Human Rights Campaign and Immigration Equality are reporting that Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will be re-introducing the Uniting American Families Act into the 111th Congress> Nadler intends to bring it to the House on February 13th. Let's focus on the symbolism of its proximity to Valentine's Day, and not so much that it's Friday the 13th, OK?
The legislation extends the right to GBLT citizens to petition for legal immigration on behalf of their non-citizen partner; AKA, a step toward "full equality."
Immigration Equality has issued an action alert to lobby your representatives on behalf of this legislation. How to after the fold:
Suggestions from Immigration Equality:
- Find out who your U.S. House Representative is. Go to www.congressmerge.com, enter your address, and you will be provided the name of your U.S. Representative.
- Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative.
- Tell your representative’s staff:
I am calling to ask Representative ______________ to be an original cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act of 2009. To cosponsor, he/she must contact Rep. Jerrold Nadler who is the lead sponsor.
The U.S. government discriminates against gay and lesbian binational couples by not allowing us to sponsor our foreign-born life partners for immigration. Because of this, we face the terrible choice of separating from the person we love or leaving our country. As Americans, we should not have to choose between family and country. Please ask Rep. _______________ to cosponsor the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 by reaching out to Rep. Nadler before February 11.
And though Obama never signed on to it during his time in the Senate, he can make up for it now by being a fierce advocate for it. You betcha!