(Another) Non-UAFA Tidbit of Hope!

Someone’s been working hard for us. Apparently, lots of folks. I don’t have to remind you that nearly every day now we hear news of another legislative body or governor or court advancing equal protection under the law for all, including us.

But this tidbit comes in the form of an email from Immigration Equality, possibly the largest national organization devoted specifically to LGBT immigration issues. Apparently a bill called the Reuniting Families Act is going to be introduced into Congress this year. It has been introduced in the past, but this is the first time it will include binational couples, and it will basically do the same thing that UAFA is seeking to do: ensure that any American in a binational committed relationship can sponsor his or her non-U.S.-citizen partner for permanent residence in the United States.

Since the bill has yet to be introduced in this Congress (the 111th), there’s no bill number to refer you to, however the main cosponsors are Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA-15) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). As of this writing, the article is not yet on the Immigration Equality site, but here is the content, from the email sent to registered members of Immigration Equality:

UAFA Gaining Momentum — Help Us Keep Moving

In an incredible development in Congress, gay and lesbian binational couples will be included for the first time in a broader immigration bill — in fact, a bill that addresses all immigrant families. This is a terrific sign that champions of immigration reform mean it when they say they want our families included in comprehensive immigration reform.

As a loyal supporter of Immigration Equality, we are giving you this information first, so you can weigh in with the legislation’s chief sponsors in Congress and let them know why it’s so important that our families be included, too.  Then, once the bill is introduced, we can work with Congressional leaders to educate the public — through the media, public education campaigns and more — about how immigration reform can help lesbian and gay binational couples as well.

The Reuniting Families Act, introduced last year by Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA-15) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), recognizes that the immigration system is broken for many families and needs to be fixed. The bill provides an array of fixes, including eliminating backlogs for family applications, providing redress for widows and orphans, and more.  Both Senator Menendez and Congressman Honda will reintroduce the Reuniting Families Act this year.

In a powerful show of support to gay and lesbian binational couples and families, Congressman Mike Honda has agreed to include the essential component of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) — the right of lesbians and gays to sponsor our partners for immigration — in the Reuniting Families Act when he reintroduces it this year.

Please call Mike Honda’s office at 202-225-2631 to thank him for including YOUR family — and UAFA — in the Reuniting Families Act! He needs to know that his support is greatly appreciated.

Senator Menendez, a close friend of the LGBT community, is introducing the Reuniting Families Act in the Senate.

Please call Senator Robert Menendez’s office at 202-224-4744 to urge him to include YOUR family — and UAFA — in the Reuniting Families Act, as Congressman Honda has committed to doing. He needs to know that this is important to your family.

Being included in broader immigration bills like the Reuniting Families Act provides a crucial foundation for ensuring that our families will be included in comprehensive immigration reform, which the White House, the House speaker, and the Senate majority leader have all committed to moving forward. Congressman Honda’s support is an enormous step toward achieving equality for our families. We cannot afford to be left behind.

Please call now!

For more information, please contact Immigration Equality.