Aug 31, 2007News: Civil Rights Groups Form Immigratition Forum
By Danny Sonnenschein
(USA) - An large congregation of people listened to Congressman Jerrold Nadler (Democrats) speaking at a forum co-hosted by Immigration Equality and Human Rights Campaign last night. The Congressman joined panelists from Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, the Asian American Justice Center, and Gay Men's Health Crisis to talk about immigration issues important to the LGBT and HIV-positive communities. More than 200 people gathered in an auditorium at New York's LGBT Community Center to discuss the Uniting American Families Act. The pending federal legislation would grant Gays and Lesbians in the US the right to sponsor their foreign-national partners for residency permission.
"The Uniting American Families Act will pass because it is the right thing to do. We are laying the groundwork for passage of the Act. And I am confident we will succeed," Congressman Nadler said. Nadler, the lead House sponsor of the bill, projected steadily growing support for the UAFA, citing the 84 current co-sponsors in the House.
"Last night's forum was a great success," stated Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director of Immigration Equality. "The LGBT community sent a clear message through their enthusiasm and turnout that immigration is one of its top priorities."
Cristina Finch of HRC said, "Congressman Nadler has been at the forefront in the battle against immigration discrimination. His leadership on the Uniting American Families Act is a much needed show of political courage, which this country deserves in order to reform our broken immigration system."
In addition to UAFA, the panelists discussed the HIV immigration ban, the future of comprehensive immigration reform and what it means for the LGBT community, and the recent death in immigration detention of Victoria Arellano, a transgender woman who was denied her HIV medication.
"We are very happy to be part of this forum and discuss the implications of immigration reform with the LGBT community," stated Eric M. Gutierrez, Legislative Staff Attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Immigration is a subject that affects the entire country, and we need to work together to ensure that the needs of the LGBT community are addressed in any immigration reform initiative."
The HIV ban and its negative impact on Gay people and the immigrant community as a whole was discussed at length. "Since 1987, the HIV entry ban has imperiled every HIV-positive immigrant and traveler to the United States," said Nancy Ordover, Assistant Director, Research and Federal Affairs at Gay Men's Health Crisis. "It is indefensible-born of fear and ignorance and discrimination. Twenty years is long enough."
"Immigrant advocacy groups and LGBT organizations have many overlapping concerns. It is time for the gay community to engage immigration as a gay issue, since gay issues are global in scope," said George Wu, attorney in the Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program of the Asian American Justice Center. "This forum is an important step towards fostering collaboration and unity between LGBT and immigrant communities everywhere."
Immigration Equality is an US organization that works to end discrimination in U.S. immigration law, to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of LGBT and HIV-positive people, and to help obtain asylum for those persecuted in their home country based on their sexual orientation, Transgender identity or HIV-status.
The Human Rights Campaign is a LGBT political US organization. It lobbies politicians and provides campaign support.
