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.

A Vote For Values & Morals

I have seen hundreds of polls, articles, and opinions stating that people need to vote against Marriage Equality because it is the moral thing to do. Vote to defend Marriage. I am over it.

First of all, I am a lesbian. Secondly, I have morals and Thirdly, I am for Marriage, I want mine to be legal in all 50 states and recognized federally.

It is appalling to me that people think that just because I am for same sex relationships, I don't have any morals or family values. Nothing can be further from the truth. I have never ever cheated on my wife and`we have two sons together who are outstanding, good boys.

People can pick out examples of immoral behaviors, even criminal behaviors of non-heterosexual people and hold those up and say this is how they behave. However,the same can be done of heterosexuals. Heterosexuals are immoral, without values. Most serial killers are heterosexual males. How many heterosexual State and Federal Congress folks have cheated on their spouses?

They cheer because of executions because God says an "eye for an eye" and "whosoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed"

They boo a gay military man, serving in Iraq because God says ......  Well, God doesn't condemn homosexuality, but they think He does

They say that a man who is over $100,000 behind on child support is pro-family because he is anti abortion. 

To quote Jesus "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone..."

So when someone says "vote to protect Marriage". I say yes, vote to protect Marriage....my marriage to my wife is just as important to protect as (for example) my nephew's marriage to his wife.
When someone says we need to vote to protect morals, I say vote to protect morals...make adultery or divorce illegal.

When someone says that we need to protect our children. There is nothing I agree with more than that. Let's make penalties for child abuse harsher so that people will think twice about hurting children.

A vote for family values and morals is a vote to allow lesbian and gay folks to have equal marriage rights. Believe that!

Why, in the United States of America, why do we still have to fight for equal rights for all?  If I have heard this once, I have heard it a million times:  "I may not agree with what he says, but I will fight for the right for him to say it.  Isn't this the same thing?  I want to live with my wife, have my relationship recognized and honored as equal to heterosexual marriages.  I want our children to be able to have the benefits that other children are afforded.  I don't want my family to have a stigma on it because we are lesbians.  I live in the United States of America... shouldn't I have that right?


Let's get the Respect for Marriage Act passed (repeal the so called Defense of Marriage Act) and the Uniting American Families Act passed to give all Americans full equal rights. It is good, it is moral, it is the right thing to do!

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.

Repeal DOMA /Separation of Church and State

What are the reasons to keep the Defense of Marriage (DOMA) on the books? Wait, the reasons that do not break the rule of separation of Church and State are the ones in which we are interested.

1. Traditional Marriage - Marriage has always been defined as between a man and a woman.

There are records from the 1st century church indicating that the church did indeed marry same sex couples.

In an article written by Father James Duffy, he writes and has evidence that same sex marriages took place throughout history.

Read the whole article in the The Gay Christian

As churches struggle with the issue of homosexuality, a long tradition of same sex marriage indicates that the Christian attitude toward same sex unions may not always have been as "straight" as is now suggested. A Kiev art museum contains a curious icon from St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. Sinai. It shows two robed Christian saints. Between them is a traditional Roman pronubus (best man) overseeing what in a standard Roman icon would be the wedding of a husband and wife. In the icon, Christ is the pronubus. Only one thing is unusual. The husband and wife are in fact two men.

The following research by Yale Law School Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository

A History of Same Sex Marriage

William N. Eskridge Jr.

Yale Law School

Makes the following observation regarding the problems with the "Traditional Marriage" (has always been between a man and a woman) arguement:

The early Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies that are considered important antecedents for Western culture apparently not only tolerated same-sex relationships, but also recognized such relationships in their culture, literature, and mythology. Evidence of same-sex marriage is at best indirect in these ancient societies, however. One finds slightly stronger and more direct evidence of same-sex marriages in Greek and early Roman culture, in imperial Rome, and in Western Europe for much of the Christian Middle Ages.

Read the entire research article here.

2.

As far as I know, there is no #2.

Traditional marriage is their only argument that does not break the Church's rule of "Separation of Church and State". Although, it has been proven that today's marriage is not necessarily all that traditional; it is good, right, and admirable to break with traditions when they are oppressive to a people.

An example of a tradition that was good and right when changed is slavery. Another example is women voting.

As Americans we pride ourselves in equality, yet, a whole group of people are being told that they do not deserve any rights. They are being told that they are second class citizens.

The Daily Kos has a wonderful article on Why was DOMA enacted?

They enacted DOMA specifically to confer a higher status on heterosexual people, so that more children would grow up to realize they should be heterosexual. This has of course led to higher incidents of suicide and depression among gay people, and outright rejection in some cases even by a gay person's friends or family, all to reach the ends of "promoting heterosexuality."

This is one of the biggest reasons it's time to repeal DOMA: sexual orientation is understood as a real distinction by law and by psychologists. Back when, for example, the military's gay ban was implemented, the idea was to stop a perceived aberrant sexual behavior. Society and science's views on homosexuality have changed - it's no longer a behavior but an orientation. It can't be changed and so-called "conversion therapy" has been rejected by scientists and psychologists. It made no sense to keep the gay ban going.

And it makes no sense to keep DOMA. Simply put, the goal of promoting heterosexuality is not served by laws like DADT or DOMA. The government can't promote heterosexuality even if it wanted to. At this point, it's only creating a second-class status for a group of people it can't change.

It is time to get this discriminatory law REPEALED!

How Many Times Does "DOMA" Need To Be Declared Unconstitutional?

Obama, Holder Call 1996 Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional

Defense of Marriage Act called unconstitutional by bankruptcy judge

Christian Attorney says, "DOMA is Unconstitutional"

Wikipedia Defense of Marriage Act

Federal Judge Rules Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional. Will It Stick?

Google Search: Defense of Marriage Act Declared Unconstitutional

The Speaker of the House, Mr. John Boehner is using funds that are ill gotten without permission (this has been swept under the rug) to try to defend DOMA.

The Huffington Post Reports

DOMA Defense: Lawmakers Puzzled Where House GOP Is Getting The Money To Pay Paul Clement

The Christian Post, while defending Boehner, still wonders from where the money is coming..

Boehner Hires Lawyer to Defend DOMA, Demands DOJ Pick Up the Tab

Above the Law Also reports:

Paul Clement and King & Spalding Defend DOMA — at a Discount

In addition to all of this mind blowing hypocrisy, those defending the so called Defense of Marriage Act, are refusing to have the trial video taped. Many people are asking "why?"

Lambda Legal Decries DOMA Defenders' Refusal to Allow Taping of Court Hearing

"It is outrageous that the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives wants to shroud in secrecy their use of tax dollars to try to defend discrimination."

If they really think their cause is just, shouldn't it be brought to light. Shouldn't they be screaming it from the roof tops...oh wait that is right...the majority of Americans support same sex marriage

Gallup Poll Reports

It would seem that so much is going on in favor of same sex couples, yet, we have no Federal recognition. Most of the States deny any sort of recognition and many of them seek to write this horrible discrimination into their own Constitutions. When will people realize that the separation of Church and State is supposed to go on always, NOT JUST WHEN IT BENEFITS THE CHURCH.

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...