For U.S. immigration, 'partnered' doesn't count

[Kang Lang 7]

For U.S. Immigration "partnered doesn't count

thoughts? this type of discussion came up in class for me on monday night.

[Danno 1,228]

Don't you worry, Obama is going to "fix" this too.

With the long "to-do list" below, it might not be first but it shan't be long.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

[alienlovechild 75]

"This is good news, since we now have a little more time for the legal process to work," said Tan's attorney, Phyllis Beech. "If this was not a same-sex couple, the spouse of an American citizen would be able to immigrate fairly quickly and fairly easily. Instead, they're being discriminated against because they are lesbians."

Is that right? Obviously the lawyer has no clue about the immigration process.

For Tan, 43, the whole affair is a shock. After meeting Mercado in the United States in 1986, she returned from the Philippines on a visitor's visa in 1989 to be with her lover.

In 1995, she applied for political asylum, saying she feared for her life in her home country. She had been shot nearly two decades earlier by a relative in a dispute over an inheritance.

I took Uncle Sam 20 years to deport her and claims for asylum are usually about whether the person faces persecution by her government. Does that mean every American victim of crime can apply for asylum overseas, too?

Federal officials can look past immigration violations when heterosexual couples have children, Beech said.

"Even on an overstay (like Tan's), Congress has always taken the position that maintaining the family unit is so important that a noncitizen spouse can be legalized virtually without penalty," she added.

Hope we have a kid soon so we can ignore the immigration process as well.

"The landscape is changing with a president who supports the idea of immigration change and more progressives in both chambers," he said.

Especially if it means Obama's aunt can ignore deportation orders. It pays to have friends in high places.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

For U.S. Immigration "partnered doesn't count

thoughts? this type of discussion came up in class for me on monday night.

Sad, but true. US Immigration does not recognize same-sex partnerships as spouses; hence not eligible to apply for family immigration. Do I like it? Hell no. I think it is wrong and sad. But then again, that does not give folks the right to break the law like the unfortunate couple in the article did

[justashooter 430]

australia will take them. gay couple immigration is good to go there.

[almaty 19]

alright, where is boo yah at ?

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

australia will take them. gay couple immigration is good to go there.

brings new meaning to "down under"

[almaty 19]

lol..and going down....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I thought Australia was, "One man, one sheep."

[justashooter 430]

I thought Australia was, "One man, one sheep."

depends on the price of wool. some of those fellers are up for a "sheep-sharing".

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

I thought Australia was, "One man, one sheep."

and "now this is a knife!"

[Kang Lang 7]

overcoming the failure to abide by the law is a terrible issue and i don't condone that but i also believe that gays can also create a family unit and should have the opportunity to marry etc. i figure it's not MY place to judge the right/wrong or moral question is for the person to deal with when they meet whomever greets them in the "afterlife"

[Chica Yeyé 41]

overcoming the failure to abide by the law is a terrible issue and i don't condone that but i also believe that gays can also create a family unit and should have the opportunity to marry etc. i figure it's not MY place to judge the right/wrong or moral question is for the person to deal with when they meet whomever greets them in the "afterlife"

Agreed.

IF there is an afterlife. A very very huge IF.

[Kang Lang 7]

i'm with you on the "afterlife" if business. just trying to be sensitive to the beliefs of others and not sway anyone from the issue by stating what my beliefs might be

[alienlovechild 75]

i figure it's not MY place to judge the right/wrong or moral question is for the person to deal with when they meet whomever greets them in the "afterlife"

WWSD?