Remember when President Obama promised to be our fierce advocate, then got to the White House and sat on his hands, and then invited us over for tea to make nice? Looks like LGBTs aren’t the only “special interest” (hah!) group outraged at the way he operates. Writes Dawn Teo:
Following a closed-door meeting last Thursday in which President Barack Obama, administration officials, and nearly 100 immigrant rights leaders discussed plans for comprehensive immigration reform, a coalition of 521 organizations signed an open letter to Obama criticizing the Presidents inactivity on immigration reform.
The organizations behind the letter are planning vigils, marches, and other events across the country to protest the administration’s policy on the Department of Homeland Security 287(g) local immigration enforcement program and say they were “deeply alarmed” by the announcement six weeks ago by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano that DHS would be expanding the 287(g) program to 11 new jurisdictions.
Although the White House has refused to discuss the details or agenda of the White House meeting, sources who participated in the meeting last week say that the coalition behind this week’s letter to Obama is even more troubled by the remarks Obama made directly to immigration reform groups last week expressing his support for 287(g) and other enforcement mechanisms.
Take a number, gays.
mark snyder
A perfect example of why the queer community needs to be multi-issue and build coalitions.
Thom Freeheart
If illegal immigrants have a problem with Obama or America, they can always just go home. People who enter this country illegally should not complain about their rights.
InExile
Hey Queerty, some of us (bi-national couples) are waiting for comprehensive immigration reform that also includes same sex bi-national couples, my name is InExile for a reason. Some of us are sitting here waiting for immigration reform so we can move back home and try to recapture our lives.
President Obama’s newest poll shows an approval of 50% which clearly shows that many progressives, liberals, and gays are not happy these days. He made promises and he should keep them, he needs to grow a pair!
tavdy79
@Thom Freeheart: Try living their lives for a few years, then say that.
@mark snyder: IMO one of the best things the major gay orgs could do right now would be to get LGBTs out on the streets in support if/when there are protests.
M Shane
@No. 1 ¡ mark snyder: Glad to hear an intelligent comment right off. If more of the gay community would expand their horisons to comprehend that as an Americamn minority they have bigger problems than THE VERY TINY NICHE CARVED FOR THEM BY THE RIGHT WING HERE, they might find that more people care about thier issues. So often it is easy to get the impression that the gay white community are closet Neocons.
What goes around comes around!
sydneyfamous
@tavdy79: Actually, it’s pretty easy. Move to a different location. Ha!
I agree with @Thom Freeheart. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t complain. -.-
InExile
@sydneyfamous: Some immigrants are not illegal and move away to other countries with their American partners rather than become illegal. Some of us Americans are screwed with gay couples not being recognized as family.
My partner lived in the US for 15 years as a journalist on a work visa until it came to an end 3 years ago. American citizens should be able to sponsor their foreign born partners for a green card just like heterosexual couples can and not have to move to foreign countries just to stay together.
Rick
How many gays are here illegally?
Those mojitos are highly questionable.
tarheel
If they got rid of the illegals then they might have time for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MoHoTo
LA has a gloriously large latino gay community. Its one of its few soulful aspects. I have no idea how many are undocumented. I wish we could find a place where lovely, kind, modernist people are the only ones allowed to immigrate. But I’ll say this: we are so lucky on this continent to have an immigration problem from south of our border, instead of from south of certain other borders.
schlukitz
@InExile:
Huzzah!
As one of those some 32,000 LGBT, born in American, taxpaying citizens involved in a bi-national relationship, you and I should both have the right to sponsor our foreign-born partners just like everyone else.
Four times in the six and a half years we have been together, my partner has been denied a student visa to come to this country to study.
Now, with a “gay-friendly” administration and a “fierce advocate” in the ofal office of the White House, it remains to be seen if we can even get a visitors visa for him to come to the USA for a visit?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Amurikun-style!
Bill Perdue
@tarheel: @sydneyfamous: @Thom Freeheart: these are ugly voices of racism and union busting. I think we should be aware that anyone whoâs not a native American is here illegally. Indians, among whom I count some of my ancestors, blundered and in a fit of humanitarian sentimentality taught European illegals how to survive and the importance of basic hygiene like bathing more than annually. What a screw up that turned out to be.
“Illegal”, as used to describe imported and immigrant workers is a racist term. Immigrant and imported workers arenât scabs. The opposite is true. According to the AFL-CIO union membership by immigrant and imported workers has risen 30% in the last decade and continues to climb in mining, meat packing and the hotel and restaurant trade. Most of the growth and much of the renewed militancy of the union movement flows from the recruitment of immigrant workers by the UCFW, SEIU, HERE, Teamsters and the UMW.
Imported and immigrant workers from Latin America are double exploited by business owners, paid low wages and denied the benefits other working people take for granted. AT least we took them for granted until Clinon, Bush and Obama began busting unions and cutting social programs and welfare in earnest. For unions this is a question of basic solidarity.
Obama’s latest and most revolting sell-out, his openly racist decision to deny health care to immigrant and imported workers puts everyone at risk. Denying health care to such a huge segment of the working population is a disaster waiting to happen. Infectious diseases are notoriously apolitical and opportunistic.
Tavdy is right, we should go out of our way to support the fights of immigrant and imported workers, African Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. And ask them to support us when the Obus comes looking for us. But we don’t have to wait for our ‘leaders’. Local groups should take the initiative on this.
[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/138755258_03f8d31cd2.jpg[/img]
emmy
Mark Snyder’s observation concerning the importance of being multi-issued and building coalitions is accurate. The struggles that the GLBT communities face are parallel to those of immigrant and migrant communities. According to a June 2, 2009 article in The New York Times, an immigration bill favoured giving immigration rights for same sex couples. As it stands, the status quo is unfair. “Same-sex couples, though, cannot petition for partners, and many face the prospect of an immigrant partnerâs deportation.”
The article mentions further how some of America’s peers such as Germany, France and Canada already recognize same-sex couples in immigration law.
(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03immig.html?scp=7&sq=immigration&st=Search)
Injustice is injustice, and it’s important for a diverse community to call it out when they see it.
Duncan Behines
If you are illegal you are irrelevant in my eyes. I don’t care what you say. I don’t want to hear your complaints. America needs to focus more on taking care of Americans. You take care of your own before you take care of others. Isn’t it ironic Americans seem to take the back seat in America?
Oh, and Obama needs to get off his ass. So tired of him. I don’t expect him to turn the economy around in months, but all that smoke he blew about his support of gay rights. I don’t see him doing anything. Even more importantly he really needs to jump on our health care issue. Enough talking. People are dying everyday because no health care. We need to model our health care system after Canada’s system. That’s it. Like I don’t care about the politics of it. Just fucking do it.
InExile
@schlukitz: I really feel for your situation. The fact that you cannot get a visa for your partner to even visit is just cruel and inhumane punishment not to mention the green card issue!
Saying I am disappointed with Obama would clearly be an understatement. If he would just move on his “promises”, many of the problems you and I face would be fixed via DOMA repeal.
I just hope when Obama does get around to immigration reform, he doesn’t conveniently leave same sex couples out of the reform. Although the Uniting American Families Act has many co-sponsors in the house and senate, it is doubtful that an LGBT standalone bill like UAFA will pass. We must be included in CIR or we are screwed.
ousslander
Yes align with with illegal immigrants many of whom are not pro-gay. There is a major dif between helping and accepting legal immigrants than ILLEGAL immigrants who jumped the line after thousands have waited years and gone through the proper channels.
But I guess that makes me a racist even though I feel the same about illegals from Poland, Ireland or wherever.
Rowen
When did the word immigrant come to mean that that person is automatically illegal? I saw no sign of that in the article, and the last time I checked, America had a system where people can apply to move, work, or study in the country. There are LOTS of people who are here, legally, who are also getting screwed.
Once again, the wonderful reading comprehension of Queerty readers strikes again.
InExile
@ousslander: Unfortunately gays are more hated than illegal immigrants. Uniting American Families Act has 115 co-sponsors in the house and 21 co-sponsors in the senate but looks like it will go nowhere unless attached to another bill because it applies only to same sex couples.
Obama has promised comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) to deal with our outdated immigration system. Your concerns about the illegal immigrant situation will never change until our government fixes the current system, it is not working.
UAFA
I lose my mind every time a dumbass LGBT American complains about those damn “illegals”. What planet are you living on? Those same groups that protest against “illegal” immigrants (i.e. the Minute Men) would gladly put a bullet in your gay ass head.
The LGBT community should be pushing for a LGBT inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform. If the UAFA is to pass, as a stand alone bill or with CIR, the LGBT community stands that gain one of the +1100 federal marriage rights denied to us because of DOMA. So we can either sit back and wait for someone to give us Marriage Equality or we can get off our asses and chip away at DOMA; I personally prefer the later. The fact that the UAFA could perhaps lead to the first time the Federal Government recognizes our relationships is a cause that every LGBT American should get behind.
mick
If you don’t like America’s immigration process stay in your own country and work to fix the problems there, don’t come over here bitching when nobody made you come over here!
Chitown Kev
The anti-immigrant comments on here are disgusting.
Bill Perdue, as usual, you nailed this one.
And if you look hard enough (and it’s not that hard) you will find an increasing number of progressive (and non-gay) African Americans that have soured on the president (some are in the Congress: Maxine Waters, Alcee Hastings, John Conyers)
The possibility for building coalitions is there.
UAFA
#20 Dumbass. That’s right. Support an immigration system that inherently discriminates against LGBT and HIV+ people. You must really want your Reel Amurika back?
schlukitz
@InExile:
Thank you for your kind words of understanding.
We have both walked a mile in another man’s moccasins, figuratively speaking, which give us a much clearer understanding of the problems and hardships people involved in bi-national relationships face daily and must endure.
I could not agree more with you and UAFA that a stand-alone bill has little chance of passage and that it should be included in a broader, CIR Bill.
United we stand. Divided, we fall.
asianinla
So sad to see these knee-jerk anti-immigrant comments. It’s this racism that makes it hard for people of color to want to work with the gay movement, which is largely led by white middle class gays.
Rick
@asianinla:
Go back to Mexico then.
schlukitz
@asianinla:
So sad to see these knee-jerk anti-immigrant comments.
Yes, it is. I could not agree more.
Sadly, however, racism is a two-way street. There are just as many people of color, including Mexicans and Asians who combined, probably make up a larger number of people than the white middle class gays you hold up to scorn, who if the truth be known, are homophobic.
But, just because some of of these people feel that gays are not entitled to their rights and refuse to support them for personal and religious regions, does not mean that white middle class gays would be justified in saying they to not want to work with their movement in eradicating bigotry and hatred or vote for laws that would take away their hard-earned victories.
Justifying homophobia, from wherever it emanates and for whatever reason, does nothing to help eradicate racism and the horrible negative effects it has on both the perpetrator and the victim.
Just saying….
Food for thought.
asianinla
@rick – In case you couldn’t figure it out from my screen name, my family is from Asia and not Mexico and we’ve been here since the 1800’s so it’s sort of hard for me to go back to someplace I have never even visited
@schlukitz – I am not saying there isn’t homphobia in the POC community… but when progressive POCs constantly feel that the LGBT’s just don’t get our issues, why should they try to make those bridges, even if they are open to it. They don’t hate gay people; they just don’t see gay people as allies
Ousslander
Why is it racist to expect people to follow the law? There many legal pathways into this country. I guess the people who follow them aer idiots by your standards.
Unless of course you’re saying illegal imigrants are incapable of doing such. Now sounds like internalized racism.
We should align ourselves with are groups but not ones that Promote illegal actions or promote the rights of non- citizens over the rights of citizens.
Bill perdue, i take it your ancestor are from the original inhabitNts of england n that u have no saxon or such blood in you
Thom Freeheart
My family immigrated here legally here from Mexico in 1971. I don’t see how my wanting to stop illegal immigration makes me racist when I am of Mexican decent.
Bill Perdue
@ousslander: But I guess that makes me a racist even though I feel the same about illegals from Poland, Ireland or wherever.
Your’re only partly right, herr ousslander. That makes you a racist, a national chauvinist and anti-union. Three strikes.
In occupied northern Ireland the native Irish have been under the crushing iron boot of English colonialists who’ve wrecked their society, kept them in an apartheid prison and terrorized them. For them the distinction between racism and national chauvinism is unimportant. Theyâre treated like Palestinians and like immigrant and imported workers in the US.
Bill Perdue
@Thom Freeheart: It’s because you have the same politics as other racists.
Thom Freeheart
You don’t really get the concept of the word “illegal,” do you?
schlukitz
@asianinla:
They don’t hate gay people; they just don’t see gay people as allies
It’s such a handy excuse for not even trying to build a bridge, isn’t it?
Or, to put it even more bluntly, the attitude is “If you don’t make the first move, then f**k you!”
Sorry, Jack. You’re just playing the blame game to justify your own hatred for white middle class gays.
And that’s really surprising, coming from an Asian, especially since I live among them.
Bill Perdue
Add @Duncan Behines: to the list for saying Isn’t it ironic Americans seem to take the back seat in America? That was the same garbage the Nazis used to say about Jews and the Roma. And just as dangerous.
Are you Sioux? Apache? Lenape? Cherokee? Are you Hawaiian, Ahtena, Aleut? Were your ancestors enslaved and forced to build the infrastructure that makes you prosperous? Did you live in Mexico before half of it was stolen in 1848?
If not, then STFU. You’re not just irrelevant, you’re illegal.
Bill Perdue
@asianinla You almost had it right: which is largely misled by white middle class gays” who are Democrats and movement hustlers.
We have to change that by building a grassroots LGBT group composed of people from minority communities (who are the majority in California), trade unionists, antiwar folks, women and immigrant and imported workers. It has to have a democratic internal life, a mass action strategy and a cutting edge program.
Then we can begin to make some progress and if those “white middle class gays” and Democrats come sniffing around we can tell them they’re welcome to support us. Period.
Bill Perdue
@Chitown Kev: Thanks.
I think the Democrats utter failure to find answers to economic collapse, war and the continued, successful assault on us by christers will hit both old right centrist parties like a head on train wreck. Detroit metro unemployment hit 28.9% during July, not even counting people whose unemployment benefits ran out and the 302 US and puppet troops and uncounted thousands of civilians died in Afghanistan so far this year.
The center will begin to shrink as the right and left grow, and sooner rather than later. It may be just a few years before we see an upsurge like 1933, the year of general strikes. But however long it takes, when that happens and unions, the heavy infantry of social change take the field again (led in large part by immigrant and imported workers), then we’ll know that the realignment you see beginning and the general spread of the radicalization, especially among LGBT youth, were just minor preshocks. Little 3.2s and 4.6s. Chumpy little things compared to whatâs coming, the Big One.
Bill Perdue
@Ousslander: English! Heaven forefend. My direct family were Irish and Sioux neither of whom have much love for the English or their American children.
But you miss the point. It’s not about origins. Thatâs just racist garbage to justify paying some people lower wages than others. Itâs about the rights of working people and the duty of everyone to stand up to racists. I don’t think itâs a good idea to call for the mass deportation of Euroamericans from North and South American, of zionists from Palestine, or of Euroamericans from all or part of California, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico or the other parts of Mexico stolen in 1848.
It’s really kind of simple. Honest working people are for insuring the rights of all working people to a decent life, irrespective of anything else. Theyâre people who work for a living and nothing else matter. And in my mind that applies as much to Mexicans and Central Americans whose economies and environments were severely damaged by Clintons NAFTA as it does to people born here.
Ousslander
Well bill perdure you n you’re people who stole england are the ones who did that to irish. As for anti- union they have a place but don’t act they are nit corrupt and out fir the little guy and not just out for perpetutaing their own power. They are more like racketeers.
Your self hatred and hate of white/ westerners is appalling. As for mexico that was colonilized by he spanish. God knows the aztecs never ever took land fro
other peoples for they were just such ” noble savages” who lived inpeace with all they conquered!
UAFA
@Thom Freeheart: Well my parents immigrated from Europe in the 1960’s and immigration back then was a hell of a lot easier than it is now. For all of those people who think that “legal” immigration into the US is so simple I suggest you try dealing with CIS before commenting on something you have no idea about. There are families waiting to be reunified after 20 years of separation.
When my parents immigrated they told me horror stories of how they were treated by the American public. Every time immigration reform occurs there is always a large segment of the population screaming to close the boarders. Just remember: “Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” Now that’s the real America. It’s funny how once we have settled into the US so many people are willing to close the door behind them.
InExile
All this anti-immigrant talk is quite disgusting.
I managed a restaurant on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and many of our employees were immigrants. Some of the employees had fake social security numbers since occasionally they would bring letters to me from the IRS and ask me what the letters meant and I would tell them they needed the proper papers. These employees (mostly of Mexican dissent) were very hard workers, showed up on time, didn’t steal, rarely called in sick, well you get the picture.
The fact is when I would place help wanted ads in the LA Times most of the people (95%) to answer the ads were Mexican. Sure I had white applicants mainly actors wanting waiter or bar tending jobs. Those actors were the first to not show up because of an audition or to be late or etc… My point is no white applicants ever came in for the cook positions or the dishwasher positions or the delivery positions. If we had no immigrants, we would not have been able to operate.
No, I am not an immigrant, I am from one of the first families of Virginia (FFV).
Bill Perdue
@Ousslander: Take a pill, take two pills, gets a good nights sleep and try that again in the morning.
UAFA
@InExile: I agree with you. Immigrants do have a better work ethic than most Americans.
I personally don’t find it a coincidence that there are so many undocumented immigrants in the US. Obviously they are here for a reason; to be exploited by US corporations for lower wages. If anything, these undocumented immigrants have only contributed to the success of America and helped prop up its economy. If undocumented immigrants should be criticized it should be for building all of those godawful McMansions. LOL.
asianinla
@ schlukitz
I had far more straight Asian friends volunteering to help defeat Prop 8 than I did white gay friends helping out at the immigration rallies. every single chinese american assemblymember in CA, as well as the state controller, came out against Prop 8. Congressman Mike Honda is the one who inserted the UAFA into the current bill. The first major non-LGBT civil rights group to support marriage equality was the JACL back in 1994. Where was NGLTF and HRC on AAPI issues back then?
schlukitz
@UAFA:
How very true. My grandparents came over from the “other side” and all I ever heard from them, were racist remarks about every group of people they did not approve of and how they thought that they should be barred from American soil.
It really made me realize just what an insidious, ugly thing racism really is.
schlukitz
@asianinla:
I have far more white friends in the USA than I do black friends.
And, in the Philippines, I have far more Asian friends than I do white friends.
So, what does that prove? That I am a racist?
You know far more straight Asian friends than you do gay white friends. Living in LA, that comes as no surprise to me, since many Asians, especially Philippine people, live there in large concentrations.
So, what does that prove? That you are a homophobe?
The point is, how many people you are in contact with in the area in which you live, is not a valid argument to support your original postulation.
As to the gay political groups you listed at the conclusion of your post, you can add to that list, the NAACP and the ACLU, among others.
The claim of 650,000 members by Joe Salmonese of HRC, which is the largest organization for LGBT people…
http://www.washblade.com/2005/5-6/news/national/members.cfm
out of possible LGBT population of 30,000,000, so it certainly is not an indicator of it speaking for all white, middle class gays, is it?
asianinla
@schlukitz
This will be my last response to you, as I find your arguments off-point and wildly presumptive.
In short, I don’t hate gay white people. In fact, some of my best friends are gay white people. I work in TV. Some days all I see are white people. But the fact of the matter is, a lot of GWM just don’t see issues that affect minority or immigrant communities as something that is important to them.
Who knows? Maybe I am wrong. All I can say is, see you at the next immigration rally.
schlukitz
@asianinla:
ASIANINLA, this is what you said:
No. 24 ¡ So sad to see these knee-jerk anti-immigrant comments. It’s this racism that makes it hard for people of color to want to work with the gay movement, which is largely led by white middle class gays.
You railed against white middle class gays.
Please explain to me how my defending white middle class gays from your verbal attack is off-point and wildly presumptive?
Now you throw salt on the wound by saying But the fact of the matter is, a lot of GWM just don’t see issues that affect minority or immigrant communities as something that is important to them.
I hate to punch holes in your unfounded and undocumented theory but I know of at least two people right here on this thread who will sharply disagree with you.
InExile and me, for starters, in case you haven’t taken notice of all the posts we have both made in recent months and on various Queerty threads. And just FYI, we are both white middle class gays.
InExile was forced to leave the USA and take up residence in a foreign land because his partner’s work visa came to an end when the American company he worked for folded.
I am forced to shoulder the expense of two domiciles, one here in the USA and another in Asia just so that my partner and I can get to spend at least a part of the year with each other during the past six and a half years since we met, since four attempts on our behalf to get him a visit to visit with me here in the States have been denied.
And also FYI, there are some 32,000 bi-national couples like us in America, who cannot sponsor their foreign-born partners to come to the USA and file for citizenship like heterosexuals can.
How unthinking and cavalier of you to lecture us white middle class gays about how little we care about Immigration issues? Just what is it that you are doing to fight the discrimination, heartache and financial distress that people like me, InExile and the other 32,000 bi-national couples face daily?
I suggest that you walk a mile in another man’s moccasins before making such sweeping generalizations about others of whom you obviously no nothing.
And yes. You will DEFINITELY see me at the next Immigration rally, providing you can get past your own bias and attend it.
Oh…and no need to put yourself out with a response.
Rowen
Hrm. This is the second thread where people are bitching about how the gay community only focuses on middle class white folks, but without any proof as to how they do so, and what they need to do to fix it.
I think it’s time to shoot that horse once and for all.
asianinla
@Rowen
Here is one simple suggestion. I offer it, not to pick a fight, but just as an example of where the LGBT civil rights groups/community can start to build relationships with other minority organizations.
In regards to the letter referenced in the original post, of the 521 groups that signed on to the letter sent to Obama, only one was clearly LGBT: the National Center for Lesbian Rights. There also appears to be one AIDS organization, AIDS Care Ocean State. (Please correct me if I am wrong as I am not familiar with all the groups on the list and only took a quick glance.) Here is the full list:
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/371/images/LETTER_TO_PRESIDENT_20090825133229.pdf
Perhaps some of the other LGBT groups could have signed on, as well. NGLTF. Immigration Equality. Lambda Legal. HRC. Perhaps there is a reason that none of them signed on, but the perception is that they are not partnering up or working with these other organizations.
Having an LGBT site full of comments where people are complaining about “the illegals” and telling people to “go back where you came from” is not helping to build these alliances.
Phoenix (Fuck The Minute-Men With Gently A Rusty Chainsaw)
What about LGBT illegal immigrants? Should we send them back too? Should we send back the LGBT illegal immigrants who came to this country seeking asylum because they’re from Iraq, Jamaica, or Burundi and could be killed for being queer? How about then? Most ‘illegal immigrants’ who are in this country came here legally but their visa expired and ICE (formerly Immigration and Naturalization) didn’t get around to renewing it. Why? Because George W. Bush’s fucked up, post-9/11 creation is a massive failure. Even more so than INS.
Chitown Kev
@Rowen:
OK.
Many middle class white folks (and I’ve read these comments on message boards) have job security to the point where they don’t see the need for ENDA at all much less a T-inclusive ENDA. Try talking about the need for ENDA to the white gay teacher in Oklahoma or Idaho.
Chitown Kev
Now here’s a scary thought.
Do all of y’all anti-immigration folks know that you sound EXACTLY like Jasmyne Cannick?!
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid28908.asp
Thom Freeheart
I’m not anti-immigration. I’m anti-illegal immigration.
GBM
UMMMMM Kev, And what did you see wrong with what Jasmyne said?????
GBM
@Thom Freeheart:
Thom you’re right I feel the same. It’s just like the queens who goes overseas and imports the BF’s thinking they can get them in here that way. Just do it right!
Personally with Queerty if Obama gave the gays everything it wouldn’t matter. They will not be happy until he leaves and I guess Hillary or a Rethugfooligan steps in. I feel the same he is moving very slow and backing from some made promises. But alot you girls did not support him anyway. So it makes your anger on here seems strong. Just like those idiots at the healthcare rallies.
Oh well Que sera, sera…What will be, will be.
schlukitz
@Chitown Kev:
You say it like it is a bad thing? ;o)
schlukitz
@GBM:
It’s just like the queens who goes overseas and imports the BF’s thinking they can get them in here that way.
Do you really believe it is that simple?
Heterosexual people can “import” (odd choice of words, me thinks) their GF’s and BF’s and get them in here that way
You don’t feel that tax-paying LGBT people should be entitled to enjoy that same civil-right?
UAFA
@ GBM
“Oh well Que sera, seraâŚWhat will be, will be.”
Only a queen would use a line like that; at best a bathhouse queen.
@THOM FREEHEART
So you are a double minority? Self loathing can be so ugly.
I have a question for all those opposed to immigration reform. They say there are approximately 12 million “illegal” immigrants in the country. How do you propose we solve the problem? Do you really think a round up and deportation is an option?
Like it or not, immigration reform is going to happen. If the LGBT community supports and demands to be included in CIR we will be obtaining a marriage right that is currently denied to us. And, for the first time the federal government will recognize our same sex relationships. The implications of this will be enormous. As well, we will stop the discrimination of some 36 000 same sex binational couples.
Thom Freeheart
I have relatives who are waiting to become American citizens. They have filed their paperwork and are going patiently through the process. The have respect for American and want to follow its laws and I want them to become citizens before those who have decided to dodge the law and enter this country illegally.
How any of this makes me self-loathing is beyond me.
UAFA
@Thom Freeheart:
First off, I’m not pro illegal immigration. Actually I don’t know anybody who is pro illegal immigration. I do, however, believe that this whole illegal immigration situation that we find ourselves in was need based. Certain businesses needed low wage salary workers and the undocumented workers were available.
My issue is that the LGBT community has an opportunity to build bridges with other minority groups to achieve immigration reform leading to immigration equality for the LGBT community; and the LGBT community isn’t jumping on the opportunity. Call me self serving because I’m in a same sex binational relationship, but I don’t give a fuck I want my civil rights.
That’s great that your family in Mexico is following by the rules. That should give you all the more reason to be pro immigration reform. The sooner the US government can solve this illegal immigration issue and the immigration system on the whole, the sooner your family can immigrate to the US.
But since you have lived with the stereotypes of being gay and being Mexican it is only natural that you would develop certain biases to the subject. Why is it so difficult for you to see that most of these illegal immigrants are being exploited by American Corporations, or why is it difficult for you to see that LGBT face discrimination by denying them equal immigration rights? Immigration through family reunification accounts for almost 80% of immigration to the US and that’s not available to LGBT folks.
The point is that the US immigration system is broken. That’s not up for debate. All parties involved with the immigration debate concede that the immigration system is broken. It’s not rational, it’s not doable, to say deport all illegals first. So why don’t we fix the problem and prevent illegal immigration in the future.
Chitown Kev
@GBM:
Uh, I don’t think that immigration reform needs to get “to the back of the line” especially since those immigrants do work the jobs that YOU are probably not willing to. If straights can use the system the system to bring their foriegn (and illegal) lovers in but not gays, then that is discrimination.
Also, do look at UAFA’s comment, that it’s the corporations that invited (more or less) those immigrants here. They’re here now, let’s do what we can as far as some sort of immigration reform and solve the problem of continuing illegal immigration.
Brian Miller
Do all of y’all anti-immigration folks know that you sound EXACTLY like Jasmyne Cannick?!
Hahahaha! Outstanding. All of you anti-immigration people have just been pwned. đ
However, this whole debate gives unjustified legitimacy to the idea that there’s this incredible list of “important things” that comes “ahead” of gay rights or immigrants or whatever.
And that’s just not true.
The Congress didn’t have to have endless deliberations before splashing out trillions in pork payments to billionaire bankers. The House and Senate regularly take votes on such “important” matters as renaming federal buildings, designating who is going to be showcased on the latest stamps, and the government subsidized prices of the congressional dining room (along with what food is served there).
The whole idea of the debate is to support career politicos like Jasmyne and the group at HRC who urge “moderation” and who insist that you’re not going to get your basic constitutional rights recognized until after they get another big hunk of gummint cheese. Entertaining such notions is inherently undermining your own dignity as a human being.
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Walter
So wait – full well knowing the “bi-national couple” would not meet immigration law, you still went forward. OK. Poor checklist.OR did a thunderbolt strike you irreversibly in love? I never would get with a foreign national for that reason. Use the hetero workaround. Marry him off to your sister or someone. Then get on with more compelling realistic gay rights issues. You’re putting the cart before the horse.
BTW my cousin jumped ship and was deported three times before number four when lived in a restaurant’s basement for three years before using the hetero workaround. It worked.
DEREK WASHINGTON
Wow, I didn’t see where anyone was advocating for illegal immigrants here, just fair play. It is wrong that a straight guy can pick up a magazine of “Russian Beauties” and order up a wife and a Gay guy can’t fall in love with a foreign national and have the process be just as easy to get them here legally.
The main thing I have done since becoming Chairman of my organization is to reach out to groups such as Si Se Puede and others in order to build numbers. The LGBT community where I am is too small to get most things done on it’s own, so , forming coalitions is the way to go. Pretty simple.
The racism here is expected and boring.