Bay Area Reporter: Lesbian couple credited with federal law leaves US

by Amos Lim

Published November 06, 2009 @ 11:00AM PT

Bay Area Reporter's Matthew Bajko spoke with Judy Rickard & Karin Bogliolo as they were in transit in Denver en route to leave the country to live in Exile.  You can read the entire article here.

Everyday we hear stories of same sex binational couples being faced with the choice of choosing between love and country, being forced to leave the country to live in exile because their options have run out.  The Uniting American Families Act as well as a INCLUSIVE comprehensive immigration reform bill will change that injustice.  It will allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their partner for a green card.

Can you help us get more support for this issue?

Go to our action page and take part in our letter writing campaign.  

If you want to do more, here are some other ways you could help us get more co-sponsors:

(1) Write your own letter and share your personal story about why this bill and issue is important for you and/or your family member; 

(2) Creat a booklet telling your story. See http://tinyurl.com/o4i-toolkit1 for more info on this option.

(3) Send the action page link to your families and friends and get them to send letters too… it is just a simple click of the button and it is easy.

Out4Immigration is an all grassroots organization and you can find more information about us at http://www.out4immigration.org or through facebook or twitter.

Maine Marriage Setback a Call to Action for Federal LGBT Rights

by Kathy Drasky

Published November 05, 2009 @ 12:40PM PT

Subjecting Minority Rights to Majority Vote Repeatedly Denies Equality to LGBT Families

San Francisco, CA - November 4, 2009 - The State of Maine's rejection of marriage equality at the ballot box yesterday is being heeded as a call for federal LGBT rights by activists and organizations around the US, including Out4Immigration.

The Maine vote was 53% in support of taking away civil marriage rights granted to gays and lesbians by approval of the state legislature and signed into law by the state's governor 6 months ago. 47% of voters supported marriage equality.

"Subjecting minority rights to majority vote repeatedly denies equality to LGBT families," said Mickey Lim, vice president and co-founder of Out4Immigration, a grassroots organization that works closely with same-sex marriage groups for recognition of same-sex binational couple rights tied to federal immigration policies.

Out4Immigation advocates for same-sex binational couples, relationships in which one partner is American and the other from another country and supports the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

Discriminatory US immigration policies refuse to recognize same-sex binational couples for immigration purposes because the US prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships. Due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), even same-sex marriages performed in other countries where they are legally recognized are invalid at the federal level.

"Federal marriage protections for opposite-sex couples provide these couples with 1,138 rights that are denied to gay and lesbian couples, regardless of state marriage, civil union or domestic partner laws," said Lim. "It's why it is imperative that our federal government steps up and stops the chaos and confusion of ballot initiatives that continue to deny and strip away civil rights from people."

Results in a Washington state election that would keep a domestic partnership law on the books, referred to as "everything but marriage" were still too close to call. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ordinance 1856, which added protections for LGBT people to a nondiscrimination law, was approved by 65% of voters.

(Forward this press release to your networks. Click here for the Out4Immigration website version.)

HIV Travel and Immigration Ban officially GONE

by Amos Lim

Published October 31, 2009 @ 10:25AM PT

President Obama yesterday signed to renew the Ryan White Care Act and officially announced that the order to remove HIV Travel and Immigration Ban from the Rules in HHS will be finalized on Monday.  After a 60 days waiting period, the orders will be effective.

It is important to note that as of Sept 15th, USCIS has issued a memo directing its officers to stop denying green card/visa application from people who are HIV+ pending a ruling from the HHS.

All in all, this is VERY good news!  The HIV ban was feared based and signed into law 20 years ago.  Currently countries that still ban HIV+ people from entering the country are: Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Sudan

You can read about this on:

Obama lifts ban on US entry for those with HIV - Washington Post

Obama lifts HIV travel ban for visitors to U.S. - SFGate.com

You can read the transcript of President Obama's speech on Towleroad.com. (or view it on Youtube)

Update on 11/1/2009:  Immigration Equality has put out a simple FAQ about this repeal and how it might affect your case.  You can read it here.

This week's action

by Amos Lim

Published October 27, 2009 @ 02:34PM PT

In the 35th week of Out4Immigration's letter writing campaign,  we will be using the action page of our blog to get more people to send letters to the "target" representatives of the week.

This week, we will be sending letters to Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ-1), Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA-43), Congresswoman Corinne Brown (D-FL-3), Congressman Charles Gonzalez (D-TX-20) & Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA-47) to urge them to sign on to the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

To participate, all you need to do is click on the link on the right side of this page or click on the link here.

If you want to do more, here are some other ways you could help us get more co-sponsors:

(1) Write your own letter and share your personal story about why this bill and issue is important for you and/or your family member; 

(2) Creat a booklet telling your story. See http://tinyurl.com/o4i-toolkit1 for more info on this option.

(3) Send the action page link to your families and friends and get them to send letters too… it is just a simple click of the button and it is easy.

Out4Immigration is an all grassroots organization and you can find more information about us at http://www.out4immigration.org or through facebook or twitter.

There will be some new content on this blog in the coming weeks - please stay tune!

Flurry of Articles on UAFA

by Amos Lim

Published October 23, 2009 @ 12:15PM PT

There has been a flurry of editorials written since last week about the need to pass the Uniting American Families Act as well as its inclusion in the upcoming Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

We are asking that you post your comments to thank the writer for speaking out on this issue as well as respond to the anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT hateful comments that were posted.

Here are some of the articles:

1) Pass the Uniting American Families Act By Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) - The Hill

2) Why more binational couples are leaving their homelands for Canada - The Big Picture / Family immigration not an option in most countries - Capital Xtra

3) Gutierrez: Do the right thing - Windy City Times

4) Gay partners seeking immigration changes - Post-gazette News

5) South Bay couple has high hopes for the 'Reuniting Families Act' - San Jose Mercury News

6) Growing Calls for Immigration Reform That Leaves No Family Behind - Huffington Post

7) Keep Our Families Together — Reform Immigration Laws by Rep Mike Honda - RollCall.com

8) Gay Immigrants - South Florida Blade

9) Progressive principles for new immigration reform bill ... we've got a few of our own - Daily Kos

10) Immigration reform bill intrigues gay advocates -Washington Blade

Out4Immigration were also at the National Equality March 2 weekends ago and our picture have been captured by someone and included in this beautiful video that has been posted on Youtube.

You can view more pictures of our small contingent on our facebook page.

Week 34 - Letter Writing Campaign

by Amos Lim

Published October 20, 2009 @ 09:26AM PT

Out4Immigration is an all grassroots organization and our letter writing campaign is now in its 34th week. Each week we write to a list of representatives in Congress or the Senate and ask them to become a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

We encourage you to take part in this campaign by using one of three options: (1) The O4I form letter provided below; (2) Your own letter; or (3) Creating a booklet telling your story. See http://tinyurl.com/o4i-toolkit1 for more info on this option.

This week's targets and their contact info is at the end of this post; our sample letter follows. Good luck -- and thanks for taking part in the Out4Immigration letter writing campaign. Each contact we make really does make a difference!

Sample letter:

[Today's Date]

Dear [Congressman/Congresswoman Name],

I am writing to ask you for your support by becoming a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024 /UAFA; S. 424) sponsored in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and in the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy, and the Reuniting Families Act (H.R. 2709) sponsored in the House by Rep. Mike Honda.

[I am] [I know] people directly affected by the current unfair immigration policies in this country that deny gay and lesbian Americans the right to sponsor their permanent partner to live with them in the United States.

As you may be aware, these Americans in loving and committed relationships are often forced to make heartbreaking decisions to maintain their relationship. More often than not, these include having to leave the United States in order to be with the person they love. These American citizens are forced to give up careers, leave behind aging parents and young adult children who rely on them and leave a community which benefits from their ongoing and active participation.

Both the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Reuniting Families Act (RFA) simply seek to provide gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor their partner for immigration. Each bill outlines the same process and penalties that are applied in heterosexual partner (i.e., marriage or fiancée) sponsorship applications.

By co-sponsoring these bills, you are showing your dedication to equality and the belief that no American should be forced to choose between their country and the person they love.

Thank you for your time on this important matter. I hope that your name will be added to the list co-sponsors on these bills, and you will support their inclusion in any discussions concerning Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Respectfully,

[YOUR NAME]
Member, Out4Immigration

www.out4immigration.org

Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO-3)
1710 Longworth HOB
Washington DC, 20515
Fax: (202) 225-7452
russ.carnahan@mail.house.gov
https://forms.house.gov/carnahan/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)
327 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-3071
gerald.connolly@mail.house.gov
http://gerryconnolly.house.gov/?sectionid=50&sectiontree=3,50

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11)
1513 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-1339
marcia.fudge@mail.house.gov
http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=51&sectiontree=3,51

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL-8)
455 N. Garland Ave, Ste. 402
Orlando, FL 32801
Fax # 202-225-0999  
alan.grayson@mail.house.gov
https://forms.house.gov/grayson/contact-form.shtml

Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH-15)
1237 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2015
Fax: (202) 225-3529
maryjo.kilroy@mail.house.gov
https://kilroyforms.house.gov/Contact/index.shtml

Week 33 -- Letter Writing Campaign

by Kathy Drasky

Published October 13, 2009 @ 08:55AM PT

Out4Immigration is an all grassroots organization and our letter writing campaign is now in its 33rd week. Each week we write to a list of representatives in Congress or the Senate and ask them to become a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

We encourage you to take part in this campaign by using one of three options: (1) The O4I form letter provided below; (2) Your own letter; or (3) Creating a booklet telling your story. See http://tinyurl.com/o4i-toolkit1 for more info on this option.

This week's targets and their contact info is at the end of this post; our sample letter follows. Good luck -- and thanks for taking part in the Out4Immigration letter writing campaign. Each contact we make really does make a difference!

Sample letter:

[Today's Date]

Dear [Congressman/Congresswoman Name],

I am writing to ask you for your support by becoming a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024 /UAFA; S. 424) sponsored in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and in the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy, and the Reuniting Families Act (H.R. 2709) sponsored in the House by Rep. Mike Honda.

[I am] [I know] people directly affected by the current unfair immigration policies in this country that deny gay and lesbian Americans the right to sponsor their permanent partner to live with them in the United States.

As you may be aware, these Americans in loving and committed relationships are often forced to make heartbreaking decisions to maintain their relationship. More often than not, these include having to leave the United States in order to be with the person they love. These American citizens are forced to give up careers, leave behind aging parents and young adult children who rely on them and leave a community which benefits from their ongoing and active participation.

Both the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Reuniting Families Act (RFA) simply seek to provide gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor their partner for immigration. Each bill outlines the same process and penalties that are applied in heterosexual partner (i.e., marriage or fiancée) sponsorship applications.

By co-sponsoring these bills, you are showing your dedication to equality and the belief that no American should be forced to choose between their country and the person they love.

Thank you for your time on this important matter. I hope that your name will be added to the list co-sponsors on these bills, and you will support their inclusion in any discussions concerning Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Respectfully,

[YOUR NAME]
Member, Out4Immigration

www.out4immigration.org

This week's contacts are:

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL-4)
2266 Rayburn House Office Building
District of Columbia 20515-1304
Fax: (202) 225-7810

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-32)
2421 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-5467
judy.chu@mail.house.gov
https://forms.house.gov/chu/contact-form.shtml
<https://forms.house.gov/chu/contact-form.shtml>

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5)
1027 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-4403
emanuel.cleaver@mail.house.gov
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/IMA/issue.htm
<http://www.house.gov/cleaver/IMA/issue.htm>

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA-2)
108 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: (202) 225-4420
rick.larsen@mail.house.gov
http://www.house.gov/larsen/contact/
<http://www.house.gov/larsen/contact/>

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD-3)
426 Cannon HOB
Washington DC 20515
Fax: (202) 225-9219
john.sarbanes@mail.house.gov
http://sarbanes.house.gov/federal.asp
<http://sarbanes.house.gov/federal.asp>