Uniting American Families Act

May 16, 2010

What is happening in Arizona both with the passing of the unjust state immigration law and the signature of a bill aimed at ending Ethnic Studies in Tucson schools is simply unconscionable.

These laws are about leaving people behind. They pit worker against worker, student against student and neighbor against neighbor.

Leaving people behind is not something that the San Francisco LGBT Community Center stands for. We stand for unity not division.

Most frighteningly SB 1070, the Immigration Law, divides families. The LGBT community knows all too well what it means when families are denied legal status. The families of LGBT immigrants – just like my family and other non-immigrant families – need legal protection.

That is why the Center recently directed a letter to the California State Assembly (CSA) in support of AJR 15 that puts California on record in support of the federal Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). UAFA would remove legal barriers to immigration by permanent same-sex couples in any future Comprehensive Immigration Reform Policy.

Today I ask you to stand with me and the Center in full solidarity with the people and families of Arizona.

Here’s what you can do to safeguard the rights of all members of our community, regardless of their national origin or immigration status:

Support our partners Out 4 Immigration and Immigration Equality to take further action. The Center is championing social justice and celebrating diversity every day. You can get involved with these and many other activities:

I hope to see you at the Center soon!

Rebecca Rolfe

Executive Director

San Francisco LGBT Community Center

Immigration Reform Framework -Inclusion of Permanent Partners Angers Hispanic Groups (lezgetreal.com)
Out4Immigration Relentless in Pursuit of UAFA Updates (pinkbananaworld.com)
Bi-Nationals & LGBTQI Allies Sign Petition for Special Visa Category- (lezgetreal.com)
BREAKING: Out 4 Immigration Spearheads New All Inclusive Plan for UAFA (lezgetreal.com)

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One comment

Melanie Nathan / May 16, 2010

Arizona ? Example number 1:- I am a white US citizen – I was born in a foreign Country. My work sends me to Arizona for a conference. I have a profoundly different accent. I walk into a store to purchase chewing gum. I ask the store clerk whether or not they have sugarless gum. Standing next to me is a police officer. Under the new law, the police officer is compelled to turn to me and ask me for proof of citizenship. I only have a California Driver’s license. I have no proof of my US citizenship. I have never had to carry my passport when traveling interstate in my country of citizenship. He takes me to the precinct for further questioning. If he does not then he is not doing his job, because my accent is all he needs for reasonable suspicion. The police cannot release me because there is no proof. A driver’s license does not prove citizenship. I cannot call home to have my passport sent to me because my spouse is abroad for a month during summer vacation. The Police decide to keep me overnight – they have to because there are so many people in the local jail waiting processing under the new law, that they cannot get to me to help contact the Feds to see if I am in fact legal!

Example number 2:- All facts are exactly the same. In this case, it is my co-worker Maria Gonzalez. However she did not have to open her mouth she was about to walk into the store for her pack of gum and her Latina complexion compelled the officer to ask her questions.

Arizona republicans, in their misguided venture or perhaps overt racism have no idea how this has detrimentally impacted their State or for those who do not subscribe to a pure white only isolated State: read more… http://lezgetreal.com/?p=32025