Across the country yesterday, thousands of gays and lesbians marched for a legislative overhaul of immigration laws.
Many participants are drawn to the legal fight because of their international lovers, who they can’t sponsor for citizenship. According to a 2000 census, there are 40,000 such couples living openly in America, none of whom have the legal protections granted straight binational couples.
Along with public displays of disaffection, LGBT activists have their eyes on Congress, which has shown small support for the Uniting American Families Act. The bill will allow binational same-sex couples the same rights given to straight couples of the same ilk.
Some gay conservatives have said that gays have no place in other social movements, insisting gay power should be just that: gay. What do you, our darling and opinionated readers, think of all of this? Should we stand up for immigration rights or keep our words for more overtly “gay” issues?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“Gays Join Marches for Immigration Rights” [365 Gays]
Here’s a link for the Human Rights Watch’s 191 report on Immigration Law: “Family, Unvalued…” [Human Rights Watch]
Nathan
Our opinions are not “gay” opinions. They are American opinions. And they should be offered and heard on every issue.
jack e. jett
yes some gay people were thinking about their lovers wh can’t get into the country.
others of us were thinking about our friends that were unable to get any medical help because the hospitals were filled with illegals.
two sides to every story.
jack jett
todd
Unless you take the position that people, wherever they’re born, have a civil right to come to the U.S., then, I don’t see the immigration issue as a civil rights matter or why wholesale amnesty is something the “gay community” needs to support. That’s separate from equal civil rights in the recognition of same-sex relationships that may impact immigration.
Cullan
It’s not a civil rights issue. There is a legal process in place for immigration. If you can’t follow that process, you are breaking the law. It’s pretty clear until people start muddling the issue with “feelings.” If the voting populace of the United States wishes to ammend that process then it will be done. Until then, illegal immigrants shouldn’t be given hand outs like this is some kind of giant soup kitchen; it makes it harder on tax payers such as myself who consider the green in my back pocket a million times more important than giving ersatz “rights” to illegal immigrants who devalue our dollar my exporting it like a National Product. As far as weighing in as “gays” then I have to agree with Nathan, it’s an American issue and we should weigh in as Americans.
Uncle Mike
Yes, it’s an American issue, but I feel we should weigh in as Americans who are gay since our view of the situation is unique. Those of us with foreign-born partners would have no trouble following the law of immigration if our partners were of the opposite gender. We could marry, sponsor our spouse, and be done. Unfortunately, we remain outside of that possibility. For now.