Victory!
Election Shows Immigrant Political Clout, Brings New UAFA Champions to Power
........................
Americans made history this month by putting the son of an immigrant, the son of a binational couple, in the White House.
In a great demonstration of the power of the immigrant vote, Obama’s victory was sealed by four battleground states – Nevada, Florida, Colorado, and New Mexico – whose outcome was dependent on the Latino vote going strongly for Obama.
The results in Congress were no less outstanding for the LGBT and immigrant communities.
Foes of immigration rights such as Elizabeth Dole and Marilyn Musgrove lost their seats in surprise upsets. New candidates who ran on anti-immigrant platforms lost.
The Congressional leadership which watches election trends closely will now realize that pro-immigrant positions win elections.
We’ve gained a critical new champion: Jared Polis, the first member of Congress to win his seat running as an openly gay man, told Immigration Equality he will push for passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Jared replaced one of our House UAFA cosponsors – Mark Udall – who moved to the Senate, boosting the bill’s support there.
Since November 4, Xavier Becerra, another strong UAFA supporter, has entered the House Democratic Leadership, winning its #2 position of caucus vice chairman.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus elected as its co-chair Raul Grijalva – a strong UAFA champion, an expert on reaching out to Latinos about LGBT rights, and vice-chair of the LGBT caucus. In addition, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus selected Nydia Velazquez, a rock-solid supporter of LGBT rights, as their new chair.
Immigration Equality will go all out to work with these new leaders to move UAFA forward in the new Congress and Administration.
|
______________
|
_____________
Your support makes equality possible
Thank you |
|
|
Greetings,
This month’s election left us with a new Congress and administration, and a real chance for progress. We have already begun the work to put equal immigration rights on the next administration’s agenda and lay the foundation for equality. Read our election wrap-up in the sidebar and find out how you can shape the Obama agenda below.
After Election Day, many of you chose to reaffirm your commitment to our fight by contributing $10 and asking three friends to do the same; thank you. If you have not contributed yet please take a moment make this very important commitment.
Here are few more updates from the past month:
- Our national movement now has a fulltime presence in our nation’s capitol. Read more about our new D.C. office below.
- Last Thursday, we observed Transgender Day of Remembrance and reaffirmed our commitment to win asylum for transgender people escaping persecution in other countries. More below.
- Milbank, one of our pro bono partners, won asylum for a gay man from Russia. Read his story below.
I look forward to the great work ahead of us. Together we will win.
Yours in Solidarity,
Rachel B. Tiven, Esq.
Executive Director
|
|
Washington, DC Office Opens
This month’s opening of our Washington DC office marks a vital step in expanding our reach to create fair immigration laws for LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants and the Americans who love them.
"I am so thrilled and honored to represent Immigration Equality in our nation's capitol,” said Julie Kruse, our Policy Director based in Washington, DC. “We are now well-positioned to better access Members of Congress, build new partnership, and raise our profile. Immigration Equality is now a fixture in DC and that is a major accomplishment for our movement. We should all be proud.”
Julie is the only member of our staff currently working out of the new office, so appointments are suggested before visiting. If you are interested in interning or volunteering in the DC office, please contact us.
The Washington, DC office is located on Sheridan Circle at 1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 703, Washington, DC 20005.
|
|
A Commitment to the Trans Community
Last Thursday our community observed Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor those we have lost -- including Victoria Arellano, a transgender HIV-positive woman who died in detention -- and reflect on the horrific violence that continues to target transgender individuals.
Immigration Equality observed the day by committing to continue our work representing asylum-seekers and detainees. Every day Immigration Equality hears horrific tales of police violence, sexual assault, and familial death threats against gender non-conforming people.
The work we do on behalf of transgender immigrants literally saves lives. It also allows transgender people to begin their lives anew in the U.S. with some degree of safety, though we still have a long way to go here, too.
|
|
Asylum for a Gay Man from Russia
Pro bono attorneys at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP won asylum for 22-year-old “Nikolay,” a gay man who feared abuse and mistreatment in Russia.
From an early age, Nikolay was harassed because he was perceived as effeminate. As he got older, classmates regularly attacked him because they assumed that he was gay. In the summer of 2005, Nikolay and two gay friends were arrested by police, specifically targeted because they were seen as too effeminate.
Shortly thereafter, Nikolay fled to New York through a study-abroad program. After a fellow Russian student outed him to his friends and family, Nikolay knew he could never return home. Nikolay was also terrified of being forced into his pending mandatory military service in the Russian army, as recruits are notorious for attacking and even murdering gay soldiers.
In July 2008, Nikolay found Immigration Equality, and we placed his case with pro bono attorneys at Milbank. According to lead attorney Sofia Khan, Nikolay “had already been harassed, beaten and arrested in Russia because he was gay. When I met him, he just wanted to live a free and happy life with his boyfriend . . . It was such a great feeling to be able to help [him] start his life here in the United States, not having to hide who he is and live in fear.”
Immigration Equality is thankful to Sofia and all of the Milbank staff who worked on Nikolay’s case. Thanks to their efforts, Nikolay no longer has to live in fear of abuse.
Help make asylum possible for more LGBT and HIV-positive people by making a donation today.
|
|
Your Chance to Shape Obama’s Agenda
We now have a president-elect who wants committed lesbian and gay couples to have all of the 1000+ benefits provided to opposite-sex married couples. We will work hard with this Administration to bring one of those benefits to fruition – the right to sponsor a same-sex partner for immigration.
We need your help to make passage of UAFA an Administration priority. Please go to www.change.gov and urge President-elect Obama to support the right of Americans to sponsor their same-sex permanent partners for immigration.
President-elect Obama has said he wants to hear your policy priorities.
The new administration faces many challenges and difficult choices. The Obama administration will only address immigration discrimination if they hear that this is an urgent issue with popular support. Go to www.change.gov and submit your comments now.
|
| Immigration Equality is a national organization that works to end discrimination in U.S. immigration law, to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender 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. |
|
|
