100 Co-Sponsors . . . and a Sunburn!

By Rachel Tiven on 04/15/2011 @ 01:25 PM

I just got back, last night, from Washington, where the Uniting American Families Act was reintroduced in front of the Capitol building, in the bright sunshine (where I also got a bright red sunburn). There was such an amazing crowd there cheering us on, and I couldn't help remember when UAFA reintroduction was Congressman Nadler, our staffer Adam Francoeur, and a binational couple or two. No one else was interested.

Today, Congressman Nadler was joined by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the immigration subcommittee; Congressman Mike Honda, past chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and a key immigration player; Congressman Luis Gutierrez, the most vocal House leader on immigration reform; Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; Congresswoman Jackie Speier; and LGBT Equality Caucus co-chairs Congressman Jarred Polis, Congressman David Cicciline, and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.

Many Members spoke about a couple they knew in their district - in every case a couple we had introduced to them or shepherded to action over the years. Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado and their sons spoke beautifully on behalf of LGBT immigrant families, and are in Washington lobbying the rest of the week. Joe Solmonese, the president of HRC, and Rea Carey, the head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, joined us and spoke eloquently as well.

The Uniting American Families Act was reintroduced in the House with 100 co-sponsors and in the Senate with 18 - more than any previous reintroduction, in both absolute and percentage terms.

The enthusiasm with which Congressional leaders on immigration reform have embraced LGBT families is such a credit to the hard work of Immigration Equality Action Fund and its partner organizations and activists. Not only did they turn out to support the bill today, they are pressing the administration to immediately stop deporting our families.

IIn what The Advocate called "a two-pronged offensive" for LGBT immigrants, today Congresswoman Lofgren and 47 other members of Congress sent a letter to Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder demanding that their agencies stop deporting LGBT immigrant families. This follows the letter Senator Kerry and 11 of his colleagues sent with the same message last week. Our amazing legislative team - led by Julie Kruse, Connie Utada, and Alex Moore and our terrific policy interns, Takahiro Nakamura and Stephanie Harig - worked hard, with the lead of Congresswoman Lofgren, her amazing staff and our allies in Congress, to help secure these impressive numbers on both the letters and UAFA, and in both Houses.

Of course, the critical key to our success in lining up so much support has been the amazing response of you - everyone in our grassroots network - who called, emailed and visited your lawmakers. Nearly 1,000 of you sent emails through our online Action Center, and even more called Congress in the days leading up to reintroduction. All of us at Immigration Equality are constantly amazed by your dedication and commitment . . . and we cannot thank you enough.

(As Congresswoman Lofgren told us on the Hill yesterday, in referring to all of the families impacted by this issue, "These are my friends." We couldn't agree more, and we're honored to count you all as part of the Immigration Equality family, too.)

As the demise of DOMA draws closer, demonstrating our power on the Hill is more important than ever. UAFA is the only immediate solution for all binational couples around the country and in exile. Our ability to expand the bill's base of support helps fuel our efforts with the White House and in the courts, and adds heft to the movement for comprehensive immigration reform for all families.

Onward!