Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, talked about the need for schools free of bigotry and fear at the GLSEN Respect Awards in New York. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), is a national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Said Biden:

“Change is not easy, especially when it comes to ending bigotry and fear. But I am confident that together, we will succeed. That is why I am proud to tell you that the Obama-Biden administration shares your commitment to making sure every student has a safe school. Each child, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, deserves an education.”

Starting tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committee lead by Senator Patick Leahy of VT will convene hearings on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for residency in the United States. In a press release from Immigration Equality announcing the hearings:

“Every day, an estimated 36,000 binational couples, nearly half of whom are raising children, are facing separation, or already living separately, because our country refuses to treat them equally under the law,” said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality.  “These loving, committed families are faced with an untenable choice between the person they love and the country they love.  Many are forced to uproot their lives and leave their extended families, jobs and communities behind. It is long past time that Congress fixed our broken immigration system, including this pervasive discrimination against so many families. Senator Leahy’s hearing, coming just as President Obama and Congress prepare to address comprehensive immigration reform, is a step in the right direction.”

Wednesday’s hearing will feature Shirley Tan, a Filipina mother of 12-year-old twins from Pacifica, Calif., who is facing deportation despite having been with her partner for 23 years. Though Tan’s children and partner are American citizens, she cannot be sponsored for residency because her partner is female. Unless Congress takes action to pass UAFA, Tan will be forced to return to the Philippines.

Joining Tan as a witness will also be Gordon Stewart, a native of Vermont who was forced to sell his family’s farm and relocate to London to be with his partner, who is Brazilian. Stewart, who transferred his job with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to the United Kingdom, has been welcomed in that country, where his partner received a visa to be with him. Under U.S. immigration law, his partner was unable to join him in the United States, and Stewart was forced to leave his family behind to be with the person he loves. Other witnesses include Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and attorney Christopher Nugent, who will represent the American Bar Association (ABA).

Inside, Looking Out will be covering the UAFA hearings tomorrow so check back for regular updates.

Over the weekend the Nevada legislature by margins of 14-7 in the Senate and 28-14 in the Assembly voted to override a veto on a domestic partnership bill that granted both straight and same-sex couples many of the same rights and responsibilities available to married couples. Governor Jim Gibbons vetoed the bill believing “government has no business in your medicine chest or bedroom,” and because it went against the spirit of Nevada’s 2002 amendment declaring that marriage was only between a man and a woman.

In addition to protecting couples against discrimination, the new measure will bring parity with marriage on issues such as debt and property. The bill however does not force employers to offer health care and other benefits to domestic partners as is the case in California.

The new law goes into effect October 1.

A new USA Today/Gallup poll released yesterday shows a strong correlation between personally knowing someone who is gay or lesbian and supporting gay marriage. Some highlights from the poll below.

When looking at gay relationships in general, those polled tend to have a more favorable view if they personally know someone who is gay or lesbian:

But as soon as the term “gay marriage” is introduced, the numbers slip dramatically:

And when asking how gay marriage will affect society, the drop is almost as dramatic:

And the poll summary:

The Gallup Poll data reviewed above show conclusively that many views toward gay and lesbian issues are related — in some instances, strongly so — to personal experience with individuals who are gay or lesbian. There are two plausible explanations for this relationship. One is that exposure to gays and lesbians leads to greater acceptance, regardless of one’s ideological leanings. The second is that people who are more accepting of gays and lesbians are more likely to put themselves into situations in which they are exposed to gays and lesbians — in terms of cities and regions of residence, as well as workplace and social choices. Both of these processes are at work, though it is difficult to say which is more important.

Whatever the direction of causality, the data do make a strong case that knowing someone who is gay or lesbian fosters more accepting attitudes on many of the issues surrounding gay and lesbian relations today.

It’s great to see that the numbers really seem to bear out the “get to know us” strategy which is getting pushed pretty hard now by all the marriage equality groups. Changing hearts and minds by letting them into our hearts and minds may be most durable solution, and much more permanent than any court ruling or vote.