Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples

From Out4Immigration:

There’s a lot going on in our fight for equal immigration rights for same-sex binational couples and our families. We continue to work to get more co-sponsors for the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and to make sure that we are included in any upcoming Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) legislation that will end immigration discrimination and recognize LGBT relationships at the federal level.

LATEST ACTIONS
Binghamton, NY passes resolution in support of UAFA.
–On April 8, Binghamton, NY passed a resolution in support of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Binghamton now joins more than 35 other cities and municipalities across the US that have either passed a resolution or written a letter to Congressional representatives in support of equal immigration rights for same-sex binational couples. According to Tom Tierney, the O4I point person behind these resolutions and letters of support, “Binghamton is in the top 10 population centers in New York and is right on the edge of District 24, which is represented by Rep. Michael Arcuri, a Democrat who has not signed on to co-sponsor UAFA.” We will be letting Rep. Arcuri know people in his state need his support at the federal level.

Minneapolis and Cambridge, MA pass resolutions in support of UAFA.
–Two other cities have also passed resolutions this month in support of UAFA. When a city goes on record in support of federal legislation like UAFA it is saying to its residents and representatives alike that same-sex binational couples within its jurisdiction deserve equal immigration protection under US law. Can your city, county or state get behind a resolution? Click here to read more about how to pass a resolution or contact Tom at tom@out4immigration.org.

Debbie Ellis speaks out at Cambridge hearing.
–O4I member Debbie Ellis spoke out for same-sex binational couples in Cambridge. She says, “I know it helps our cause to put a real person behind these words and resolutions that we send out to government officials. Real stories, real people. It’s harder to ignore when I’m standing in front of you telling you I have to move to Canada.” Watch Debbie’s testimony on YouTube. In addition to Tom Tierney at O4I, Debbie would like to thank Melanie Nathan of Private Courts Inc. and Steve Ralls and Chris Taylor from Immigration Equality for their help in preparing her testimony.

IN THE NEWS
Rufus Wainwright’s Partner Needs a Green Card
–Openly gay singer Rufus Wainwright went on record last week about US immigration issues facing same-sex binational couples when he said, “I am very aware of living in the US, of the conundrum that you can’t marry your gay partner and give him citizenship. He has to apply for a green card and he may or may not get accepted, which is annoying when you’re in a committed relationship. If we were straight, we could get married and he’d get his American passport and it would make a lot of sense.”

Cyndi Lauper Gives a Damn
–The Give a Damn campaign for LGBT equality features Cyndi Lauper as the campaign’s spokesperson. The campaign identifies 12 areas where LGBT people face significant challenges due to lack of federal protections. Immigration is one of these issues. The campaign spells things out clearly with the tag line, “Family or Country? That’s No Choice at All”.

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