Congressman Mike Honda Calls for Inclusive Immigration Reform

By Steve Ralls on 02/04/2011 @ 10:38 AM

Following last week's Senate floor statement by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, another influential Member of Congress is calling on colleagues to pass immigration reform that includes LGBT binational families.

Yesterday, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) penned a new op-ed in Politico, making a strong, economic case for fixing our country's broken immigration system. Honda, whose own bill - the Reuniting Families Act - also includes language to end discrimination against our families, reiterated his strong belief that any immigration measure must address the inequality faced by LGBT families.

" . . . the Reuniting Families Act, which I plan to reintroduce this Congress, would allow all Americans to be reunited with their families — including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender permanent partners," Honda says in his column, noting that, "American workers, with their families by their side, are happier, healthier and more able to succeed than those living apart from loved ones for years on end. By pooling resources, families can do together what they can’t do alone — start small businesses, provide care for the young and old, create U.S. jobs and contribute more to this country’s welfare."

Honda (pictured here at an Immigration Equality event with Shirley Tan, Jay Mercado and their twin sons), also serves as the Democratic senior whip. The Congressman has been an outspoken advocate of all immigrant families, including LGBT families. In November, he also wrote an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, with NFL linebacker Scott Fujita, calling for inclusive reform.

To read Congressman Honda's full Politico op-ed, click here.