California Assembly To Hear Testimony On Resolution Supporting Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)

Crossposted with Lez Get Real.

The California Assembly Judiciary Committee will be hearing testimony on AJR 15, a California resolution to support the federal Uniting American Families Act (UAFA).

The resolution, introduced by Assembly Member Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) and co-sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE), formally requests that the US Congress pass and that President Barack Obama sign the Uniting American Families Act. Under current federal law, American citizens are permitted to sponsor an opposite-sex spouse. LGBT partners do not have the same right and are specifically excluded even if married under State law, sue to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA which defines marriage as between a man and a woman only). The UAFA would extend this basic right to committed same-sex couples, who can prove they are in a committed relationship.

More specifically, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA, H.R. 1024, S. 424) is a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.

Binational same-sex partners suffer enormous hardship due to this inequity in the law. In April this year a case received national attention; Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, from Pacifica California were granted a reprieve when Shirley’s deportation was in effect stayed for the duration of this 111th Congress. A Private Bill from Senator Feinstein was introduced and will have to be reintroduced each new Congress, unless it is voted upon.

But that is a private bill – how can we obtain private bills for all the LGBT binational couples? The only recourse is UAFA and that is why Tuesday’s assembly resolution hearing is so significant. It would be California’s way of saying – …”you have to give all Americans the same rights regardless of relationship orientation. ” It would also hopefully send a message to Senator Feinstein who has not yet signed on as a co-sponsor of UAFA; and hopefully those who are signed on and all advocates will stop hanging their hats on the yet to be seen, maybe to happen, mega issue of comprehensive immigration reform. We must push NOW for UAFA.

So much talent has been lost to our State because so many of our Californians have had to leave home to be with their partners.

Amos Lim, founding Board member of Out4 Immigration, noted “It is important to get California on record as supporting the passage of Uniting American Families Act because our state has the highest number of same sex binational couples living here. According to the studies conducted by Williams Institute, there are about 30% or 10,000 binational couples living here and our representative needs to take a stand for equality and pass this important bill.”

I for one believe that UAFA must move faster and could if it was given enough attention. Now is imperative because it has a lot of support in Congress and the momentum could be there as a result of heightened advocacy and visibility. The Uniting American Families Act had its hearing in DC and now California want to see it happen.

The community is very grateful for the hearing next week and California representatives are urged to vote in favor. It is simply the right message to send to DC.

Notably. Senator Barbara Boxer is a Co-sponsor of UAFA/ and Senator Dianne Feinstein is not.

PRESS: On-site interviews will be available : Providing testimony :

Melanie Nathan, of Marin County and a Commissioner on the Marin County Human Rights Commission who could not Petition for Israeli partner for residency in the U.S. interviews nathan@privatecourts.com

Gina Caprio cannot Petition for British partner for residency in the U.S

Alice Kessler, Government Affairs Director, Equality California

Santosh Seeram-Santana, Legislative Advocate, Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality

Amos Lim, Founding Board Member and Treasurer, Out4Immigration

When: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 9:00 AM

Where: State Capitol, Room 4202

Blogged by MELANIE NATHAN, CEO of Private Courts, Inc. Consulting, mediation & private advocacy ; motivated by injustice, I blog about family law/mediation, politics, news and LGBT equality and anything that ‘tickles my fancy.’ Otherwise blogging as O-blog-dee-o-blog-da. Websites and blogs include: http://www.privatecourts.com; http://www.divorcemediators.us; http://www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com

Maine's Grassroots NO on 1 Campaign Relaunches Website, Receives Help from HRC

Maine's Freedom to Marry Coalition, created by the state's grassroots, had recently refashioned itself into the NO on 1 Campaign/Protect Maine Equality to battle the impending November referendum that would strip gays and lesbians of their newly won right to marry.

Now, they have relaunched their website, making sure that anyone who stops by will know how to vote this November.

On May 6, 2009 Maine ended discrimination in marriage for same-sex couples. This victory was the result of thousands of people who came forward to support marriage for all Maine families. The legislature and Governor followed the people's lead and passed this landmark legislation.

But the fight is not over. Opponents of marriage equality want to turn back the clock. They are working to place a measure on the ballot - modeled after California's Prop 8 - to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry in Maine.

This November, voters will be asked:

"Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Answer: Vote NO on 1.

Maine has become the new California in that they find themselves in a position to defend their new rights from those wanting to take them away, and the culprits sound oddly familiar. Actually, the same. Frank Schubert of the California-based Shubert Flint Public Affairs, who ran the Yes on 8 campaign in California, is also behind this anti-marriage equality campaign, as well as the National Organization for Marriage which has given $160,000, $100,000 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and Focus on the Family, who despite budget shortfalls, has given $31,000.

So Maine needs all the help they can get. And we can win this time.

Lez Get Real reports:

The Human Rights Campaign, has delivered a check today for $50,000 to Maine’s ’No On 1 – Protect Marriage Equality’ campaign… bringing the HRC’s total contributions to the campaign to $75,000.

They have also dispatched staff members to Maine to assist with the campaign, which intends to keep the new law allowing Maine’s same-sex couples to wed off the ballot this November.

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Marty Rouse, National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign, said, “We don’t need to match our opponents,” and added. “But we do need to raise significant funds. This campaign is a grassroots campaign and we feel confident this campaign will be won by the grassroots, but we must try as best we can to raise a significant amount of money.”

Even more good news, WBZTV in Maine reports that the NO on 1 campaign has opened a third office in Lewiston to help broaden their work.

The stakes are high. A win in Maine will mean for the first time ever, the voters will decide to support marriage equality. A loss can set our movement back.

Check out NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality and get involved. No matter where you live, there's something you can do.

Federal Domestic Partnership Benefits Bill Clears House Committee

Crossposted with Lez Get Real, written by Paula Brooks.

This morning, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia held a markup session on Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WS) H.R. 2517, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act… a legislation that would extend benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as heterosexual spousal benefits.

Bill was reported out of the committee by a vote along party lines of five to three.

Last month at an LGBT Pride event in the White House, President Obama called the bill “crucial legislation that will guarantee these rights for all federal employees,” and pledged his support for the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act during the signing of an Executive Memorandum permitting domestic partners to purchase long-term care insurance and allowing employees to use their sick leave to care for domestic partners and non-biological, non-adopted children.

The Passage of the bill out of the subcommittee this morning was a first step toward it final passage in the U.S. House of Representatives and moves the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act one step closer to the President’s desk.

Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) sponsored a similar bill in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in May that currently has 24 co-sponsors.

Iowa County Supervisor Says He Will Try to Stand Against Marriage Equality in His County

From LezGetReal.com:

"In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." ~ George Wallace, January 14, 1963

In a last minute attempt to stop same-sex marriages in his county, Jefferson County, Iowa supervisor Stephen Burgmeier says he will attempt to fight the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to allow marriage equality.

“I believe the Supreme Court has over-stepped their bounds, the governor has not done his job and the legislature has not done their jobs,” said Burgmeier.

Burgmeier, a Republican, has drawn up a resolution that he says he’ll present at a Jefferson County board meeting on Monday, which will start at a special time of 7:30 am, requesting the county leave in effect the Iowa Code, that says only marriage between a male and female is valid.

A portion of the resolution reads, “WHEREAS, on April 3rd, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion that is in conflict with that law and Constitution and only applies to Polk County District Court and not to Jefferson County, Iowa.”

Burgmeier believes it’s his job as an elected official to take a stance on the issue and to do something about it.

“There is a law in the books that says in Iowa, a marriage is between a man and woman. It has not been repealed. It is still in effect. The Supreme Court addressed only one case in one county, which was Polk County. So, there are 98 counties out here that we have not had our day in court,” Burgmeier said.

Read the rest of the article at LezGetReal.com.

Read Unite the Fight's post on the Iowa Attorney General's orders to clerks demanding they issue same-sex marriage certificates.

Tempers flare and emotions show during Nevada gay rights bill debates

From Lez Get Real:

"Carson City, Nevada- Debate was intense, tempers flared and emotions ran high during committee hearings in the Nevada Senate and State Assembly on Friday as several bills dealing with same-sex domestic partnerships and discrimination based on sexual orientation and “gender identity or expression” were discussed.

"Last week, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, introduced two of these bills into committee… Senate Bill 283, which calls for a new type of civil contract for domestic partnerships, in which domestic partners would have the same rights, protections and benefits as a married couple in Nevada and Senate Bill 207, which is designed to give protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations. Both came under fire from opponents.

"Richard Ziser, a former Republican nominee for the US Senate and a Nevada Concerned Citizen lobbyist, expressed strong opposition to Senate Bill 283, pointing out that 6 years ago the Nevada State Constitution was amended to define marriage to be between one man and one woman and contended the bill was a move to circumvent that amendment.

"But in emotional testimony, Pamela Brooks of Reno, tearfully told the committee how she had been denied access to the body of her long-time partner after she passed away in a hospital, saying she was treated like a criminal and told to leave the hospital room.

“Since I was not next of kin, I had no rights to my deceased partner, could not have her final effects like her commitment ring, wallet or even an article of clothing to take away, I never saw her body again, and that was the last of our relationship,' Brooks told senators, adding that she 'doesn’t want special rights, only equal rights.'”

Read the rest of the article from Lez Get Real that contains information about the heated debate and personal offenses on Bill SB207, which would bar discrimination in public areas based on one's sexual orientation.