IMMIGRATION - Since United States Law does not grant the same equality of marraige between homosexuals as they

do hetero sexuals, it becomes infinitely more difficult for homosexuals from foriegn countries to live here as citizens. They are forced to seek alternative methods of becoming citizens, which for most mean student visas - but to be in the United States on the premis of a student visa means that you cannot work. "Amit managed

to land a temporary position in New York in the fall of 2010; unfortunately the position did not become permanent and he applied for a change of status to a student visa which does not allow him to work. There is no other place in the world in which I would want to live. Amit experiences the US as an amazing place that on the one hand includes a true home, a happy marriage and some great friends, and on the other threatens to possibly throw him out. Its not easy living as a couple in New York on one paycheck. Its even harder not knowing when or how our situation will change and whether we wont run into an immigration catastrophe before it does. They say our immigration system is broken, but I say its more intact than almost any other law in the countrytheres no room to slip through the cracks" - I Call Myself an IsrAmerican" by Imigration Equality October of 2011 "That part made me choke up a bit. My partner and I have been juggling temporary visas for 15 years. There is no way to communicate the kind of stress that this lack of permanence lends. Apparently the US cares more about the social status quo than about our lives." - Rachel Anonymous, in response to FreeWrite Blog, "I Call Myself an IstAmerican". DOMA - Defense of Marraige Act passed in 1996, made it so that states did not have to recognize GLBT marraige certificates as legit. Since some states have allowed domestic partnerships and others even recognize marraige between GLBT couples. - a married lesbian couple were forced to 'un-marry' in order to enter the United States for a vacation. They were forced to fill out separate forms upon entering the country rather than the traditional single form for a married couple.

DON'T ASK DON'T TELL

HOUSING DESCRIMINATION It's illegal to deny someone housing based on their sexual orientation, but like most laws regarding GLBT rights, it is only loosely enforced and nearly impossible to measure since landlords don't normally admit to such prejudice. An experiment conducted by two professors and 34 students attending the University of British Columbia sent out nearly identical letters to over 1700 different landlords. The only difference among them was that half stated that a heterosexual couple was interested in the property, and the other half indicated that a homosexual couple was. The results were unfortunate with gay male partners 25% more likely to be rejected than letters from straight couples, more than any other demographic with single parents being ranked at #2 with 15%.

ADOPTION HOMELESSNESS Homosexual teenagers represent 20-40% of all homeless individual depending on the location, a sadly dispropotionate figure. In fact, one in four GLBT highschool students in Massachusetts are classified as homeless. When parents discover that their child is gay, some react with

extreme negativity in hopes that expressing a zero-tolerance reaction will convince the child to change their sexual orientation. Sexual orientation, however, is innate and unchangeablea fact accepted by all recognized medical and psychological associations.

UTAH Despite Utah Legislature's best efforts, GSA's are growing! Schools in Utah have a long history of trying to ban GSA's in the state, but thanks to the work of advocacy groups highlighting the unconstitutionality of the move, there was an eventualy settlement on the 2007 law stating that Schools hosting GSA clubs needed each member's parental consent upon jjoining along with a ban on discussing sexuality.

OVER THE BORDERS Exodus - a program enlisted in Canada with affiliations in over a dozen other nations on charity status with the sole purpose of 'curing' homosexuals of their sexual orientation. Bill Whatcott - An anti-gay activitist who was fined in 2005 for handing out fliers on school yards claiming that all GLBT individuals were 'sodomists' and children molesters. However, when he went to trial in 2007 as a hate crime, it was overruled. The issue is that if, say, I was to slander a local CEO or politician in the same manner, then I would be sued for libel no problem. But I guess slandering an entire group is somehow different. Karen Clarke - Trails End Farmers Market fires trans worker solely on the basis of her sexual representation United Kingdom Blood Ban - When it was originally passed, the United Kingdom banned any person from donating blood if they had pursued a same-sex relationship. One year since, the latest 'tweak' states that there must be a one year deferral since the last time a donor has had sex with some ove of the same gender. So, yeah, nothing has happened. This was an attempt to stop the spread of STD's, but has always been scientifically unsound. Of course, homosexuals do have a higher occurance rate for STD's, but heterosexuals are far from imune, especially considering that the fastest growing HIV demographic is young, heterosexual women. The coptic Orthodox Church threatens to somehow withdraw 5000 schoolchildren from the Toronto Catholic District School Board unless the board withdraws its plans to implement its tolerance and anti-homophobia policies. Czech President lashed out at 13 countries for having taken the "unprecedented step" of signing an open letter in support of the country's first gay pride festival. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Candada, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Swirzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

RESPONDING PROPOSALS TO RIGHT THIS UAFA - The Uniting American

Families Act would allow a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to sponsor their same-sex partner for immigration to the U.S., a right which is currently denied. U.S. immigration law is based on the principle of family unification. Accordingly, it allows Americans to reunite with their parents, children, and spouses by sponsoring these family members for immigration. However, gay and lesbian Americans cannot sponsor their foreign born partners for immigration, no matter how long they have been together or how committed their relationship is. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, over 36,000 couples are affected by this discrimination; and 46% of them are raising children. Many gay and lesbian Americans in binational relationships have aging parents and must make difficult decisions between managing their parents health or remaining with their partner. With no ability to sponsor their partners, Americans are being forced abroad: taking their tax base, their talent, and enterprise to one of more than 20 countries that offer immigration benefits for same-sex partners.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE SITES THAT KEEP ME UP ON THE NEWS! - Slapupsidethehead.com - Give a Damn Campaign