The National Council of La Raza Passes Resolution Supporting Marriage Equality

Source: NCLR/Social Science Research Solutions

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), one of the oldest Latino civil rights organizations, has passed a resolution supporting marriage equality for the LGBT community. Various polls show that Latinos are on the whole supportive of marriage equality. The NCLR has huge importance with a variety of Latino organizations.

This is a very big deal. The Latino community has been characterized as homophobic – with many LGBT Latinos afraid of coming out. As one committee member, Catherine Pino said, ““This means that Gay and Lesbian Latino youth will understand without any doubt that they are embraced by thier community, this will literally save lives.”

Read the full article from MarioWire here.

Religious Leaders Pose Arguments in Favor Of Gay Marriage

I posted earlier about Christians apologizing to the LGBT community for the Church’s homophobia and anti gay bigotry. This afternoon I found an article from the Huffington Post that links to 9 essays by Religious leaders that offer spiritual and religious discussions on the importance of marriage for everyone.

Find all the links here.

Immigration Appeals Board Decision Offers Hope for Binational Gay Couples

The Immigration Board of Appeals recently refused to to affirm the previous denial of green cards to four same sex, binational couples. Under current immigration law, legally married heterosexual couples can apply for a green card for the foreign spouse. Not so with gay couples. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), legally married same sex couples have no federal recognition, and therefore green card applications are always denied. Until now.

The Board’s has ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “to determine whether the marriages are legally valid and whether, notwithstanding DOMA Section 3, the spouse would qualify for a green card under the Immigration & Nationality Act,” for four same sex couples. This is the first time the Board has taken such action.

As half of such a couple – I welcome the news! One step closer to some assurance of us being able to stay in this country – equality seems to be closer each day!

Read the entire article from The Advocate here.

A True Demonstration of Christian Values

My Ex-wife tipped me off to this photo. This group showed up at the Chicago Pride Parade with wearing “I’m Sorry” t-shirts and signs of contrition for the rampant homophobia seen so often in church’s recently.

It reminds me, again, that not all Christians hold such judgmental, bigoted ideals. I am sometimes guilty of lumping them all into the same basket – which is unfair. I hope to find more examples of what I’ve always thought of as true Christian values of love and acceptance – and I’m sure if I look, I’ll find plenty

Wasting Their Lives on Homophobia

I love this cartoon posted on Wipeout Homophobia on Facebook’s wall. I’ve always found it curious that there are so many people who spend such a huge amount of their time on the lives of other people. Many, but not all, of these people say they are motivated by their religion. If I remember right, most religions have several tenets that say you should do no such thing. Such as:

“Do to no one what you yourself dislike.”

—Tobit 4:15

“Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in mind your own dislikes.”

—Sirach 31:15

or in the New Testament:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

-Galatians 5:14

or here:

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

-Luke 6:37

I wonder if these people will wake up one day, as I think many did after the civil rights battles of the 1960’s, and wonder why they were driven so. I think it would be exhausting to hold so much hate for your fellow man.

LZ Granderson and the Secret Gay Agenda

This is a great TED Talk from journalist LZ Granderson. He reveals all the secrets the of gay agenda, the gay lifestyle and what it is the gays in this country are really after.

It is so worth the 18 minutes.

Watch: Marriage News Watch for 6/18/12

httpv://youtu.be/0_o-BT2nnWM

Check out this week’s video from Matt Baum at AFER. Topics include Democratic committees formally adopting Marriage Equality to their party platforms in Texas and Montana, Rhode Island ends its legislative session without movement toward full marriage equality, Marriage Equality will be on the ballot this November in Washington State, and the uber flawed study just out that says children of gay parents have a harder time coping with life as adults.

Sweet Story of an 8 Year Old with Two Dads

This is such a sweet story from gay.net about a great famly. Zach’s dad, Paul met Neil online – they fell in love. But the story of how Neil became such an important part of Zach’s life, and that the family all moved to San Francisco to make sure Zach could be close to his mom… this is what family is all about.

I met my husband online – it was love and first click! We, too, have blended families. Most people don’t understand that Christmas includes me, my husband, my ex-wife, her boyfriend and our kids. Its about wanting what’s best for everyone and not buying into how society thinks we should act.

When it comes down to it, how many people really live the Ozzie and Harriet life, anyway? How boring would that be!

NickadooLA: I’ve reached …

NickadooLA: I’ve reached this point in life where I’d rather say something and regret it later than to not say something and regret it later.

Obama Halts Deportation of “Dreamers”

Yesterday, President Obama announced a change in immigration policythat affects approximately 800,000 undocumented young people. The so called “Dreamers” are individuals who came to this country illegally as children, some as infants. The new policy will stop deportation of people under 30 who have or are getting a high school diploma, a GED or serving in the military. It also will allow these people to apply for work permits every two years.

This idea, in general, is a bipartisan one that has been floating around congress for years. With the Tea parties violent anti immigration stance, the once popular idea has become a wedge issue. Initially proposed under President George W. Bush, the Dream Act would allow a path to cilizenship for young illegals. The new policy will not offer anmesty and is being called a “short term fix for a long term problem”.

This move is brilliant. It enlivens an unenthusiastic portion of a much needed demographic… Latinos. The Latino community has been vocally disappointed in the lack of movement on the admministration’s part for immigration reform. In fact, President Obama has deported more undocumented workers than any previous president. Now, hopefully, this move will get more Latinos, who generally support Obama, out to the polls next November.

The GOP is in a sticky position. This is good policy that has huge support. While they decry that the president is doing a run around congress, they know that too much negative attention will drive away the few Latino voters they so desparately need.

Now, if the President would just issue something similar for bi-national gay couples… that would be great, but I’m not holding my breath.