Sign in or 
Location: Event Ideas
Discussion: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Category:
Discussion Forum /
General Discussion
Share this|
supportuafa |
Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 11:56 AM EST
From Immigration Equality:"Although 19 nations around the world allow their citizens to sponsor their same sex partners for immigration benefits, unfortunately, the United States does not recognize our relationships for immigration purposes. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, even same sex couples which have been legally married in Massachusetts, California, Canada, the Netherlands, or Belgium, will not be able to immigrate based on their marriage. Every day we hear from desperate couples, forced to choose between the partner they love and the country they love, which is why we are fighting to change the immigration law and end this discrimination. The Uniting American Families Act ("UAFA" and formerly known as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act or "PPIA") is a bill that if passed, would provide a mechanism under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allow U.S. citizens (USCs) and legal permanent residents (LPRs) in binational same-sex relationships to sponsor their foreign born partner for immigration benefits to the U.S. " Since first introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler on Valentine's Day in 2000, UAFA has gained the support of many lawmakers. However, due to its controversial nature (gay rights combined with immigration), UAFA has never made it out of committees. Each congress the effort is started anew, and this year Rep. Jerrold Nadler plans to reintroduce the Uniting American Families Act on Feb. 13, 2009. We need an organization like JTI to rally support for UAFA! 25 out of 25 found this valuable. Do you? |
waddling |
1. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 12:32 PM EST
Let's make this legislation a reality this year!
5
out of
5 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
ponyboy865 |
2. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 12:45 PM EST
Ive been working on this like so many others to get this law passed! ive even called to closed down boarder crossing to get the point across, or chain everyone to ins offices but no one will go that far?i have my own war going with the government http://www.usimmigrationwoes.com/ 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
madisonreed |
3. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 12:55 PM EST
Yes! America and the world need happiness and positive energy more than anything!Help Americans like me, and the thousands of my fellow Americans with same-sex foreign love partners, who must live 365 days a year in pure miserable life-killing hell because we have no choice but to live thousands of miles apart from our loved ones, separated by oceans and continents, or, if we're that luck, live as a love exile, in another country that will allow us to live together with our partners. I live 6000 miles away from my Sweetheart! :( Try to imagine how you would feel if you had to live like I do! If my country would reverse the discriminatory, life killing affects of DOMA on same-sex couples like me and my beloved, and I could finally live a normal happy life together with my guy, and have a chance to build my life with him, rather than live a lonely life, I'd be eternally proud and grateful to the American people! For God's sake, please America, help us quickly sweep away this Dark Age mentality cruelty!! Madison Reed http://www.change.org/profile/view/131059 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
westseraph |
4. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 1:07 PM EST
This is important legislation. We can't wait for same-sex marriage to be approved federally to be able to sponsor our partners so we can be with each other in the same country!
6
out of
6 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
fumi.camb |
5. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 2:50 PM EST
How do we support? It’s easy! Please call your Representative and ask them to be an original cosponsor of the “Uniting American Families Act of 2009” by Thursday, February 12th:1. Find out who your U.S. House Representative is. Go to http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm enter your address, and you will be provided the name of your U.S. Representative. 2. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative. 3. Tell your representative’s staff: I am calling to ask Representative ________________ to be an original cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act of 2009. To cosponsor, he/she must contact Rep. Jerrold Nadler who is the lead sponsor. The U.S. government discriminates against gay and lesbian binational couples by not allowing us to sponsor our foreign-born life partners for immigration. Because of this, we face the terrible choice of separating from the person we love or leaving our country. As Americans, we should not have to choose between family and country. Please ask Rep. _________________ to cosponsor the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 by reaching out to Rep. Nadler before February 12. Again, this important bill opens up the family-based sponsorship to all binational LGBT families of _all the 50 States_, just like any heterosexual couples !!! 17 out of 17 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
wabuska |
6. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 3:52 PM EST
The UAFA would make a huge impact on the thousands of couples living in exile or separated because of immigration discrimination in the US and at the same time, have a positive impact on the economy - so it's a win-win situation. The time is now! YES WE CAN, YES WE MUST. I am tired of the long separations from my partner because of the inequities in the law. We all deserve better than this. And we deserve it NOW. 6 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
ponyboy865 |
7. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 8 2009, 4:12 PM EST
We now have our marching orders!It’s going to be up to all of us, all 70,000 plus to put pressure of the US Government now. If this law isn’t passed in the next two years it going to be our fault! We need to get everyone that is in a bi-national relationship and there family to write and yes, and I do mean yes protest in front of INS offices and maybe even the state department to get our message across. The only way that we are going to get into main stream news papers and gay newspapers it to protest. Maybe even meeting on two or three boarder crossings at the same time and closing them down! We have to show the new government that we mean business! I understand that people are scared of the government I can totally understand that, but the only way we are going to get this law is to over come the fear. I don’t trust HRC and I don’t trust Immigration Equ. I fully believe that they are only after our money. They promise us the moon and give us nothing but a request for more money. Immigration Equ. Has a ten year plan! That’s right people a ten year plan. How much money do you plan on giving them in ten years? Like so many of us I have to travel over 700 miles to see my lover. 13 hours each way with a dog and never knowing if they are going to let me into Canada. You should only see the joy in me when I’m headed up north and this jaded person crying when I have to leave. Along with that seeing my lover cry as I pull away. The last two times that I have gone up there I have been stopped by the boarder police, no not the Canadian but the US boarder police. Each time after they get done asking me 25 or more questions faster then I can answer them I turn it around and blast them and the US government. 6 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
Jim94014 |
9. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 9 2009, 8:59 AM EST
Lets get this passed this year!!!
5
out of
5 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
uluckidog |
10. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 9 2009, 11:19 AM EST
Uniting American Families Act is about more than simply keeping families together. It's about bringing some of us home to be reunited with our parents, brothers and sisters. It's also about the pursuit of happiness and finally having our freedom like the rest of our fellow Americans. "with liberty and Justice for all." Sound familiar? That's from the Pledge of Allegiance, and it's what Americans are supposed to believe in, not just give lip service to. It doesn't say,"for most." It doesn't say, "for some." It doesn't say, "for those who agree with me." It doesn't say, "for those who are like me." It says "for all." Do you really mean it? Please support UAFA if you do. Imagine living in a country that forced you into exile just because you choose to remain with the love of your life. Imagine having to hide in order to escape your government's attempt to separate your family, or living in a country where you constantly feared having your lives torn apart and not being able to plan a future together. Imagine what it would feel like to have to enter the USA separately than your spouse or having to lie to border patrol about your married status, because if they suspected that you're married, you're partner could be deported and you left waiting alone on the other side. Sound like a foreign country? It's not. It's our America and for some of us, it's a scary, and psychologically abusive place to be. Please support UAFA so we can finally return home and bring our spouses home to live with us by our side. Support UAFA and start to heal the decades of wrongdoing. We're not asking for gay marriage. We're asking simply for the right to stay together without the fear of harassment, deportation or life in exile. We're not asking for anything more than what every American deserves. 8 out of 8 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
Coronahghts |
11. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 9 2009, 12:40 PM EST
Isn't this the cruelest discrimination of all? To be kept separate by law from the partner you love! Please end this now!!
5
out of
5 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
fumi.camb |
12. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 9 2009, 3:19 PM EST
"Isn't this the cruelest discrimination of all? To be kept separate by law from the partner you love! Please end this now!!"Thanks for support, Coronahghts! Yes, we can end this discrimination by calling the office of our U.S. Representatives nationwide (people who read this JTI site are everywhere!); we already secured: House = 118 Co-sponsors Senate = 18 Co-sponsors The more, the better since we have a real chance to pass it for the first time. Please follow the Step 1, 2 and 3 listed above. If your Rep were already a co-sponsor, please thank them; each phone call is filed to counter-account the opponents' calls, it's that important :-) 16 out of 16 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
fumi.camb |
13. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 11 2009, 3:51 PM EST
"The Uniting American Families Act ("UAFA" and formerly known as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act or "PPIA") is a bill that if passed, would provide a mechanism under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allow U.S. citizens (USCs) and legal permanent residents (LPRs) in binational same-sex relationships to sponsor their foreign born partner for immigration benefits to the U.S."I received this opposition for supporting UAFA from my own Boston LGBT ally for Marriage Equality: "...I sadly don't think it will pass, and we as LGBT are burning capitol trying to pass it. I understand it does impact people, but to cause the religious crazies and the bigots to have this to point to, and help them to continue to defeat equality, its just down right wrong at this time. I agree its sad that gay people can't keep their spouse in the USA, but until marriage is legal, that's the problem" He is a good guy with a good heart; it's heartbreaking for me to end the dialogue there. Please advise how I can increase the UAFA support in the community. Thank you. 6 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
|
kindally |
14. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 26 2009, 11:36 AM EST
My partner and I were forced to leave our US home , my/our wonderful family and exquisite friends on 28 October '08 and 22 December '08 after 16 years of visa roulette. This USA twilight zone version of aparteide or ethnic cleansing must stop. It forced me to choose not only between my legally recognized civil partnership (UK - spousal visa) and my country but between my keeping my marriage together and my 87 year old mom. Thank goodness I have a sister willing to shoulder the entire caretaking role.
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
Goombah |
15. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Feb 26 2009, 1:39 PM EST
This is so incredible important and MUST be addressed. It’s beyond heartbreaking to see so many lives devastated because of this unfairness.Do you find this valuable? |
adcaeton |
16. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Mar 6 2009, 11:34 PM EST
"We now have our marching orders!Yes, I agree with you. I wonder if Immigration Equality can really help. That bill has been put in the house since 2000, and nothing come out. They just do the same thing this year. I wonder it will have the same outcome this year Do you find this valuable? |
|
adcaeton |
17. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Mar 6 2009, 11:39 PM EST
I do hope that bill can pass this year. However I doubt the ability of Immigration Equality, It seems they gave a lot of illusion (false hope) to the bi-national couples that bill will be passed this year. My partner and I have been waiting for many many years. We have to move to Canada,and spend a lot of money to build up another home there.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
ponyboy865 |
18. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Mar 8 2009, 9:41 AM EDT
Hi everyoneI think it’s time that we start to fax the white house (202-456-2461) none stop! Also e-mail the white house none stop! On the white houses page it says “Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.” So warm up your fax machines and lets get busy! If you write the white house it will take 60 to 90 days to finally get to them. Also Immigrqation Equality talks a good game, but if you ever notice they ask for money none stop but never really tell you what they are doing. Just we are working behind the scenes. Also keep in the back of yoru mind if they get the law changed they will be out of a job. I was talking to them and they sliped up and said they have a 5 year plan. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to wait 5 years! My 5 year plan is to be with my lover here in the USA, or canda, or spain, or the UK Free fax http://faxzero.com/ Do you find this valuable? |
|
adcaeton |
19. RE: Equal Immigration Rights for Same-Sex Couples, Support UAFA!
Mar 15 2009, 12:34 AM EDT
"Hi everyoneYes, I agree. But I just don't know is there any other organization can provide helps other than Immigration Equality. I wouldn't mind to donate to Immigration Equality if they can help, but don't want to waste the money, and get a false hope every year. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
