LGBT activist and event organizer Cleve Jones has officially invited President Obama to attend the National Equality March in DC on October 10-11. Jones’ letter below:

Dear President Obama:

Thank you for honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom Award. Harvey was my friend and teacher. In the 30 years since he was assassinated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have attained a handful of rights in a handful of states, but we are still second-class citizens.

Your historic election gave us hope that change can happen, and now tens of thousands of LGBT people, along with our straight allies, are taking action to demand it. On October 11 we will march on Washington in support of a single goal: full and equal protection for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

Equal rights are not a “gay” issue. They are about our shared human rights: safety in our schools and jobs, equitable healthcare and housing, and protection for our families, to name a few.

I compare our National Equality March with the Civil Rights March of 1963. Martin Luther King had a dream; we have a dream too.  We share Dr. King’s belief in the dignity and equality of all peoples, and his commitment to non-violence. And we share his faith that justice will prevail.

We do not expect to achieve our goal overnight. Our struggle for equality has taken many years, and much hard work remains ahead. The nation is preoccupied with economic hardship and war. But you have given us hope that civil rights remain on this nation’s agenda. The time is right for us to call on our fellow Americans, our elected leaders, and you to reaffirm our shared commitment to civil rights.

With hope in our hearts, we invite you to join us on the west lawn of the Capitol on October 11th. We ask you to take the microphone and renew our faith that Washington will work with us, and not against us. We urge you to remind the world that we are welcome members of this nation.  We invite you to stand with us in pride.

Sincerely,
Cleve Jones
Co-Chair, National Equality March

EBAR is reporting that the President Obama may be in San Francisco that same weekend attending the Presidents Cup Golf Tournament.

If the President chooses golf over us, perhaps we should bring the march to him. This is San Francisco after all…

The California Assembly held a hearing today on resolution ARJ 15 which urges Congress and the President to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gays and lesbians to sponsor their foreign-born partners, providing a legal path to citizenship. The bill, authored Assembly Member Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), in part says:

This resolution urges Congress to support the removal of legal barriers to immigration that affect permanent same-sex partners in binational relationships. Specifically, the resolution calls on Congress either to include the Reuniting Families Act, which incorporates the Uniting American Families Act, in comprehensive immigration reform, or to pass the Uniting American Families Act on its own as stand-alone legislation. In support of the measure, the author writes:

The federal Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to add same-sex “permanent partners” to the list of family members that a U.S. citizen or legal resident could sponsor for immigration.

Since current law does not allow gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency, they cannot access the family immigration system for green cards and immigrant visas. Because of this inequity, thousands of lesbian and gay bi-national couples are kept apart, torn apart, or forced to stay together illegally, with one partner living in constant fear of deportation.

ARJ 15 is co-sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). Melanie Nathan, human rights attorney, Amos Lim, co-founder of Out4Immigration, Gina Caprio who is unable to sponsor her British partner, and representatives from EQCA and AACRE will be providing testimony.

The bill is opposed by Capital Resource Family Impact, which believes UAFA undermines the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

President Barack Obama spoke of the continued prejudice against “our gay brother and sisters” at the NAACP’s Centennial Convention today.

But make no mistake. The pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African-American women paid less bor doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and different gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim-Americans viewed with suspicion, simply because they kneel down to pray to their god. By our gay brothers and sisters still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights.

(Big applause)

On the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination cannot stand. Not an account of color, gender, how you worship, or you who love. Prejudice has no place in the United State of America. That’s what the NAACP stands for. That’s what the NAACP will continue to fight for… as long as it takes.

While generally supportive of gay rights, the NAACP refuses to take a position on gay marriage.

While we should all be proud that a wise, experienced woman of color is on the cusp of becoming a Supreme Court Justice, I am frankly embarrassed by the sexism and racism on display by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama during Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings.

Here we have two white southern males, one afraid to come out of the closet, the other wearing his hypocrisy on his sleeve. First watch Senator Graham question Sotomayor’s temperament.

Graham is clearly talking down to Sotomayor, insisting that he “likes” her, and that she should appreciate that. He goes on to quote anonymous criticisms as if they were fact: she is a bully, angry, excitable and aggressive, terms often used by men afraid of strong women. Graham’s questions coupled with his statement yesterday, that “Unless you have a complete meltdown, your’re going to get confirmed,” how can you not reach the conclusion Graham’s remarks weren’t sexist? Can you imagine him questioning a man, particularly a white man, the same way? Nope. Don’t think so.

Next up… Senator Sessions questions why Sotomayor doesn’t vote like other Puerto Ricans of whom he approves, like Puerto Rican Judge Cabranes.

Sessions also said Sotomayor was “unsuitable for the bench” due to her past affiliation with an “extremist group” called the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF). Strangely enough, the previously mentioned Judge Cabranes also happens to be a board member. Tell me, why is he so preoccupied with her race?

Oh well. Perhaps it’s just sour grapes. Sessions was once nominated to serve as a federal judge, but was eventually shot down by the committee on which he now sits, because he had a problem with people of color, having once said to a white civil rights lawyer that he was a “disgrace to his race” for litigating voting rights cases. The New Republic has a thorough rundown on the fine racist, I mean Senator, from Alabama.

As I said before, I am simultaneously proud and embarrassed by today’s hearings. But not surprised. The South has a long history of devaluing women and people of color. And some unfortunately carry on the tradition, even today.