The overlapping rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender immigrants has come up time and time again during the current push for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws.
Whether it was the Senate's proposal dismissing gay couples' concerns to sponsor their binational significant other, or a queer DREAMer left demanding an apology after being told not to speak on immigration at a Human Rights Campaing (HRC) rally outside the Supreme Court, there's been deep pot holes along the road to inclusiveness.
A forum in Garden Grove seeks to answer questions while fostering discussion on a number of related issues.
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The necessary effort comes courtesy of the Law Offices of George W. Abbes, Orange Country DREAM Team, Orange County Equality Coalition, The Center OC, and Viet Rainbow of Orange County–all sponsoring organizations.
Set to take place tomorrow evening at the United Methodist Church in Garden Grove, the event invites those who identify as an LGBTQ immigrant or an immigrant/LGBQT rights advocate. Once everybody takes their place at the table, the hope is to learn how to become more inclusive allies of the UndocuQueer (undocumented + queer) community.
The forum will delve into questions as to whether same-sex couples can exercise the same rights as their straight counterparts when it comes to the sponsoring process of status legalization or immigrating their partner to the United States now that a key section of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has gone the way of the dodo.
Abuse of gay and transgender immigrants in detention–no stranger in facilities 'round these parts–and how to organize against it will be another engaged topic.
Remember: None of us are free, until we are all free.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Immigrant Rights Forum takes place at the United Methodist Church, 12741 Main Street, Garden Grove. Thurs. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!