @ 7:49 am
I’m sorry to see people here starting to demoninze and demean immigrants. You’re no better or no worse than anyone else.
Comment by Rick D — June 8, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Hi everyone,
My partner and I are very excited about this bill. We’ve been waiting for over ten years now. I just donated to immigration equality and more people should as well. I have a asylum hearing in September that have drag it feet for twelve years. We have spent 89k in lawyers fees and applications so I can have legal work status. Now I want to have Nevada Senators sponsoring this bill. Does anyone know if they currently are on our side? Let’s have a vote on this bill before fall.
Comment by Nicholas — June 8, 2009 @ 11:49 am
In answer to Diego, #46, the answer is because they are politically more powerful. There are millions and millions of Hispanics and they really want CIR. They helped make the difference for Obama’s win and the Dem’s win. Politically, they are owed, and it has nothing to do with what’s fair or not. That’s politics. The LGBT community is small in comparison. And within the LGBT community, UAFA is not number 1, 2, or 3 on the list. In fact many gays never heard of it. So the answer for us is that we 36,000 have to make as much noise as those who have the larger numbers. If you’ve already written to your Senators and Congresspeople and Obama, write again AND get all your friends and relatives to write too. We have to work harder, but we can do it.
Comment by Don George — June 8, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
@Don George. I understand your point, but then, I guess I should go to the US and remain ilegally, expecting for some amnesty to help me. So we who do things right get less than those who do things wrong. I think that will only encourage people to keep on doing things wrong. That’s just how I see it. BTW, I have indeed been sending out periodical emails with information to over 200 contacts in my list, and to 4 yahoo groups with over 11,700 members all together… I’ve added notes in all my online profiles with info and links, and I get on chat rooms to send links and info too. I’ve been making as much noise as possible, and I’ve contacted Senators and media as well. I’m doing my very best to help with this cause! Like I tell everyone, we gotta fight together, and we’ll win!!
Comment by Diego — June 9, 2009 @ 10:32 am
@ Nicholas #52 – Neither of Nevada’s Senators are co-sponsors of UAFA. One of Nevada’s Reps is – Shelley Berkley. E-mail me and I will give you the contact info. of your Senators and Representative’s staffers. This is the best way to get your voice heard. tptierney@gmail.com
Comment by Tom — June 9, 2009 @ 11:09 am
This is the last place I ever thought I’d find comments in judgement against Latinos and immigration reform including amnesty and I feel so sad about it. My partner came here for economic and physical survival, we don’t have the money to visit back and forth between countries and she wouldn’t be granted a visa to do so anyway. Her mother and siblings are LPRs and US Citizens now and petitioned for her over 10 years ago. But she still waits in limbo because we have a broken system not just for gay binational couples but for many many people including millions of Latinos. I pray for a day when we can support equality and justice movements for others as much as ourselves. If we want inclusion and equality, we have to start not pushing down others who have been facing discrimination and economic injustice. This is all personal for me, my partner is an amazing woman who has done more in our community for others than anyone I know. Her story is not so different than Shirley Tan’s except she’s central american. The immigration rights groups and gay rights groups have so much to gain by supporting each other. I fight for truly inclusive and comprehensive immigration reform not just to bring my relationship out of the shadows but also for an entire population of people who struggle to survive here. We need allies. We are fighting to change discriminatory and unjust immigration laws. Please don’t alienate the millions of undocumented immigrants here – they are fighting to change discriminatory and unjust immigration laws too and among their numbers you’ll find many of us binational couples and progressive individuals fighting for UAFA. Yes, there are laws people are breaking – be careful that you look at what kind of law and who’s breaking it before you judge. Anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in many places and I have a feeling there are a few lawbreakers amongst us. Some laws should be outlawed and that’s where we have common ground.
Comment by Jensi — June 14, 2009 @ 10:18 am
[...] An historic week, a week of firsts and Immigration Equality’s biggest week ever. [...]
Pingback by New work: being apart of history for ImEq « this is none — July 10, 2009 @ 9:35 pm