Town of babylon
Long Island New York
Domestic Partnership Registry
Archive for May, 2007
Town of babylon
Saturday, May 19th, 2007Letter to Hilary Clinton
Saturday, May 19th, 2007Hilary Clinton;
I just looked at who was co-sponsoring the Uniting families act and I didn’t see your name listed. I’d like to know why? Also are you going to support this very important bill?
Thank you
Roy
S.1328
Title: A 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.
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 5/8/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Write, write, write we need people to get on board!
Check the status of UAFA
Saturday, May 19th, 2007Check the status of UAFA
Status of UAFA: Check the status of UAFA in both the House (H.R. 2221) and Senate (S. 1328).
To Peter King
Saturday, May 19th, 2007To Congressman Pete King
Sir:
I just looked at who was co sponsoring the uniting families act and I didn’t see your name there.
Why aren’t you on that list?
Thank you
Roy
H.R.2221
Title: 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.
Sponsor: Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] (introduced 5/8/2007) Cosponsors (76)
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
You to schould write your congressman and ask if you are supporing this! let your voice be herd!!!!!
H.R.2221
Thursday, May 17th, 2007H.R.2221 has now a total of 75 co-sponsors up from 72!
The 3 congress members:
Albio Sires (NJ-13)
Ed Pastor (AZ-4)
Nita M. Lowey (NY-18)
…and S.1328 went up from 0 to 3!
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Daniel K. Inouye (HI)
Russel Feingold (WI)
We need many, many more!
We all need your help, please,please,please write you congressman and senators and ask them to support this, no demand that they support this. This is your life we all need everyones help!
Out 4 Immigration
Thursday, May 17th, 2007United by love, Divided by law
If you are in a Bi-national relationship this is a must join group!!!!!!!!!!
Mission Statement
Out4Immigration addresses the widespread discriminatory impact of U.S. immigration laws on the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV+ people and their families through education, outreach, advocacy and the maintenance of a resource and support network.
P.O. Box 14073, San Francisco, CA 94114
415.375.3765
info@out4immigration.org
Cyndi Lauper & HRC in Atlantic City and DC
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007Cyndi Lauper & HRC in Atlantic City and DC
I’m writing with a final reminder that Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour is coming to Atlantic City and the District of Columbia this summer. Tickets are already sold out in New York, so be sure to get yours today.
Cyndi has been a long-time friend to the Human Rights Campaign and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality movement. She’s attended events, performed at dinners and spoken out against discrimination.
And she wants to do more. She’s launched the True Colors Tour to bring gay and straight audiences together in support of GLBT equality. In 16 cities across the country – including Atlantic City and DC – there will be legendary performances by Cyndi, Erasure, Debbie Harry and The Dresden Dolls, with Margaret Cho as the master of ceremonies. And, a treat for the DC event is special guest, Rufus Wainwright, which is very exciting!
This tour has an extraordinary lineup, it also has an extraordinary mission: to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. In fact, HRC will receive a portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold to help us continue our work against discrimination.
These concerts are a true celebration of our community and these will definitely be 16 incredible evenings.
“We schould all have the rights to live with the same dignity,opportunity & safety. It shouldn’t matter what anyone’s sexual orientation is”
To learn more go to Cyndi Lauper & HRC in Atlantic City and DC
Why Anti-War Activists Defend Immigrant Rights and Civil Liberties
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007Why Anti-War Activists Defend Immigrant Rights and Civil Liberties
Under the guise of the “war on terrorism,” the Bush administration is using the tragic events of September 11th to impose the domestic and international agenda of powerful, right-wing forces. While his policies threaten the civil liberties of all, people of color are bearing the brunt of the domestic impact of Bush’s war policies. From secret detentions and deportations of immigrants, to increased racial profiling, to cuts in public services alongside massive increases in military spending, the war is expanding the scope and depth of racial injustice within the US.
Read the full story
http://unitedforpeace.org/article.php?type=74&list=type
Families Behind Bars
Monday, May 14th, 2007February 6, 2007
Families Behind Bars
U.S. immigration policy is putting kids in jail
By Kari Lydersen
Named after the co-founder of the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the T. Don Hutto Correctional Center in Taylor, Texas, opened as a medium-security prison in 1997. Today, the federal government pays CCA, the nation’s largest private prison company, $95 per person per day to house the detainees, who wear jail-type uniforms and live in cells.
But they have not been charged with any crimes. In fact, nearly half of its 400 or so residents are children, including infants and toddlers ( What Kind of Government do we have that puts kids in Jail for nothing?????)
The inmates are immigrants or children of immigrants who are in deportation proceedings. Many of them are in the process of applying for political asylum, refugees from violence-plagued and impoverished countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Somalia and Palestine. (Since there are different procedures for Mexican immigrants, the facility houses no Mexicans.)
“It’s just a concentration camp by another name,” says John Wheat Gibson, a Dallas attorney representing two Palestinian families in the facility.
Read the full story
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3015/families_behind_bars/
The ICE T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility:
maintaining family unity, enforcing immigration laws
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/huttodetentionfac.htm
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is running a jail now for Illegals to hold there families.
‘Real ID’ Act As of May 2008
Sunday, May 13th, 2007You have to watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7pHb7bPfMc
By Anita Ramasastry
FindLaw columnist
Special to CNN.com
Friday, August 12, 2005; Posted: 2:36 p.m. EDT (18:36 GMT)
(FindLaw) — In May 2005, Congress passed the “Real ID” Act, which requires states – starting in May 2008 — to issue federally approved driver’s licenses or identification (ID) cards to those who live and work in the United States.
The Real ID Act’s identity cards will be required if one wants to drive, visit a federal government building, collect Social Security, access a federal government service or use the services of a private entity (such as a bank or an airline) that is required under federal law to verify customer identity.
Read the full story!
King Votes Against Hate Crime Legislation
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007King Votes Against Hate Crime Legislation
Dave Mejias on MassapequaNews.com
After a debate this morning, HR1592: To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes AKA Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 passed the House 237-180.
Peter King decided it was best he vote against it.
What a sad little man.
Time to vote him out!
UAFA Reintroduced in U.S. Congress
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007UAFA Reintroduced in U.S. Congress
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) reintroduced the Uniting American Families Act today into the U.S. Congress. The bill would allow citizens and legal residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partner for immigration purposes.
Tell Congress to pass the UAFA.
“Dividing loving families, simply because they are gay or lesbian, is un-American,” says Immigration Equality Director Rachel B. Tiven. “We call on Congress to end the very real separation that thousands of same-sex couples and their families must endure because of this unequal treatment by our immigration system.”
Give Same-Sex Couples the Same Immigration Rights!
By writing your lawmakers today, you bring us one step closer to equal immigration rights, so citizens can sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration.
No more separation. No more deportation. No more fear.
Make sure Congress gets the message loud and clear: America demands passage of the Uniting American Families Act.
Tell Your story!
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007Immigration Equality is looking for stories from binational same-sex couples around the country and around the world. Your story makes a difference – to members of Congress, to the media, and to other couples fighting for equality. Tell us what you would say to Congress about your family, and why passing the Uniting American Families Act is important to you.
UAFA Debuts in 110th Congress
Monday, May 7th, 2007UAFA Debuts in 110th Congress
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will reintroduce the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. The bill would let gay and lesbian Americans sponsor their partners for immigration benefits, ending the cruel discrimination that keeps loving couples apart.
House Passes Gay Hate Crimes Bill
Thursday, May 3rd, 2007House Passes Gay Hate Crimes Bill
by Paul Johnson 365Gay.com Washington Bureau Chief
(Washington) The House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday afternoon to expand federal hate crimes laws to include gays, lesbians and the transgendered.
The measure received bipartisan support, passing on a 233 – 199 vote.
Called the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act it has passed the Senate in previous congressional sessions only to die in the House.
A Senate version of the bill is currently before the chamber.
This legislation extends existing hate crimes laws that already cover crimes motivated by race, color, national origin and religion to include crimes based on actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity, including gender-related characteristics. The gender identity/characteristics language was added to this bill this year to make clear that anti-transgender crimes are covered.
The bill would allow the Department of Justice to assist local authorities in investigating and prosecuting cases in which violence occurs.
The bill was filed jointly in May by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), John Conyers (D-MI); Christopher Shays (R-CT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) (story)
Passage in the House drew praise from LGBT rights activists.
“Every American child deserves the strongest protections from some of this country’s most horrifying crimes,” said Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered by two men because he was gay, in 1998 in Wyoming. Shepard’s slaying became the impetus for the legislation.
“Never before has the House of Representatives voted to protect transgender people in any way,” said Matt Foreman, Executive Director of the Task Force. “And today marks the first time, outside of procedural motions, that the House has affirmatively voted to extend full hate crimes protections to lesbian, gay and bisexual people. This proves that even in times of adversity for our community, when grassroots voices keep up the pressure on our elected officials, decency can prevail.”
Gay Democrats were equally pleased.
“This legislation will allow the federal government to enhance its law enforcement resources so that it may effectively combat crimes that attempt to terrorize groups of Americans,” said Eric Stern, NSD Executive Director.
Passage of the bill came the same week as the conviction of two men in the slaying of transgendered teen Gwen Araujo. The jury, however, was unable to reach agreement on the sentence for a third defendant in the case. (story)
Last April a report released by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs showed violence against members of the LGBT community is on the rise.
Overall, NCAVP’s report noted a 4% increase in reported incidents of anti-LGBT violence. Such incidents rose from 1,720 in 2003 to 1,792 in 2004.
Included in the rise in incidents for the year, was an 11% increase in anti-LGBT murders, which rose from 18 in 2003 to 20 in 2004. During 2004, the total number of victims rose 4%, from 2,042 in 2003 to 2,131 in 2004.
©365Gay.com 2005
President Bush to veto gay hate crimes bill
Thursday, May 3rd, 2007President Bush to veto gay hate crimes bill
What an animal he is! He really doesn’t like the american people!
When I first heard about the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act – which would provide additional, federal resources to local law enforcement offices investigating hate crimes – I thought, “It’s gay, but how can Bush veto this one?” After all, the article isn’t about religious expression, freedom to carry “God Hates Fags” signs, or anything of that nature. It’s only relevant if someone is the victim of a crime because they are gay.
Today, the White House announced that he will veto the measure. WTF?!
Okay, I get it – Bush is a bigot. But on what planet can legislation come to your desk that would make it easier to prosecute violent people committing hate crimes and you say, “Well, it says ‘gay’ in it…”?
My “favourite” quote on the matter came from Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America (CWA), who frequently speak out against gay rights:
“Perhaps most frightening is the fact that liberal legislators have refused any amendment which would substantively protect religious expression in association with this legislation….”
This man is actually using the religion card to justify crime! Okay, if he hates my “lifestyle choice” then that’s his business, but that doesn’t mean he ought to have the right to assault, rape or kill me in the name of Jesus Christ. He wants that written into the bill? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Hate Makes a Comeback
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007Hate Makes a Comeback
Groups Like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis Target Mexican Immigrants
By JIM AVILA, ELIZABETH TRIBOLET, MARY HARRIS & GINA SUNSERI
ABC News Law & Justice Unit
May 1, 2007
Print The roiling American border debate over immigration has revived one of the ugliest chapters in American history and become a vital recruiting tool for hate groups, experts say.
The number of hate groups — from the Ku Klux Klan to neo-Nazis and skinhead groups — has risen by 40 percent since 2000, from 602 to 844, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks such groups
Mexican-American football star born in Houston. He was beaten nearly to death by two skinheads at a teen party. They poured bleach on him and beat him mercilessly. Ritcheson was in a coma for days, and suffered massive internal injuries, internal bleeding and a shattered cheekbone. He is now deaf in one ear.
Read the full story
Immigration marchers take to U.S. streets
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007Immigration marchers take to U.S. streets
(CNN)
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Demonstrators descended on city centers across the country Tuesday to press Congress to give the estimated 12 million people in the United States illegally, a path to citizenship.
In Chicago, a police spokeswoman estimated the crowd at 20,000 early in the afternoon.
Organizers predicted hundreds of thousands of demonstrators would participate in a 2-mile march to Union Park, where an estimated 400,000 to 700,000 people protested last year.
Organizers of this year’s events are focusing on raids by immigration officials that have separated some of the nation’s illegal immigrants from their children, who are U.S. citizens if born in the United States. (Watch one man’s plea for a chance )
One of them could be Elvira Arellano –a Mexican in the United States illegally with her 8-year-old son Saul, a U.S. citizen.
Read the full story
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Thelma Gutierrez and Allan Chernoff contributed to this report.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/01/immigration.protests/index.html