Articles tagged with: Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Light the Way to Justice: Tuesday, March 26 in Anchorage
United for marriage: Light the way to justice. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26–27, in two cases about freedom to marry. Please join us on Tuesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Anchorage (7th & C) in a circle united for equality.
Sara’s News, 10/30/12: Obama v. Romney on marriage equality & 3rd Circuit DOMA decision
When it comes to marriage equality, it’s no contest between Obama and Romney; a landmark decision on DOMA by the Third Circuit; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska, with additional info from Bent Alaska.
Sara’s News, 6/10/12: More blows to marriage discrimination
Prop 8 headed to SCOTUS, yet another federal court rules against DOMA, and Washington State will vote on marriage equality this fall; Marriott has special deals for Pride; politicians & their gay kids; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska (with supplemental info from Bent Alaska).
Sara’s News, 6/5/12: Federal appeals court finds DOMA unconstitutional
Federal appeals court rules DOMA unconstitutional; lesbian councilwoman may become NYC’s next mayor; gay students graduating openly at military academies; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska (with supplemental info from Bent Alaska).
Bent News, 2012-05-30: Another judge rules against DOMA; SPLC on NOM’s antigay lies
Another federal judge rules against DOMA; Southern Poverty Law Center reports on NOM’s antigay lies; suicide risks for black gay youth; transgender rights in Manitoba; British TV series features transgender main character; an antigay attack in Minnesota ; and other news of the week from @bentalaska.
Sara’s News Roundup 2/27/12: Another federal ruling against DOMA
The prospects for marriage equality in Alaska, another decision against DOMA in the federal courts, same-sex marriage in Kenya, and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
Focus on the Family leader’s antigay testimony demolished at DOMA repeal hearing
In a Senate committee hearing on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Senators Al Franken and Patrick Leahy demolished testimony by Tom Minnery of the antigay organization Focus on the Family. Tom Minnery is a cousin to Alaska Family Council’s Jim Minnery.
Obama declares Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
Yesterday President Obama released a proclamation for LGBT Pride Month which detailed his achievements toward LGBT equality since he took office in January 2009, and the work yet to be done. Notably absent: any mention of marriage equality, repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), or even same-sex civil unions.
UAFA reintroduced, bi-national couples sought
Two equality bills were reintroduced in Congress today: Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA sheds light on workers fired for being gay or trans, and UAFA raises awareness of bi-national couples torn apart by the ban on same sex marriage. (A repeal of DOMA was introduced earlier this session.)
Bi-national couples have one partner who is an American or a legal permanent resident, and the other partner is from another country. Several bi-national same sex couples were in the news lately when a partner was about to be deported, sometimes to a home country where they may be targeted for being gay. Because of DOMA, Americans cannot sponsor same sex spouses for citizenship.
Tom works with Immigration Equality, an organization fighting to end discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans and legal permanent residents in our nation’s immigration laws. He is working on building support for UAFA from Alaska’s members of Congress, and looking for more bi-national LGBT couples to share their stories.
When UAFA was introduced last year, Tom (working on the same issue but for a different group) explained the importance of UAFA to Bent Alaska and asked us to contact Senators Begich and Murkowski. Recently, Tom wrote to us again, about his current project sharing our stories for UAFA:
“Dear Friends,
Judy and Karin are spending their retirement traveling among 4 countries – missing family birthdays, hospital visits, and weddings – so that they can be together.Although Edward started a business in the United States and cares for his ailing partner, he could be deported at a moment’s notice because John, an American citizen, can’t sponsor him for residency.
Jaylynn and Shirley have been together for over two decades, and are raising twin boys – but even as an American citizen, Jaylynn worries every day that her wife will be sent back to the Phillipines.
Do you have a story like these, or know someone who does? We are working with Immigration Equality to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their foreign born partners for residency in the United States – and we need your help.
Stories like yours, and those you’ve just read, are the most powerful weapons our community has – whether we are fighting for marriage equality, non-discrimination laws, or immigration rights. Your story makes a difference to members of Congress, to the media, and to other couples fighting for equality. Please take a moment to visit Immigration Equality’s website and submit your story.
If you would like to find out other ways that you can help pass Uniting American Families Act, please contact Tom Tierney of Immigration Equality, at ttierney@immigrationequality.org
Thank you for all you do for equality.”
UAFA finished the last Congress with 162 co-sponsors in the House and Senate. That was a record, and they want to set another record this year. Neither of our senators is a co-sponsor of UAFA.
Please call Senator Begich and Senator Murkowski at the Capitol switchboard: (202) 225-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) this year.
When a saint backslides….
When former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer announced he might run for President in 2012, Caleb was encouraged and intrigued. But that didn’t last long — especially after reading what Roemer had to say about marriage equality and DOMA.
