I wanted to share the experience my wife Karin and I had attending President Obama's speech on Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) in Las Vegas this week.
I think it's important to
remember that we are all volunteers in the struggle to get green cards
and permanency for our spouses and families. None of us are paid to do
this work. Some of us have special talents we share. Others help by
doing as asked, or getting other volunteers or whatever. Some may just
make or collect donations. That's great too. That's what makes Out4Immigration a
community - shared grassroots organizing and volunteering and success.
Sometimes something too good to pass up happens, too. This was one of
those times. But first, a bit of history...
Karin and I found out about O4I several years ago
when I went to a town hall meeting on immigration in San Jose. Rep. Mike Honda and Rep. Luis Gutierrez headed it up. It was
at a Catholic Church. I had recently shared my story with Mike, my
Congressional Representative, and he had learned more about the issue
facing same-sex binational couples. I was prepared to say something at
the town hall, based on what we thought would happen that night. When we
got to the church hall, two things happened that made me work harder to
solve my problem. First, we were told that nothing about gays and
lesbians could be shared at the hall that night. Ouch! And second, two
guys came in wearing t-shirts that I thought were the coolest things I
had ever seen. Turned out to be Amos and Mickey Lim, two of the founders of O4I. I asked them where I
could get a shirt and I met O4I that night.
Get your t-shirt here!
Fast forward to 2013 and four more years of working
to get a green card for my wife and get this issue solved for all of us. Where am I? In a high school gymnasium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? I've
been invited by the White House to be at the President's speech on
CIR. Invited by the White House! At first, I
told them we could not afford to come. But then we were urged to go by
friends in the cause, Love Exiles Foundation, and then Karin got really
excited and took money out of savings. In less than 24 hours of hearing
about it, we were on the plane. Wow!
Over
the years, I have shared on my blog how it feels to document your life
while you live it. For any same-sex binational couple trying to get a
green card, you know there are days when you are tired of everyone
knowing your business, federal officials dictating your life choices,
stress others don't have, and just sheer exhaustion from the process.
Two very powerful moments happened...
We know all that. But somehow this event seemed to
make that all go away for a bit. We felt empowered and hopeful. We
clapped and cheered. But we also felt bad when the words we wanted to
hear did not come from the President's mouth as he stood on the podium.
All was not lost or sad, though. Two very powerful moments happened and I
can tell you with certainty because they happened to me and us.
Secretary
of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was to be seated behind us. As
she walked in, I talked to her about our issue and shook her hand and
thanked her for her efforts thus far. She said "It's in the President's
proposal," meaning inclusion of same-sex binational families in
comprehensive immigration reform.
...we shook President Obama's hand and reminded him we need his help. What did he say? "We won't forget you! You're in there!"
So we felt terrific about those two moments, along
with all the day's other wonderful bits, as Karin would say. Who came in
and sat next to us? Jose Antonio Vargas, that's who! He and I screamed
and hugged like middle school girls - we love each other so and respect
each other's work so. I got my photo taken with Secretary of Labor Hilda
Solis before we entered the gym. That was terrific! We met a staffer
from the White House Office of Engagement, Julie, who will be getting a
signed copy of my book in the mail soon. I met several elected officials
and immigration organization executives who were interested in our
slice of the immigration reform pie and they will be getting signed
books, too.
Speaker John Perez from the California State
Assembly was there and we got duck pins from him after Karin asked if he
had any ducks with him. We learned of his hobby in Sacramento in 2011
when we were there as I got an award for my LGBT activism from the State
Assembly.
Our young friend Omar Torres from San Jose came to
the event - we got him a ticket after he contacted me. I love to see
younger folks doing the work and learning the ropes so we know
immigration and civil rights work will continue. Guess I feel like a
mother hen, but that's ok!
Of
course being in Las Vegas, we had to have a little tourist time. We
made a few bucks on a nickel machine to help pay the plane and food
bills. We walked around a bit and saw interesting things.
But I blogged and talked to reporters too. It wasn't
all just play, that's for sure. I encourage you to read the blog I
wrote about the speech event before it happened. Go to: http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/?p=11345
For the blog I wrote after the speech is at this link. Go to http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/?p=11361
The
complete immigration reform proposal from President Obama, which
includes same-sex binational couples/families is in this blog, Go to: http://tornapart.findhornpress.com/?p=11408
We were thrilled to get this picture from our family in the UK who saw us this close to the President on their TV!
If you want to follow my adventures trying to get the U.S. government to recognize my marriage, go to: http://tornapart.findhornpress.com
You can see the Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Torn-Apart-United-by-Love-Divided-by-Law/116343758442046?ref=hl
You can see the Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law Portrait Project Facebook page at
You can also follow me on twitter @tornapartbook
My favorite photo of our trip to Vegas? My wife Karin and a couple of showgirls!
Judy Rickard is the author of Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law, a book which documents the lives of more than 20 same-sex binational couples affected by exclusion of equal immigration rights for gay and lesbian Americans in realtionships with foreign nationals. Judy generously donates royalties from the book's sales to three groups working with same-sex binationals - Out4Immigration, Love Exiles and Immigration Equality. The phrase "United by Love, Divided by Law" was coined by Out4Immigration. Judy uses the phrase as a subtitle to her book with our permission. If you have a project you would like to launch using the phrase, or to volunteer with Out4Immigration, contact us at info@out4immigration.org.
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