WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, and Representatives John Conyers (D-MI),Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Mike Honda (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and others will announce the re-introduction of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). This overdue legislation would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residency in the United States, a right currently enjoyed only by married heterosexuals under immigration law. Because the U.S. does not legally recognize gay and lesbian couples and their children as families, many same-sex binational couples are torn apart. The announcement will take place at 1:00pm on Thursday, April 14th at the House Triangle** inWashington D.C.
Joining the Members will be national LGBT advocates and leaders on LGBT immigration issues, as well as Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a same-sexCalifornia couple, and their children Joriene and Jashley. The recent immigration plight of the Tan/Mercado family drew national attention and dramatically highlighted the urgency to pass UAFA.
WHAT: Press Conference on the Re-introduction of the
Uniting American Families Act
WHEN: 1:00pm on Thursday, April 14th
WHERE: The House Triangle, on the SE side of the U.S. Capitol,
accessible via Independence Avenue
** Rain location: Rayburn HOB, Room 2237
WHO: Congressman Jerrold Nadler
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Congressman John Conyers
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
Congressman Jared Polis
Congressman Mike Honda
Congressman Luis Gutierrez
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Shirley Tan, Jay Mercado, with Joriene and Jashley
Rachel Tiven, Executive Director of Immigration Equality
Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign
Rea Carey, Executive Director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force