LGBT Immigration Bill Reintroduced to a More Receptive Congress

[varun]

Hope this bill passes this year...

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid73016.asp

Rep. Jerrold Nadler reintroduced in the House Thursday the Uniting American Families Act, which would amend current immigration law to allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners for permanent residency on the same basis that straight citizens can sponsor spouses.

“The idea behind the bill is that it is wanton cruelty, gratuitous cruelty, to keep people who love each other apart,” Representative Nadler said on a press call with reporters. The legislation would stipulate that the word “spouse” be replaced by the term “permanent partner” wherever it appears in the Immigration and Nationality Act. No same-sex partner, whether they are legally married or not, can currently apply for expedited residency.

Representative Nadler, a New York Democrat, has introduced a version of the bill every legislative session since 2000; last session it had 119 cosponsors, falling 100 votes shy of the 219 it needs to pass in the House.

But Representative Nadler noted the bill has a fresh new start with the Democratically controlled Congress and a president who supports immigration rights for gay and lesbian couples. “For the first time we are going to make a really serious attempt to pass this,” he said, adding that although they are starting out with 74 cosponsors, he anticipates “far surpassing” that number within just a couple weeks...

[bluedawg12]

1. Good for Nadler. I hope the bill passes

and congress steps up.