Their answers moved the other marchers. They told tales of couples separated because of
discriminatory immigration laws . . . undocumented LGBT youth who desperately need passage of
the DREAM Act . . . .LGBT asylees who escaped unspeakable persecution in their home countries
and found safe haven in the United States.
As many as 500 strong at one point – with Rainbow Riders from Illinois, immigration activists from
New York and undocumented young people from California – the contingent was brought together
by Immigration Equality, a non-profit legal aid and advocacy group working on behalf of LGBT
immigrants and their families.
For each of them, reform holds the promise of new beginnings, reunited families and an end to
punishing immigration laws. For many of them, the day began with great hope, too.
On the prior Thursday, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) – the Senate’s point-person on crafting
immigration reform – told constituents that he supports inclusion of the Uniting American Families
Act (UAFA), which would allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners for
residency, in coming immigration reform legislation.
“I support [UAFA],” Schumer said in the letter first reported by The Advocate, “ and I am working on
introducing a comprehensive package that would address this issue along with a host of
immigration issues . . . At this time, I believe that the only way to pass meaningful and effective
immigration reform is through a comprehensive bill, not through piecemeal legislation.”
Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado, another go-to lawmaker on immigration issues, echoed
Schumer’s optimism in his own interview with reporter Kerry Eleveld.
“Democratic representative Jared Polis of Colorado has been front and center in the House’s
debate over immigration,” Eleveld reported, “and immediately ticks off a list of considerations that
are already provoking heated debate — providing a normalization process for the undocumented
population, including verification of people through biometrics, augmenting border security.”
discriminatory immigration laws . . . undocumented LGBT youth who desperately need passage of
the DREAM Act . . . .LGBT asylees who escaped unspeakable persecution in their home countries
and found safe haven in the United States.
As many as 500 strong at one point – with Rainbow Riders from Illinois, immigration activists from
New York and undocumented young people from California – the contingent was brought together
by Immigration Equality, a non-profit legal aid and advocacy group working on behalf of LGBT
immigrants and their families.
For each of them, reform holds the promise of new beginnings, reunited families and an end to
punishing immigration laws. For many of them, the day began with great hope, too.
On the prior Thursday, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) – the Senate’s point-person on crafting
immigration reform – told constituents that he supports inclusion of the Uniting American Families
Act (UAFA), which would allow LGBT Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners for
residency, in coming immigration reform legislation.
“I support [UAFA],” Schumer said in the letter first reported by The Advocate, “ and I am working on
introducing a comprehensive package that would address this issue along with a host of
immigration issues . . . At this time, I believe that the only way to pass meaningful and effective
immigration reform is through a comprehensive bill, not through piecemeal legislation.”
Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado, another go-to lawmaker on immigration issues, echoed
Schumer’s optimism in his own interview with reporter Kerry Eleveld.
“Democratic representative Jared Polis of Colorado has been front and center in the House’s
debate over immigration,” Eleveld reported, “and immediately ticks off a list of considerations that
are already provoking heated debate — providing a normalization process for the undocumented
population, including verification of people through biometrics, augmenting border security.”
| . |
www.ambiente.us APRIL | ABRIL 2010
Reform Sunday
by Steve Ralls
It may well be remembered as “Reform Sunday.”
On March 21st, the usual scene of mid-morning joggers and weekend tourists on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C., was replaced with an overflowing assembly of
lawmakers, press vans, Tea Party protestors and immigration advocates. As elected
leaders cast a historic vote in Congress for President Obama’s healthcare reform
legislation – and as Tea Party protestors heckled Democratic lawmakers with racial
and homophobic slurs in the halls of the capitol – a crowd of nearly a quarter-million
people rallied, just steps away from the healthcare reform debate – for passage of
immigration reform, too.
The March for America, organized by a coalition of immigration rights groups from
across the country, brought together a strikingly diverse crowd of speakers and
activists – including undocumented youth, Congressional lawmakers and Catholic
Bishops – to call on the President, and Congress, to fulfill their campaign promise to
overhaul the country’s broken immigration system.
As the crowd grew larger throughout the day, and amidst the chants of “Si Se Puede!,”
an increasing number of rainbow flags and red shirts
could be spotted among the sea of thousands upon
thousands.
They began, marching from the World War II Memorial to the
Reform Sunday
by Steve Ralls
It may well be remembered as “Reform Sunday.”
On March 21st, the usual scene of mid-morning joggers and weekend tourists on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C., was replaced with an overflowing assembly of
lawmakers, press vans, Tea Party protestors and immigration advocates. As elected
leaders cast a historic vote in Congress for President Obama’s healthcare reform
legislation – and as Tea Party protestors heckled Democratic lawmakers with racial
and homophobic slurs in the halls of the capitol – a crowd of nearly a quarter-million
people rallied, just steps away from the healthcare reform debate – for passage of
immigration reform, too.
The March for America, organized by a coalition of immigration rights groups from
across the country, brought together a strikingly diverse crowd of speakers and
activists – including undocumented youth, Congressional lawmakers and Catholic
Bishops – to call on the President, and Congress, to fulfill their campaign promise to
overhaul the country’s broken immigration system.
As the crowd grew larger throughout the day, and amidst the chants of “Si Se Puede!,”
an increasing number of rainbow flags and red shirts
could be spotted among the sea of thousands upon
thousands.
They began, marching from the World War II Memorial to the
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“Those issues are all more controversial than including same-sex families,” said Polis, adding
that “Many of the Republicans who would be likely to support immigration reform are also
Republicans that have a moderate record on LGBT issues.”
“UAFA absolutely attracts support from lawmakers who have significant gay and lesbian
populations,” Polis told Eleveld.
Some of those lawmakers saw their support front-and-center on the 21st, too. In an historic first
for a national immigration rally, LGBT families were recognized from the podium. Congressman
Mike Honda (D-CA) – who introduced an LGBT-inclusive family unification bill in 2009 – was hailed
as a champion of LGBT immigrants. And the Asian American Justice Center, a well-respected and
influential voice on immigration issues, called on Congress to pass reform that “helps all families,
gay or straight.”
It was a welcome sign to Immigration Equality’s policy director, Julie Kruse, who has been
pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill on behalf of LGBT immigrants and their families.
“Reform Sunday,” it seemed was already paying dividends. Healthcare reform was passed just
hours later, and the stage seemed set for the next piece of reform to move forward, too.
“With healthcare out of the way, now is the time to act!,” Kruse wrote on the Immigration Equality
blog.
“[T]he March For America . . . brought over 200,000 supporters to Washington, DC demanding
comprehensive immigration reform,” she said, urging those who marched in Washington – and
those who marched in spirit – to keep the pressure on for inclusive reform.
And as the marchers left the Mall on the 21st, the LGBT sea of rainbow and red had reason to join
their fellow activists in chanting “Si Se Puede!,” too.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
that “Many of the Republicans who would be likely to support immigration reform are also
Republicans that have a moderate record on LGBT issues.”
“UAFA absolutely attracts support from lawmakers who have significant gay and lesbian
populations,” Polis told Eleveld.
Some of those lawmakers saw their support front-and-center on the 21st, too. In an historic first
for a national immigration rally, LGBT families were recognized from the podium. Congressman
Mike Honda (D-CA) – who introduced an LGBT-inclusive family unification bill in 2009 – was hailed
as a champion of LGBT immigrants. And the Asian American Justice Center, a well-respected and
influential voice on immigration issues, called on Congress to pass reform that “helps all families,
gay or straight.”
It was a welcome sign to Immigration Equality’s policy director, Julie Kruse, who has been
pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill on behalf of LGBT immigrants and their families.
“Reform Sunday,” it seemed was already paying dividends. Healthcare reform was passed just
hours later, and the stage seemed set for the next piece of reform to move forward, too.
“With healthcare out of the way, now is the time to act!,” Kruse wrote on the Immigration Equality
blog.
“[T]he March For America . . . brought over 200,000 supporters to Washington, DC demanding
comprehensive immigration reform,” she said, urging those who marched in Washington – and
those who marched in spirit – to keep the pressure on for inclusive reform.
And as the marchers left the Mall on the 21st, the LGBT sea of rainbow and red had reason to join
their fellow activists in chanting “Si Se Puede!,” too.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
site of the day’s rally, by chanting “Two, four, six, eight; let our families immigrate.” As they
marched along the route from the Memorial to the Mall, fellow protestors joined them,
borrowing rainbow flags, bringing their children to march, and asking “why are you here?”
marched along the route from the Memorial to the Mall, fellow protestors joined them,
borrowing rainbow flags, bringing their children to march, and asking “why are you here?”
| . |