As we end this year, we receive once again news that our freedom is not a priority with this Congress or the Democratic Party. The Democratic Immigration bill leaves us totally out in the cold. There is no provision to protect the thousands and thousands members of our community who have partners from other countries. Many of our brothers and sisters face deportation or having to leave their country in order to be with the person they love.
Guess this should come as no surprise since we have arrived at the end of 2009 with almost nothing from a Congress that contains 60 Democratic senators and a large majority of representatives in the House. There has been a Hate Crimes amendment attached to a military act, travel restrictions to the U.S. lifted for persons with HIV/AIDS, some nice parties, benefits for federal employees that don't yet include insurance or pensions, some progress on internal federal regulations, a medal for Harvey and a nice speech or two. We have had in the first year no vote on ENDA, no vote on DADT and no vote to repeal DOMA the big three of federal legislation. What is distressing is this dismal record seems to be just fine with our national organizations and even some of our electeds in Congress. We are constantly told everyone is doing their best, to be practical, that the political timing isn't right and other things must come first. I have been in this movement for over thirty years and have constantly over and over and over again heard those phrases and a promise "Your time will come". When? I want a time now. No more bullshit.
According to Towleroad.com, in this latest go around with the immigration legislation Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said she was "very frustrated" because she "wanted to see a bill that was comprehensive. But we deal with political reality here." Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who earlier this year pronounced a DOMA repeal 'dead' this Congress, predicted it will be "a very, very hard sell" to attach the same-sex provision to the immigration reform bill. Are you as tired as I am hearing that over and over from them? How about "This is outrageous" and "A complete disregard for the freedom of LGBT people?" Is that so hard to say? No wonder no one else in Congress believes we are livid at being left out in the cold one more time.
Basically standing alone, Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) has proposed an amendment with a same-sex provision. Polis deftly noted that a repeal of DOMA would alleviate the issue.
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