Democrats Excluded Gays From Immigration Reform Bill

[FreeState]

http://www.progressivepuppy.com/the_progressive_puppy/2009/12/new-immigration-bill-shafts-gays.html

Im beyond disgusted at this point.

Gays Excluded From Immigration Reform Bill
Once again the Democratic Party demonstrates that although it is eager to accept votes and campaign contributions from the LGBT community, centrist Democrats (including the president) remain reluctant to enact legislation that might actually benefit gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons.

American citizens with same-sex partners seeking visas are the latest victims of lawmakers willing to use equality as a bargaining chip. A new immigration bill ensures that these foreign-born loved ones are not allowed to qualify for visas while their straight counterparts - who are currently living in the United States illegally - will qualify. Granted, this might not be the most pressing LGBT rights issue before Congress. However, it is immensely important to those whose relationships are affected by the measure.

Jennifer Bendery from Roll Call: House proponents of comprehensive immigration reform unveiled an ambitious proposal last week with much fanfare, but lost in the buzz was that their bill isn’t entirely comprehensive. They intentionally left out protections for gay and lesbian immigrants. Sam Worley writes on Windy City Times: Chief among these was an allowance for LGBT people to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration - which would, at least in this regard, put gay couples legally on par with heterosexual married couples. Back to Bendery: "All the evangelists, Catholics and churches that are part of this were whacking out" over the gay and lesbian provisions, said a Democratic lawmaker familiar with negotiations on the bill. The lawmaker said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who has led the House effort on comprehensive immigration reform, initially "didn’t want to deal with it. At all." ...Gutierrez denied that he wanted to keep gay and lesbian language out of his bill. "That’s just not true," he said, pointing to his long-standing record of supporting the gay community... Suggesting that progress is already under way in uniting the two communities, Gutierrez pointed out that most Congressional Hispanic Caucus members are co-sponsors of legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, a top priority for the gay community.

Yeah, like repealing DOMA is going to happen anytime soon. David Dayan writes on Firedoglake: Earlier this month, Nancy Pelosi signaled that, after her chamber of Congress passed virtually the entire Democratic agenda in the first half of the 111th Congress, she’d wait for the Senate to take the lead before passing anything else of note. So how has the Senate responded? By begging the White House to let them stop passing anything of note.

[FLAprogressive]

1. just wait closer to November 2010. then you will be promised your pony.

[Tailormyst]

4. The closer it gets to 2010 the more we will be told to hush

So we don't "cost the dems elections" and then they will promise us that after the election THEN we can work on equality issues.

Wash rinse repeat. I will say that I no longer fall for this and nor do I believe the Democratic Leaders EVER plan to make equality a priority. I believe they see it the way the Republican Leaders see things... just another social wedge issue to garner votes with. They never really want to FIX these issues they talk about in elections, because then they could not use them to rally the troops and the troops might stop and look behind the proverbial curtain and see them for what they really are.

[racaulk]

6. Exactly right.

We will be told to be quiet about equal rights for gays and lesbians in 2010, just as we were in 2006. We can't mess up the Dems chances to control Congress, dontchaknow.

Prepare for there to be a chorus of apologists here at DU saying the same. 2010 will be a repeat of 2006 here. Bank on it.

[FreeState]

7. Whats really disappointing is there is no reason to leave GLBT out of the bill

Public support of immigration for partners is high - so there should be no fear of backlash - but then again real progressives of principal would not care about backlash on Civil Rights.

[tbyg52]

17. Same as the other chances they've had but passed up, or worse. nt

[Jamastiene]

25. Many GLBT people will not be around by then.

Pretty soon, there will be no GLBT people left for them to tell to STFU. I wonder who they'll blame for losses then...

[Mari333]

2. knr

knr a thousand times.

[Deep13]

3. "All the evangelists, Catholics and churches that are part of this were whacking out"

In what way are they part of this? I was under the impression that this was a matter for I.N.S. Let them "wack out."

[FreeState]

20. Here is what I dont get

if you ask them why they want to break committed families up - what would they say? Why is it no one in the main stream is willing to ask these bigots the simplest questions?

Equity CA is knocking on doors asking supporters of Prop 8 similar questions - any you know what? They have found a full 20% change their position on marriage equality when they are asked honest hard hitting questions.

[racaulk]

5. I am absolutely shocked and surprised by this!

Not.

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

8. The GayTM has been closed.

[FreeState]

18. This put the nail in the coffers for a long time for me

I will give to local races only now and they must strongly and vocally support GLBT Civil Rights or they wont get my support at all. Enough is enough.

[Bluebear]

19. indeed

[jonnyblitz]

9. K & R. this admin and it's apologists sicken me. nt

[FLAprogressive]

10. I'm surprised the "allies" haven't chimed in.

[Nikki Stone1]

12. Allies?

?

[FLAprogressive]

13. The people who claim to be allies but then defend Obama/Congress when they pull stinkers like this

[tbyg52]

14. OK, here's one!

:hi:

Nah, I guess I don't count, because I'm not defending Obama/Congress for *anything* at the moment. Not for some time, actually....

[bigwillq]

11. K and R

:mad: :(

[Toasterlad]

15. Any Gay Person Who Donates Time or Money To the Democratic Party Is a Self-Loathing Asshole.

They are just as much our enemies as the Republicans are.

[tbyg52]

16. Anybody who gives a hoot about civil rights, as well. nt

[donheld]

21. I just sent Diana Degette an email asking Why

No we won't send them money if this is how they're going to play it.

[FreeState]

22. If you get an answer please post it :) n/t

[donheld]

27. Will do. So far nothing

[TheKentuckian]

23. I don't even get the pure politics "why" on this

Gay immigration hasn't crossed my mind and I can't imagine its a hot button issue for people at all. Not in all my 37 years have I heard a soul bitching about "dem damn gay immigrants" or any such thing and I've heard about everything. Hell, I saw "kill all niggers" written on a bus stop downtown just yesterday. I hear and se all kinds of crap but literally not a peep on anything close to this.

Just fucking sad.

[Betty Karlson]

24. Can we, at this point, assume

that Gay and Lesbian Democrats are little to no better than Log Cabin Republicans?

Just asking, to broaden the conversation.

[piratefish08]

26. Obama has chosen to leave LGBT issues alone. Congress is following his lead.