This resolution would not have happened without the efforts of Mark and Inger, both in Colorado, who have worked for many months on this effort with the various committees and commissions in the city of Denver.
THANK YOU, Mark & Inger!
The resolution passed unanimously, with the support of a conservative councilor opposed to marriage equality, and you can watch Mark speaking at the council meeting by clicking on the link in his e-mail below.
If you would like to thank the Denver city council, especially councilor Linkhart, who introduced this resolution, you may do so by e-mailing:
The entire city council: dencc@denvergov.orgIf you're reading this and you haven't tried for a resolution in a city or county near you - please step up and do so. All of these resolutions are happening because people are standing up for themselves, their partners and families and asking for them.
Councilor Doug Linkhart: doug.linkhart@denvergov.org
STAND UP!!!!
Below is Mark Gerardy's account of what happened:
Tonight the Denver City Council unanimously passed resolution CP10-0726, 11-0, in support of the Uniting American Families Act introduced by Councilmember Doug Linkhart and spearheaded by Mark Gerardy along with support from Tom Tierney from Out4Immigration, Inger K., Jesse U. and the Denver GLBT Commission, and many other supporters.
Live video press coverage is available here. Scroll down just slightly to "A proclamation in support of Uniting American Families Act"
My [Mark Gerardy's] presentation to the Denver City Council is televised at 43:45 minutes/seconds into the video.
The bill was sponsored by councilmembers Linkhart, Montero, Boigon, Madison, Johnson, and Sandoval. There was also a huge show of support from councilmember Lopez. For those local in the Denver GLBT community, I strongly encourage you to recognize all 11 councilmembers at election time and fully-support their re-elections as all have shown courageous commitment to GLBT issues of equality and fairness. A special thanks to Councilmember Linkhart and Chris Martinez, aide to Councilmember Linkhart.
Uniting American Family Act is a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting [GLBT] permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status [in same-gender partnerships] in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents.
While a Denver resolution is non-binding on Federal Immigration Law, nonetheless this passages sends a message to Washingon D.C. with a copy of this resolution to be transmitted from the Denver City Council to the Denver Congressional Delegation; Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; Honorable Diana DeGette; Honorable Harry Reid, Speaker of the United States Senate; Honorable Mark Udall, United States Senator; Honorable Michael Bennet, United States Senator and Honorable Joseph Biden, Vice-President of the United States an President of the United States Senate.
As stated in the article below, conservative Jeanne Faatz expressed reluctance; however despite being against same-gender marriage, Faatz nonetheless agreed to the resolution provided that immigration policies are enforced, and that there be a high-threshold to ensure that same gender permanent partnerships are genuine bona fide. With a yes vote from Faatz, the vote in support of Uniting American Families Act was unanimously passed, 11-to-0.
Sincerely,
Mark
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