While We Wait for Others to Decide Our Lives.....

So we while we wait for the political games to play out, thousands of bi-national same sex couples are living banished from the United States or separate from their beloved, or in a totally different country (not native to either) or illegally together in the USA.

We would like to see some sort of positive action.  We are waiting....and waiting.....and waiting...How long would you wait for someone to give you the rights which should already be  yours?

Just Not Feeling "It" Lately

It has been quite awhile since I last wrote something for this blog.  I think it is because I am a tad bit discouraged.  While it is true that a lot of steps have been made in the right direction for marriage equality, very little has been done to help with same sex bi-national couples.

The last two months I have seen two couples who I personally know have to separate.  The whole thing is so indescribable and painful.  Having to say good bye to your spouse, the person that you desire to spend the rest of your life with is literally "bring you to your knees" painful.

While people in Washington D.C. are busy worrying about how decisions they make will advance their political career the two ladies pictured had to say good bye to each other just this week.  While Congress ignores immigration reform, lives are being torn apart and children are growing up without their Mothers.

One of the most heartbreaking things is that some of my friends who are bi-national same sex couples do not even know when they will see each other again.  These are people who are legally married (at least in six states) but, because of the so called Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA, they cannot sponsor their spouses for immigration.  DOMA is tearing apart families.

I cannot understand how people think that by allowing bi-national same sex couples to be able to sponsor their spouse or permanent partner, that it would do anything other than enhance our society.

I have heard all and I do mean all of the arguments for this evil, horrible, offensive and hateful law, and none of them make any sense to me.  Traditional family, traditional marriage, child bearing, abomination, nuclear family, natural order, etc... what does any of that have to do with allowing people who are in love to be together.

Everyone has different traditions.  People often say, let's make our own traditions.  Traditions change over the years.  Very few, if any, traditions are EXACTLY the same as what they were started out to be.

We are not going to stop people from having children.  Saying that a couple must be able to have children the "traditional way" to be married is a bit presumptuous.  Anyone with a brain in their head would not even use this as an argument because of elderly couples, infertile couples, and cancer survivor couples (not to mention same sex couples).

An abomination before God.  When did the USA get so concerned over abominations before God.  This is not even to mention that no where in the Bible does God condemn a monogamous and loving same sex relationship.  Back to my point of when did Congress and folks in the USA get so concerned over abominations.  Lying is an abomination, I haven't seen anyone put that up on a billboard.  As a matter of fact, in Proverbs 16:16-19, the Bible mentions seven things that are an abomination to God:

16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

If they are going to go by what they think the Bible says Congress had better work together because "one that spreads strife among the brothers" is pretty much a definition of the GOP today.

Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you love?  Have you ever had to say goodbye not knowing when you would see them again?  Have you ever had to do that when it wasn't necessary except for a discriminatory law?  I have had to do this.  Thousands of couples have had to do this.

What can you do to help end this discrimination?  You can send a simple e-mail (click here) to your elected members of Congress asking them to co-sponsor the Respect for Marriage Act (Click on it to read it).  As important, or maybe for bi-national couples more important is the Uniting American Families Act.  

I personally tweet the House Judiciary Committee (they hold UAFA and Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act in their hands) at least once a week.  Please do whatever you can, but please do something.

For more information:

Stop the Deportations: The DOMA Project

Torn Apart:  United by Love, Divided by Law

Out4Immigration Blog

Immigration Equality Organization


One final thought.....I took this from a friend's Facebook page.  Although it may be simple for some, it is what most bi-national couples long for, dream about and hope...on a daily basis...just to be.....

Once Again, DOMA Declared Unconstitutional

From Lambada Legal

"This ruling, the first to come after the Justice Department announced it would no longer defend this discriminatory statute in court, spells doom for DOMA."

Read Judge White's order HERE.

With all of the positive progress States are making on Marriage Equality, The Defense of Marriage Act being declared unconstitutional once again is great news.  

The question that is on all bi-national Same Sex couples minds is this:  What does this mean for us?  Right now, it means nothing.  As soon as we hear from Lavi Soloway or Out 4 Immigration, I will update this page.

To make things crystal clear, I believe our best bet is to get the Uniting American Families Act passed.  We need to be actively contacting our Congress officials and asking them to pass the UAFA.

Today, 2/22/12,  The Ballot Book reports the following:  

Advocates, Officials gather in LA to discuss immigration reform

 KPCC: Congress members, advocates, officials gather in LA to discuss immigration reform

Congress members, immigration advocates and officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services all met Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles. The group has gathered to support President Barack Obama’s recent attempts at immigration reform.

Again, make your voice heard and contact your Congress Members and let them know that we need the Uniting American Families Act passed.  We are a small group, we need to band together and speak up for our families. 

California, Washington State, and Marriage Equality

 California and Proposition 8

Prop 8 is overturned again.  A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that limited marriage in California to one man and one woman, violated the equal protection rights of gays and lesbians. Now, a forthcoming appeal could pave the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year.

 A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to uphold Walker's decision. "Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California," the court said. The Constitution "requires that there be at least a legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people differently. There was no such reason that Proposition 8 could have been enacted."

Currently, this means nothing for same sex couples as they still cannot start getting married.  The proponents of Prop 8 will have a chance to appeal. If and when the appeal is filed, which it inevitably will be, gay marriage will be kept on hold "pending future proceedings." From everything I have read, experts believe that the proponents of Prop 8 will bypass the full Ninth District Court and will try to take the issue directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.   The Supreme Court has the option to take up the case or not.

Rachael Maddow interviews conservative Republican Lawyer for Marriage Equality, Ted Olson

Washington State Legislature Passes Marriage Equality

Washington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed.


 

I, along with hundreds of thousands of Lesbians and Gays listened to the testimony given.  On a personal note I would like to say the following:  I am sick to death of the "Christian" religious right saying how that God feels that the act of homosexuality is a sin and an abomination.  Such things spewed forth from the lips of conservatives like I was in Baptist Sunday School.  We heard things like how much "in anguish" they were about this decision.  We heard the ever tiresome, yet erroneous, "traditional marriage" argument again and again.  We heard the flawed "marriage is for pro-creation" argument.  Let us not forget the new argument that Representative Hargrove gave:   Gays shouldn't get married because of a Super Bowl Ad.

The argument that is beyond me, however, is when they say that the gay and lesbian couples already have the same rights.  In the state in which I live, I can still be fired just for being a lesbian.  My wife and I traveled to Iowa to get married.  My marriage is not recognized in my state of residency.  I cannot sponsor my wife for a green card.  So when they say that we have equal rights, they are as mistaken as when they say that the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin.

 Right now, none of this really helps bi-national same sex couples at all.   Immigration is a federal issue and all of this really fabulous great news is only happening at the state level.  We can only hope that some of the court cases being brought against the mistakenly called Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA come up before the United States Supreme Court.

For up to date information:

Prop 8 Trial Tracker

Immigration Equality 


Uniting American Families Act/Torn Apart

In the meantime, continue to contact your Congressmen/Women on a weekly basis regarding sponsoring the Uniting American Families Act.

Contact your Representatives via Pop Vox

Contact your Senator via Pop Vox

As bi-national same sex couples, we are the minority of a minority.  We must all work together to get our Representatives and Senators to take notice of the Uniting American Families Act.  

Only a Fool Would Take Such A Strong Stand Without Research

Only a fool would take such a strong stand against Same Sex Marriage without researching the subject completely.  Why?  Because so much is at stake for an entire group of people. Thousands of people, of Americans are being discriminated against without good reason...but some think they are doing what is right without having done the research or the work.  This is irresponsible.

Quick facts about what the Bible says about it:

1. There are only six verses in the Bible that mention a "man lying with a man".  

2.  In the verses where it is called an "abomination", it is clear that the Bible is speaking of the rites/practices of idol worship.  

3.  The Church used to marry same sex couples

Further research I have done regarding said subject can be found on The Bible Says Homosexuality.

So the United States Congress would discriminate against an entire group of people based on hearsay.  I urge all of Congress to do research and read from both sides of the arguement.

Just because the church says something doesn't make it right.

*The Church said the Earth is Flat

*The Church said that the Earth was the center of the Universe

*The Church tortured and killed those who didn't agree with them

*The Church started wars in the name of God 

The Founding Fathers believed that no one should push/impress their beliefs upon anyone else.  That is why they believed in the separation of Church and State and religious freedoms.

Repeal the discriminatory so called "Defense of Marriage Act".  Pass the Respect for Marriage Act.  Pass the Uniting American Families Act.  It is the right thing to do.

"Do Right Until the Stars Fall"  -Dr. Bob Jones

This is the right thing to do.  Give all Americans EQUAL rights.

GOP Immigration Reform Ideas

@Song1964legislation mandatingthat illegals don't get jobs or benefits blocked by Dem Senate & Obama. No jobs or benefits=illegals leave

— Dana Rohrabacher (@DanaRohrabacher) January 14, 2012

Representative Lamar Smith from Texas, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has not allowed any Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill to come up for a vote in the committee.  As a matter of fact, The Orange County Register reports that the GOP called the president's action another move to grant “backdoor amnesty to” people who are in the country illegally. 

Over and over again the GOP has mentioned that any sort of Comprehensive Immigration Reform like the "Dream Act" is nothing but granting illegals amnesty.  The GOP current leader for the President of the United States nomination has taken the position, that all undocumented immigrants should be deported.  As a matter of fact, his stance is so strong and negative that the GOP is doing damage control on Twitter by starting the @GOPLatino outreach.  I believe that it is too little....and I hope it is too late.  Again, I hope that this crumb that these GOP Leaders are throwing to the Latinos .... won't dupe them into voting for these prejudiced bigots.

We need the DREAM Act with the Uniting American Families Act to pass.  It is amazing to me that we are told that we have to wait our turn, stand in line.  Whereas there might be a line for some of these people, the wait is 10 to 20 YEARS (this is no exaggeration).  For most bi-national same sex couples, there is not a line to get into.  There is NO LINE for us.  When I have mentioned this to some of our Honorable Elected Officials, I have been told (by those bothering to answer me) that we are not normal "nuclear family"

We need the Uniting American Families Act passed. We need DOMA repealed. We need to be treated like we are EQUAL.....because we are. While the Government ponders why our LGBT youth are dying from bullying and suicide, it is no mystery to me. They are taking their cue from our government who fights against giving us Equal rights, fights for religious rights to persecute the LGBT youth, who try to get bills like the Tennessee "Don't Say Gay" bill passed. It is because of this United States Government sanctioned hate, that our LGBT youth are dying. I urge all of us to vote! Vote for our best hope in getting the Uniting American Families Act passed.... Vote for our best chance of getting DOMA repealed. In my conservative life, I have never voted Democrat (Yes, I voted for McCain in '08), I am voting for Barak Obama in 2012. It is our best chance for EQUALITY.

Elections and Bi-national Couples

Well, it looks like, unless there is some huge shake up in the GOP, President Obama will be running against anti-immigration man, Mitt Romney. In statements over and over again he states that he is against amnesty, yet he does not offer any sort of Comprehensive Immigration Reform ideas.  As far as any answers for bi-national same sex couples... well, that subject, that specific question has yet to be asked of any GOP delegate.

Bay Windows - New England's Largest GLBT Newspaper published "The Romney Files" to show his stance on LGBT issues.  

It looks like our strongest hope is to get President Obama re-elected.  My fear is that because of Obama playing politics, he has offended many of the LGBT community and that will divide our vote.  A man, for whom I have great respect, Lt. Dan Choi said that he would not support President Obama.

 Think Progress LGBT reports the following:

“I think if Obama doesn’t endorse my full marriage equality and my person hood in this country, then I have no business supporting him and I don’t think a lot of the people who are first time votes will either,” Choi said at a panel called ‘What To Do When The President Is Just Not That Into You.’

Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson got this response from Choi, “Sometimes love comes in harsh forms. I love my detractors enough to let them know when they are misguided and I only regret that we are both suffering under a second-class citizenship imposed by politicians who smile pleasantly while denying our fight for justice. The harshest treatment would be our acquiescence to the view that we do not deserve equality.”

 While I understand Choi's opinion and I respect his stance, to vote for an independent delegate would only allow Mitt Romney to be able to defeat President Obama.  It would not allow the independent delegate to win.  I feel that a second term for Obama is what we need to get equal marriage rights and equal immigration rights.  The Lieutenant has time on his side.  We as bi-national couples do not.  We are apart from our spouses, we live in exile, we live under the wire, looking over our shoulders.  With Obama not having the need to win a third term or kiss up to people for votes,  I believe that he will work to get rid of DOMA and help get the Uniting American Families Act passed.

Regardless who wins the GOP nomination, we cannot divide our vote to let these anti-gay (which all GOP's have professed to be) people take office.

 No one is more aware of the President's instructions to ICE to use discretion when deporting the undocumented than bi-national same sex couples, but he has not told them to stop.  He has not told them to give us an avenue to sponsor our spouses for immigration.  He has not made it legal for us to be able to be with our life partners.

We have a lot of work to do in 2012.  I, as a conservative, will be voting Democrat for the first time in my life.  I urge you to do the same.  We need DOMA gone, we need the Uniting American Families Act passed and we need to be able to be with our spouses/partners/sweethearts (whatever term you prefer).  We need legal recognition.  We need to be equal citizens of these United States of America.

When a Kiss is Not Just a Kiss

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta won a raffle on the dock landing ship Oak Hill to be the first to kiss a loved one on its return to port in Virginia Beach. Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell was waiting when she crossed the brow. Story  http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/first-lesbian-couple-get-first-kiss-navy-homecoming

Congratulations to these young ladies.  While many folks may not understand the hoopla and the fanfare around all of this and the importance of this kiss, same sex couples everywhere hail this as a historical kiss.  

Bi-national same sex couples look upon this as it being sweet, sweet indeed.  However, there is a sense of jealousy and longing.  While these two get to hold each other and kiss for all to see, we hide in civil disobedience, talk on Skype, live in exile.  We wait for our country to give us equal (not special) rights.  

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made the historical speech to the UN about LGBT rights are human rights and human rights are LGBT rights.  We would like for that to extend to the United States of America.  We would like our human rights.  See Clinton's historical speech:

 

We would like to be able to kiss our loved one in public without fear.  We would like to be able to kiss our spouse without the worry that they will have to leave again soon.  We would like to kiss our sweetheart on American soil as they are granted legal status.

We are American Citizens who are in love with someone who is not an American Citizen.  We cannot sponsor them because we are of the same sex.  We are asking for the right to be allowed to be with our spouses.

While we are encouraged by this kiss, I look forward to the day when bi-national couples can "kiss in the sunlight and say to the sky...behold and believe what you see.  Behold how my lover loves me."

The Holidays for Bi-National Same Sex Couples

As the holidays draw close, most people's thoughts turn to spending time with their loved ones, Christmas shopping and presents, large meals and family time.  For the 40,000 plus bi-national same sex couples, (estimated from the 2010 US Census)  the holidays often take on a different meaning:  Lonely separation. 

My lovely friend in Colorado will celebrate Christmas with her wife via Skype.  Her wife is British and lives in the UK.  In spite of her wife's extensive education, there is no "line" at the immigration office for this bi-national couple to get into.

VIDEO made by the US Citizen 

     

Follow Up Story:  Heartbreak for Lesbian Binational Couple: What's Changed in a Year

My very dear friend lives in California, her wife, her legal wife (married in Canada and in California) will be in England due to the United States immigration discriminatory laws. These two ladies pose no threat to anyone, as a matter of fact, the Californian is a Military Veteran.  In spite of serving her country, her country refuses to acknowledge her marriage to her lovely wife from the United Kingdom.  They, too, will spend Christmas apart....touching their computer screens instead of holding each other.

Their Story:  Part 1         Their Story:  Part 2

 I have a friend on twitter who is struggling on telling her son (age 2) and daughter (age 6), that their "other" Mom's visa may not be renewed.  Another family separated by the so called Defense of Marriage Act and immigration discrimination.  Will they be able to watch their children open their presents....together as a family?

  Things that heterosexuals take for granted, spending holiday's with the family, watching the kids open presents, sitting around the dinner table, are things that bi-national same sex couples pray to be a reality soon.  

For a bi-national couple living exiled in New Zealand, you would think that life is perfect for them, after all, they are together legally.    Here is the two of them singing together a song that the Hoosier wrote for her New Zealand wife.  The Hoosier longs to "sit on the porch and have a beer with her dad in Indiana"     

Say You Will

These are just a few of my bi-national friends.  I could go on and on about friends living in exile in Canada and two other couples moving to Canada before the end of the winter season, but I won't.  I won't tell you of a lovely New York couple.....as one of them is from New York the other from Italy... they struggle with issues that heterosexual couples would never even think about.  If they marry, will that cause problems with Homeland Security?  Will the New Yorker's lovely wife be "red flagged" by Homeland Security because of their marriage...even though it is legal in New York?

Think about us, think about the bi-national couples as you celebrate the holidays with your loved ones.  As you hug your sweetheart, know that others are just touching a computer screen.  As you snuggle with your children, know that bi-national couples are scared and worrying that their children will be torn from their non-US citizen parent.


There are some that live in the United States illegally, in civil disobedience, seeing this as the only option to be together.  Exile is not an option for some of these couples.  Moving to their partner's country is not an option in some of these cases.

Author, Judy Rickard, in a bi-national relationship herself, has written a book called

Torn Apart: United by Love Divided by Law

A repeal of DOMA needs to take place.  The passing of the Uniting American Families Act, needs to take place.  We are human beings.  We have families.  We have fallen in love with a person who is not a US Citizen.  We need to be allowed to be with our spouses...we need to be allowed to pursue our happiness.

Other Resources:
Out4Immigration
Stop the Deportations:  The DOMA Project
Immigration Equality
Lavi Soloway:  Attorney

In Touch With The American Voters

What do the majority of United States Citizens think about Marriage Equality?

LOS ANGELES | Fri May 20, 2011 10:26pm EDT
 

(Reuters) - Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, a Gallup poll showed on Friday, a marked reversal from just a year ago when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.


 

Poll: More Americans favor same-sex marriage

Posted by

CNN Political Unit

(CNN) – Support for same-sex marriage has received a boost, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research survey released Tuesday.

The poll indicates that more than half of all Americans believe that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should be legally valid. With 51 percent of respondents saying that same-sex marriages should be legal, it is the first time that a CNN poll has found majority support for same-sex marriage.
Full results (pdf) 

Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise

November 03, 2011 

|By David Lauter,
Washington Bureau

Public acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace, with approval jumping by nine percentage points in the past two years and the nation now evenly divided on the issue, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.
The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46% of Americans surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44% are opposed. The survey among 2,410 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

***********************************************************

In listening to the arguments that Republicans put forth regarding the Respect for Marriage Act (at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing),  I was amazed at how little they cared about getting any new arguments.  As a matter of fact, most of the eight "nays" ... their NO votes were given by proxy.  They don't really care enough about the Lesbian and Gay community to even show up at the vote.  

Senator Grassley from Iowa of course puts up the inevitable tired argument "traditional  one man one woman marriage".  He is gently, affectionately and respectfully debunked by Senator Al Franken:  “We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.

After thirteen years of Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible School/College education, I did a lot of research. 
My findings:  The Bible Says - Homosexuality
 
I found a theologian who graduated from Harvard and the conservative Bob Jones University who wrote a book on reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex relationships called The Children Are Free.

Just because a person is straight, that doesn't mean that they have morals or family values.  Just because a person is a lesbian or gay, doesn't mean that they have no morals or family values.  This is yet another ancient argument that is proven wrong every day by decent, family oriented and loving same sex couples.

One of the most insulting arguements that was presented at the Judiciary Committee Respect for Marriage Act hearing was the following:

Senator Cornyn:
 
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would actually result in an expansion of federal benefits and spending at a time when we know that federal spending is way out of control and our entitlement programs are unsustainable,"

"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act would actually increase the cost of Social Security that is already insolvent, more money is going out than coming in."

"No one, no one has paid into the Social Security system expecting benefits to be paid to same sex partners."

This man, this elected Senator actually believes that because a person is a lesbian or because they are gay, that they do not deserve to get federal benefits even though they have paid into it all of their lives. Um Senator, I am a lesbian and I believe that I and my family have the right to federal benefits.  I have been and still do pay in to Social Security expecting that I and/or my family will benefit from it.


Senator Grassley mentioned religion.  They should read their Bibles:

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version (NIV)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
2. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18

It deeply saddens, distresses and appalls me that our elected officials readily admit that they do not feel that gay and lesbian people are deserving of equal rights.  We are Americans.  We are citizens of the United States of America.  We are people.  We are not low life, scum sucking, free loading people looking for a hand out.  We are productive citizens of the greatest country in the world.  We should be treated with the same respect as our straight counterparts.  "...with Liberty and Justice for ALL"

Traditions are for Families.

"I believe in traditional marriage being between one man and one woman...."  --Eric Cantor speaking at the University of Michigan 

Traditions are for holidays.  Traditions are for memories.  Traditions are made for memories.  Marriage is a tradition I hope to have between my wife and I.  (Yes I am a lesbian)  We make our own traditions.  Traditions are not laws.  Traditions should not be made to be a law.  "This is the way we have always done it" is not the reason for a law.
Just because something is a tradition, doesn't mean it is always right.

                           Slavery
                           Women Voting
                           Black People's Rights
                           Interracial Marriage
                           Wigs on Men in Congress
                           Public Hanging
                           Public Flogging
                           Branding People With Letters (The Scarlet Letter)
                           A Sin Against God Being a Crime (adultery)

All of these were eventually changed.  If you think that God is against homosexuality, that didn't even make God's top ten list.  Sins that did make God's top 10:
                           Lying
                           Adultry
                           Stealing
                          

Remember that there is supposed to be separation of Church and State....not when it is convenient for the Church, but all the time. 

Traditions are for families.  Let my family have mine.  We need to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.  We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act.  We need to allow all Americans to begin to make their own family traditions!

The Uniting American Families Act

While I can provide people with the legal terms of The Uniting American Families Act, what I want to say about it is this:  We are torn apart from those with whom we have fallen in love.  We are separated from our wives and children.  We are living in exile in different countries so we can be with our partners only to be apart from our families.   ....  We are Americans being told that we do not deserve the same rights as other Americans.  We are Americans being told that because someone doesn't like the way that we live, they can tell us how to live.  We are Americans being told that we are not important enough.  We are Americans being discriminated against because of whom we love. 

The bottom line being that we are Americans being told that we are not important enough, that we are too different, that we are nothing...not worth having the same rights as our heterosexual counterparts.

Because so many people have bought into this, because people think that they are much better than the gay and lesbian people (they say so each time they say that a vote for them is a vote for morals), because they think they have God on their side (although they have not picked up a Bible in years), they are against us.

The LGBT youth have been committing suicide at appalling rates and have the support to do this by our right wing government, clergy, and adults.  "Christians" have seem to have forgotten that Jesus said the first two commandments are love the Lord God and to love your neighborhood as yourself.

We want to be able to sponsor our spouses for immigration, please!

Now here is the Legal Stuff:

From Wikipedia

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA, H.R. 1537, S. 821) is a U.S. 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. Section 18 of the bill would be amended to include permanent partnerships as an illegal way to evade any provision of the immigration law and allow for the individual to be imprisoned for no more than five years, fined for up to $250,000 or both. Also, if the partnership ends within two years the sponsored partner’s legal immigrant status would come under review.

UAFA was most recently introduced during the 112th Congress, to the United States House of Representatives on April 14, 2011, by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).

Redefining Christianity - Are Christians today "Christ-like"

Acts 11:26

"...and the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch"

From Wikipedia

The Greek word Χριστιανός (christianos)—meaning "follower of Christ"—comes from Χριστός (christos)—meaning "anointed one" —with an adjectival ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership.

So Christians are "Christ like". What is it about the Saviour that Christians should be like. Well, all of His life.

1. Christ was very learned about the Scriptures. The Gospel of Luke contains the following story.

Luke 2:46-49

46 And it came to pass , that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions .

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold , thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing .

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Do Christians today know the Scriptures? Do they memorize the Scriptures? This is part of being a Christian; being Christlike.

2. Christ preformed miracles

3. Christ cast out demons

Both numbers two and three require power from God. In our day, power from the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) Do Christians today have the power of God to cast out demons and preform miracles?

4. Christ only got angry with Satan and the ruling Religious body of the time.

The reason He was angry with the ruling religious right of the time is because they were judgmental and self-righteous.

5. Jesus preferred to hang out with "publicans and sinners". That was a big criticism from the religious right.

6. Jesus was merciful and good.

7. Jesus forgave

In my opinion, and according to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Religious Right of today; the Christians; have taken the path of the Pharisees instead of the path of Christ.

"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?" - Penn Jillette

What did Jesus say were the two greatest commandments?

Matthew 22:37-40

New International Version (NIV)

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I am asking for those who think that the gay agenda is to redefine marriage, are you redefining Christianity?

I don't want to re-define anything, I just want the right and the freedom to be married to the love of my life and the ability to sponsor my wife for immigration to the United States of America.

Be a Biblical Christian about it.

The Sin of Promoting ‘Traditional Marriage’

Why do so many people misunderstand the Bible and the verses regarding homosexuality and same sex relationships?

Well, quite frankly, people don't have a vested interest in proving what centuries of people have said to be true...to prove them wrong. It wasn't until gay and lesbian theologians and their friends were able to step out of the closet and practice as open and affirming people, that these passages were looked into more deeply and with much greater interest. Thanks to efforts of these people we have a better understanding of the precise meaning of these passages. The good news of the Bible is still for all because none of these passages condemn a loving same sex relationship.

Faith in America

We also know that gay and lesbian couples uphold those same characteristics for their unions. Why would they not? Why would a parent of a gay son or daughter not want their child to enjoy the happiness derived from a lifelong devotion to those characteristics? Why would a brother or sister with a gay sibling not want their brother or sister to enjoy the happiness derived from a lifelong devotion to those characteristics?

Why would a person of faith not want the gay or lesbian individual to enjoy the happiness derived from the pursuit of marriage sanctity?

Why would we as Americans not want our government and its laws to recognize that same marriage sanctity for gay and lesbian individuals in their pursuit of liberty and happiness?

There can be only one reason and that is because many of us have been conditioned by years of misguided church teaching to look upon gay and lesbian individuals as morally inferior, unworthy and therefore undeserving of that which which we uphold as good and sanctified in our lives.

The use of the term “traditional marriage” embeds in our minds and hearts a moral and religious stamp of disapproval on gay and lesbian individuals and that brings immense harm to their lives, their happiness and their well-being.

Faith In America therefore believes the use of the term “traditional marriage” is without question morally unacceptable and equally sinful in the religious context.

The Uniting American Families Act

S.821

H.R.1537

The Uniting American Families Act would allow immigration equality to the bi-national same sex couples.

What if you couldn't live under the same roof as your spouse? What if your wife and child were forced away from you by the United States of America's immigration system? Just like when the Nazi's would take whomever they wanted from a family...and you had no say, our United States Immigration laws are literally ripping apart same sex families. What if you could not get a Congress member to care enough about these couples to even bring up the bill for a vote? What if you were forced apart? What if your child grew up without knowing you? What if your government was responsible for ripping apart your family with total disregard for your life, love, and United States citizenship?

Thousands of United States Citizens are being told that there life is no more valuable than a slave.

I have asked Congress members to pass the Uniting American Families Act. Some of the answers I have received:

1. Move out of the United States

2. Marry someone of the opposite sex

3. Wait in line for immigration (there is no line for the bi-national same sex couple)

4. It will never happen

5. Extended families will hurt the economy. (My wife is an extended family member?)

I believe that these people are really telling me is that their political party says NO and therefore they say NO. It is unfortunate that Lamar Smith, a known immigrant hater, is the chair of the Judiciary Committee. He refuses to address any immigration issue unless it is against human beings.

I am a human being. I am a United States Citizen. I desire to live in the United States of American legally with my wife. The United States of America is saying I can't. No one has given a valid reason as to why this is so. The United States has said that they will not condone other countries who commit crimes of cruelty against the Lesbian and Gay community, yet they are guilty of these cruel crimes against us.

Please sign and get the Uniting American Families Act or The Comprehensive Immigration Act brought up to your Congress people. Please help us make a difference.

We The People Petition for the United American Families Act

ADDENDUM:

It appears that I am not the only one to draw this conclusion and the comparison of this discrimination being similar to the Nazis. This video of a North Carolina Law maker. He draws exactly the same parallels...

It's Not Like DOMA is Hurting Anyone

REALLY???

Quote from a bi-national couple:

"The agony of enforced separation gets harder every time. Didn't think it could get any more painful but it does. Our hearts are broken once again by DOMA."

Quote from a Lesbian:

"Love is not a crime People should not have to hide their feelings or pretend to be someone they aren’t just to conform to societies views of normal. Love Definition: Noun: An intense feeling of deep affection. Verb: Feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone) It shouldn’t matter if that someone is black or white, a woman or man, gay or straight. Love is a beautiful thing.

Quote by a bi-national couple:

"It is not possible to kiss while crying? It is if you are a bi-national same sex couple."

Quote by a binational couple:

"The only reason they can separate me from my husband, is because of DOMA".

Quote from a binational couple:

"Living our lives from visit to visit. We have been legally married for five years and have never lived more than three months in a row under the same roof together. DOMA keeps us apart. Until the laws of our land accept us with equal treatment, this is our life. 3 months in California, 3 months in the UK. It’s hard. It’s challenging. But it’s more than we’ve ever had before."

Quote from a binational couple:

I have no regrets at all. (of being in a binational relationship) She is the best thing that's ever happened, she is the reason why I get up every morning and strive to be a better person. She is the reason why I won't stop fighting and trying to find ways to put this family back together. I hate that I have a kid that's growing up with a part time parent, I hate that my wife doesn't have me there supporting her with our girl when she's hitting such a difficult age. Imagine being 10 years old and already having an understanding of gay rights, immigration and proposals like the UAFA. Don't get me wrong I think that it's great for kids to be politically aware, but this isn't the way in which they should learn.

Quote from a binational couple:

Please pass the Uniting American Families Act, we have suffered so much already."

Quote from binational couple:

HOW on earth does that adversely affect our society? It’s been months since I last saw my partner. I have cleaned out my savings, having to use it for travel and phone bills. This imposed separation is harmful physically, mentally, emotionally, fiscally and familialy. No one would be harmed by granting people equal (not special) rights to sponsor their partners in fact we would all become healthier and more productive members of society instead of legislative outcasts. Pushed to abandon the country we call home, when our partners are willing to give up their lives and homes to start new here. Please realize that these are REAL people, and they are being HARMED by this situation. I am being harmed by this situation. Please put yourself in our situation and think how it would feel that some stranger has the power to change your world for good or ill.

Still think DOMA is not hurting anyone? Think again. Tonight when you lie down next to your spouse, know that there are those of us who because of USA law cannot. When you hug your children, know that because of DOMA hundreds of kids will not feel their Mom or Dad's hug. Because of DOMA people have to sing their children to sleep via SKYPE.

It is hurting someone. It is hurting US citizens who have fallen in love with someone who is not an American Citizen.

Now I have heard all the reasons to keep DOMA and not pass the Uniting American Families Act, but they all are based on a thological thoughts...and the thoughts that because I am in love with someone who is of my same sex, I am non deserving of the right to be married in my country. I have had members of Congress tell me the following:

1. Move out of the USA

2. Your family is not a nuclear family

3. Marriage is between one man and one woman

All of these reasons...make no sense to my heart....to the people I have quoted.... it makes no sense to them either. We don't want to rip apart your fundamental beliefs, but we do want to be able to be with our love. Your fundamental beliefs should be that "all are created equal...". They should be that ALL Americans deserve EQUAL treatment under the law. After all....isn't that the principles that our forefathers founded this country?

Gay - Not In Indiana (part two)

I took my eight year old son to the doctor today for his allergy shot. He asked me to come back while he got his injection.

The nurse asked me, "what is your relationship to him."

I answered, "His mother..."

Then realizing that my wife brings him to get his shots most of the time I corrected myself and said, "I am his other mother..."

The nurse looked at me and said, "are you his Aunt, a friend or what..."

I said, "I am his other mother. He has two mothers."

Still not getting it she said, "But what is your relationship to the boy..."

I replied, "I am his mother. We have joint custody. ...."

Finally, maybe a light bulb came on or because I am the insurance carrier or what ever, she gave him his shots.

This should not be hard for someone to understand as the State of Indiana does have Second Parent Adoption

 

The Evansville Courier Press reports the following.

Some of the comments made by our elected officials are so ignorant and absolutely clueless (and that is the kindest I can be) that it is amazing that they had the ability to be elected at all.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House of Representatives voted Tuesday evening to amend a ban of gay marriages and civil unions into the state’s constitution. The House approved the ban on a bipartisan 70-26 vote, starting the clock on a long process that – if there are no hitches along the way – could lead to voters having the final say in a November 2014 referendum. The vote took place after a debate that, at less than 30 minutes, was much shorter than contentious issues often command in the House. “The basic unit of society is the family, and the cornerstone of the family is marriage. Marriage is, and should be, the union of one man and one woman,” said the gay marriage ban’s author, Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion. Rep. Mary Ann Sullivan, D-Indianapolis, called the ban “a blow that hurts thousands across this great state, and taints our constitution with the language of hate,” and said she has friends and neighbors who are “deeply, deeply hurt by this legislation.” Since the vote was originally scheduled for Monday, Sullivan said she had written her comments in the form of a valentine. She said passing such a ban “removes talented people from classrooms and business, weakens the arts, our culture and progress, makes all of our cities less vibrant and diverse – the kinds of conditions that make economies worse.” But Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville, said the ban would have no effect on Hoosiers’ ability to live with and love whomever they choose. “That loving friendship is a different relationship than a husband and wife, and we should recognize that in the law,” he said. Same-sex marriage is already prohibited under Indiana law, but Turner said a constitutional amendment is necessary to keep the state’s courts from overturning that law. The amendment says: “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

 

One of the comments made by Mr. Turner was that it is not like this is really hurting anyone. I would have loved for him to look at the uncomfortable face of my son as I tried to explain over and over again that he has two mothers. He said, "Why couldn't she understand." I asked how he felt having two moms, he says, "I feel loved, but that was uncomfortable..."

The laws that discriminate are indeed hurting people. It hurts my wife and I (we were married in Iowa...although it means nothing in Indiana). We have no rights as a married couple. It hurts my children by the discrimination that exists, approved and promoted by the Indiana government. This is not right. Our laws need to be changed to include everyone. Come on Indiana.