| . |
TEMAS DE INTERESYNOTICIAS
| . |
| . |
ADVOCACY&NEWS
UNITY COALITION|COALICION UNIDA DISAPPOINTED IN GOVERNOR SCOTTS POSITION ON ADOPTIONS IN FLORIDA
- NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
Miami, Florida…January 20, 2011- Just days into his inauguration as Florida’s new governor, Rick Scott has already taken positions and
decisions that are not in the best interest of thousands of children currently in Florida’s state foster care, and clearly are in opposition of the
recent court ruling filed and won by the ACLU of Florida, allowing gay and lesbian adoption in Florida.
Since 2002, Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida -dedicated to the Leadership, Protection & Promotion of Latino|Hispanic LGBT rights (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender), the only organization of its kind in South Florida - has been meeting with elected leaders & bringing volunteer contingents
to Tallahassee to speak on behalf of the over 5,000 children currently in the states system, and until recently, had no chance of being adopted by
a loving, caring and capable household, if they happen to be gay or lesbian. Florida was the only State in the Union that had this archaic and
discriminatory law until recently.
Just this week, the governor said "Adoption should be by a married couple", as reported by the Associated Press. His statement and position is
clearly ignoring the court ruling on gay and lesbian inclusive adoption and it could remove millions of Floridians from the adoption process and
leave tens of thousands of children in state foster care who could otherwise be adopted by loving families.
On Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott named David Wilkins as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families – the state agency
responsible for implementing adoptions in Florida. David Wilkins serves as Finance Chairman for Florida Baptist Children’s Homes – an
“organization dedicated to providing Christ-centered services to children and families…” Among its missions, the Florida Baptists Children’s
Homes provides adoption services. To adopt through them, they, “require that you be a professing Christian, be active in a local Christian church,
and follow a lifestyle that is consistent with the Christian faith.”
Such a narrow view of adoption is well outside the mainstream in Florida, leaves millions of Americans out of the process and disregards what
is in the best interests of the child. It is, in a word, dangerous to have a man with these narrow values setting adoption policy for all of us.
These positions being taken by elected officials & appointed representatives of the People clearly go against the will of Floridians, the court
rulings we abide by, and jeopardize the civil rights and ability of millions of Floridians from the adoption process and leave tens of thousands of
children in state foster care who could otherwise be adopted by loving families.
With this appointment and Governor Scott’s statements, we are profoundly disappointed but not surprised. In real terms it means the showdown
on adoption may be just starting instead of nearing an end. Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida remains unified and in solidarity with the hundreds
of like-minded leaders & organizations across the state, and vows to keep Governor Scott focused on respecting, adhering to and upholding the
laws & will of our state.
Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida urges Governor Scott to respect the court rulings in Florida, keep personal beliefs & religion out of government,
not violate the civil rights of all our citizens and allow Florida’s children in foster care, a real chance at a stable, loving & enriching home.
- NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
Miami, Florida…January 20, 2011- Just days into his inauguration as Florida’s new governor, Rick Scott has already taken positions and
decisions that are not in the best interest of thousands of children currently in Florida’s state foster care, and clearly are in opposition of the
recent court ruling filed and won by the ACLU of Florida, allowing gay and lesbian adoption in Florida.
Since 2002, Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida -dedicated to the Leadership, Protection & Promotion of Latino|Hispanic LGBT rights (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender), the only organization of its kind in South Florida - has been meeting with elected leaders & bringing volunteer contingents
to Tallahassee to speak on behalf of the over 5,000 children currently in the states system, and until recently, had no chance of being adopted by
a loving, caring and capable household, if they happen to be gay or lesbian. Florida was the only State in the Union that had this archaic and
discriminatory law until recently.
Just this week, the governor said "Adoption should be by a married couple", as reported by the Associated Press. His statement and position is
clearly ignoring the court ruling on gay and lesbian inclusive adoption and it could remove millions of Floridians from the adoption process and
leave tens of thousands of children in state foster care who could otherwise be adopted by loving families.
On Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott named David Wilkins as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families – the state agency
responsible for implementing adoptions in Florida. David Wilkins serves as Finance Chairman for Florida Baptist Children’s Homes – an
“organization dedicated to providing Christ-centered services to children and families…” Among its missions, the Florida Baptists Children’s
Homes provides adoption services. To adopt through them, they, “require that you be a professing Christian, be active in a local Christian church,
and follow a lifestyle that is consistent with the Christian faith.”
Such a narrow view of adoption is well outside the mainstream in Florida, leaves millions of Americans out of the process and disregards what
is in the best interests of the child. It is, in a word, dangerous to have a man with these narrow values setting adoption policy for all of us.
These positions being taken by elected officials & appointed representatives of the People clearly go against the will of Floridians, the court
rulings we abide by, and jeopardize the civil rights and ability of millions of Floridians from the adoption process and leave tens of thousands of
children in state foster care who could otherwise be adopted by loving families.
With this appointment and Governor Scott’s statements, we are profoundly disappointed but not surprised. In real terms it means the showdown
on adoption may be just starting instead of nearing an end. Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida remains unified and in solidarity with the hundreds
of like-minded leaders & organizations across the state, and vows to keep Governor Scott focused on respecting, adhering to and upholding the
laws & will of our state.
Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida urges Governor Scott to respect the court rulings in Florida, keep personal beliefs & religion out of government,
not violate the civil rights of all our citizens and allow Florida’s children in foster care, a real chance at a stable, loving & enriching home.
Anti-Bullying Resources for
Parents and Teachers
Parents and teachers can use this
CNN Student News resource to
address the topic of bullying with their
students
Parents and Teachers
Parents and teachers can use this
CNN Student News resource to
address the topic of bullying with their
students
January 17, 2010... HAITI EARTHQUAKE
RELIEF - 26’ TRUCK OF MEDICAL
SUPPLIES AND FOOD DONATED BY
UNITY COALITION|COALICION
UNIDA, NEAT STUFF & AMBIENTE
MAGAZINE
RELIEF - 26’ TRUCK OF MEDICAL
SUPPLIES AND FOOD DONATED BY
UNITY COALITION|COALICION
UNIDA, NEAT STUFF & AMBIENTE
MAGAZINE
January 4, 2010... US lifts HIV/Aids
immigration ban
The US has lifted a 22-year
immigration ban which has stopped
anyone with HIV/Aids from entering the
country...
immigration ban
The US has lifted a 22-year
immigration ban which has stopped
anyone with HIV/Aids from entering the
country...
December 22, 2010... President Obama
SIGNS REPEAL of DADT
SIGNS REPEAL of DADT
UNITY COALITION|COALICION UNIDA was
Proud to have been a part of the Miami-
Dade HATE CRIMES SUMMIT...
Representing, Fighting for & Protecting LGBT Issues &
Rights in our community -
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board SUMMIT
ON HATE CRIMES AND HATE SPEECH: Creating a
Roadmap to Prevention and Response, at the Board of
County Commission Chambers Stephen P. Clark
Government Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami.
January 26, 2011 -
FEATURED DISCUSSION: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE
NEED TO GO - Moderator: Ms. Joy-Ann Reid, Editorial
Contributor, The Miami Herald
PANELISTS, HATE CRIMES:
Mr. David Barkey, Southern Area Council, Anti-Defamation
League, Ms. Breezye Telfair, Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade
Hate Crimes Unit
PANELISTS, HATE SPEECH:
Dr. D. Marvin Jones, Professor of Law, University of Miami
Ms. Suzy Berrios, Director, Mental Health and Crisis Management
Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
PANELISTS, MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY:
Ms. Tsitsi Wakhisi, Associate Professor of Journalism,
University of Miami School of Communication
Mr. David Lawrence Jr., President, The Children’s Movement of
Florida and former Publisher, The Miami Herald
Proud to have been a part of the Miami-
Dade HATE CRIMES SUMMIT...
Representing, Fighting for & Protecting LGBT Issues &
Rights in our community -
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board SUMMIT
ON HATE CRIMES AND HATE SPEECH: Creating a
Roadmap to Prevention and Response, at the Board of
County Commission Chambers Stephen P. Clark
Government Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami.
January 26, 2011 -
FEATURED DISCUSSION: WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE
NEED TO GO - Moderator: Ms. Joy-Ann Reid, Editorial
Contributor, The Miami Herald
PANELISTS, HATE CRIMES:
Mr. David Barkey, Southern Area Council, Anti-Defamation
League, Ms. Breezye Telfair, Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade
Hate Crimes Unit
PANELISTS, HATE SPEECH:
Dr. D. Marvin Jones, Professor of Law, University of Miami
Ms. Suzy Berrios, Director, Mental Health and Crisis Management
Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
PANELISTS, MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY:
Ms. Tsitsi Wakhisi, Associate Professor of Journalism,
University of Miami School of Communication
Mr. David Lawrence Jr., President, The Children’s Movement of
Florida and former Publisher, The Miami Herald
Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida members present: Eddie Sierra, Maritza Bedoya,
Herb Sosa, Ile Morales & Cathy Toruno.
Herb Sosa, Ile Morales & Cathy Toruno.
Rep. Gutierrez Draws Nation's Attention to Civil Rights Violations in Puerto Rico
February 17, 2011... (Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) draws attention today on the floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives to the civil rights violations in Puerto Rico, against students of the
University of Puerto Rico and against the Puerto Rico Bar Association -Colegio de Abogados de
Puerto Rico- including its President Osvaldo Toledo who was recently arrested and jailed for
informing lawyers of their right to opt out of a class action suit against the Bar Association
(trying to dismantle the Bar Association) in which all lawyers were automatically included as
plaintiffs. Congressman Gutierrez was a key ally in the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques
and was arrested for civil disobedience. The Puerto Rico Bar Association was also a key organization
in that struggle and in defending those arrested for acts of civil disobedience and acting as human
shields in defense of Vieques)
(Link to Text and Video):
http://tinyurl.com/4jx4koh
| . |
Leadership, Protection & Promotion of Latino|Hispanic
LGBTQ rights (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning).
The only organizationof its kind in South Florida since 2002.
LGBTQ rights (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning).
The only organizationof its kind in South Florida since 2002.
ELVIS CRESPO, Int’l. Latin Singing Sensation, Speaks Out on LGBT HATE CRIMES, Exclusively for Unity
Coalition|Coalición Unida
Miami, Florida – July 19, 2011… Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida is thrilled to be developing a new program - NO ESTA SOLO|YOU ARE NOT
ALONE - A series of videos featuring community & entertainment leaders, to deal with issues of LGBT Hate Crimes & Teen Suicide. The first in this
series is International Latin Singing Sensation, ELVIS CRESPO.
The focus is a bilingual audience, with emphasis on stopping hate crimes, discrimination and bullying within our own communities. When we
reached out to music producer Joe Granda of Granda Entertainment, he immediately offered to help out and to work with his team of talent to make
this important project a reality. “There is too much hate, misinformation & crimes directed towards the LGBT community. Whatever we can do to
help stop this, educate & inform the community, we are in!” said Granda.
In unison with this video project, Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida (UC|CU) is committed to ongoing training & workshops throughout the community,
including the STATE OF HATE Workshops offered in Spanish & English, where Crime & Discrimination, Sexual Orientation, Labels & Perception
and how to improve community relations & reduce attacks to our community are discussed openly &
honestly. The June 2011 workshop featured a special appearance & testimonial from TV & Broadway star Jai Rodriguez. The next State of Hate
workshop will be held in Miami Beach on September 10, 2011.
Why is this type of work necessary?
- THERE IS ONE LGBT MURDER EVERY 9 DAYS IN AMERICA.
- THERE WAS 1 LGBT MURDER EVERY 9 DAYS IN THE US IN 2008.
- THE FBI REPORTED 1,482 HATE CRIMES BASED ON SEXUAL
ORIENTATION IN 2009.
- FLORIDA: HATE CRIMES REPORTED AGAINST LGBT’S INCREASED
IN 2007 TO 1,265 –HIGHEST IN 5 YEARS.
- SOUTH FLORIDA LEADS THE STATE ON REPORTED HATE CRIMES
AGAINST LGBT’S.
Coalition|Coalición Unida
Miami, Florida – July 19, 2011… Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida is thrilled to be developing a new program - NO ESTA SOLO|YOU ARE NOT
ALONE - A series of videos featuring community & entertainment leaders, to deal with issues of LGBT Hate Crimes & Teen Suicide. The first in this
series is International Latin Singing Sensation, ELVIS CRESPO.
The focus is a bilingual audience, with emphasis on stopping hate crimes, discrimination and bullying within our own communities. When we
reached out to music producer Joe Granda of Granda Entertainment, he immediately offered to help out and to work with his team of talent to make
this important project a reality. “There is too much hate, misinformation & crimes directed towards the LGBT community. Whatever we can do to
help stop this, educate & inform the community, we are in!” said Granda.
In unison with this video project, Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida (UC|CU) is committed to ongoing training & workshops throughout the community,
including the STATE OF HATE Workshops offered in Spanish & English, where Crime & Discrimination, Sexual Orientation, Labels & Perception
and how to improve community relations & reduce attacks to our community are discussed openly &
honestly. The June 2011 workshop featured a special appearance & testimonial from TV & Broadway star Jai Rodriguez. The next State of Hate
workshop will be held in Miami Beach on September 10, 2011.
Why is this type of work necessary?
- THERE IS ONE LGBT MURDER EVERY 9 DAYS IN AMERICA.
- THERE WAS 1 LGBT MURDER EVERY 9 DAYS IN THE US IN 2008.
- THE FBI REPORTED 1,482 HATE CRIMES BASED ON SEXUAL
ORIENTATION IN 2009.
- FLORIDA: HATE CRIMES REPORTED AGAINST LGBT’S INCREASED
IN 2007 TO 1,265 –HIGHEST IN 5 YEARS.
- SOUTH FLORIDA LEADS THE STATE ON REPORTED HATE CRIMES
AGAINST LGBT’S.
“We look forward to eradicating Hate Crimes towards the LGBT
community, and hope that through our programming & education, we
can chip away at this horrible attack on our community” said UC|CU
board member Moses Stein.
Additional videos & testimonials are being developed for the UC|CU
series, and will appear regularly on various Social Media outlets,
Ambiente Magazine & Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida’s website.
Please visit www.unitycoalition.org or www.youtube.com to see ELVIS
CRESPO for Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida, as well as support &
community outreach resources for the LGBT Youth & community.
community, and hope that through our programming & education, we
can chip away at this horrible attack on our community” said UC|CU
board member Moses Stein.
Additional videos & testimonials are being developed for the UC|CU
series, and will appear regularly on various Social Media outlets,
Ambiente Magazine & Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida’s website.
Please visit www.unitycoalition.org or www.youtube.com to see ELVIS
CRESPO for Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida, as well as support &
community outreach resources for the LGBT Youth & community.
August 3, 2001
Re: Comments about the LGBT Community
Mrs. Diana Cardenas,
On behalf of Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida, a Florida non profit dedicated to the
Leadership, Protection & Promotion of Latino|Hispanic LGBTQ rights (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, questioning) - the only organization of its kind in South Florida since
2002, we join the many voices outraged by your insensitive and irresponsible statements,
and call on you to immediately retract and apologize for your public comments regarding
the GLBT community.
The LGBT community if filled with loving, caring, happy & respectable individuals -
families, couples, mother, fathers, sons & daughters – much like yourself & your family.
Unlike you, Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans are respectful & protective
of others rights, and will fight for equality and fairness for all. We are patriotic, honest, hard
working, tax paying Americans that deserve and demand the same rights this great country
offers us, as it did to & your husband when you came to its shores.
Your comments placed in a public forum like Facebook are hurtful, disrespectful,
misleading and simply unacceptable. We ask you to retract your comments and
apologize. Hate and bigotry of this sort is why our LGBT youth suicide rate is 4 times that
of heterosexuals, and hate crimes & bullying plague our society. Your words only
propagate these horrible statistics.
We may agree to disagree on many issues & policies, but to attack an entire group of
Americans based on ill-informed stereotypes and your own misguided references is
counter-productive. You should know the pain and suffering this type of action has caused
Americans historically, Catholics, Cubans, Jews…the List goes on. One would hope your
personal experiences and that of your loved ones and fellow Americans would have hade
you a more tolerant and accepting individual, but not to worry, Unity Coalition|Coalición
Unida is always willing and available to work with you in better understanding the LGBT
community, our similarities, hopes, dreams and expectations. Our doors are open to you,
in the spirit of unity, understanding & love.
UC|CU offers many community workshops, including our STATE OF HATE Workshop
coming up on September 10th – We believe you would greatly benefit by attending,
opening up your mind & heart and be better informed on a topic you seem very confused
and greatly misinformed on.
Whether you accept our invitation or not, we hope you do understand the real harm you
have caused and prejudice you have displayed and call on you to do the right thing and
apologize immediately.
Herb Sosa
Director
Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida - www.unitycoalition.org
MIAMI HERALD –
Al Cardenas' wife, Diana: Gays 'are in our faces with public display of
affection, gay parades, gay rallies, non-stop bombardment!!!'
The American Conservative Union -- now led by Miami attorney Al Cardenas -- has barred
the conservative gay Republican group, GOProud, from sponsoring and fully participating
at its next national convention.
This week, Cardenas' wife Diana (Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Cardenas
Household," according to her Facebook profile) engaged in an interesting public exchange
on the social network about gays and lesbians after GOP activist Ana Navarro posted
comments concerning Texas Gov. Rick Perry's flip-flop last week on gay marriage:
"I want a candidate w/strong informed opinions & beliefs & courage to stick by them
even when not politically convenient. Is that too much to ask these days?" Navarro posted.
Here's Diana Cardenas' initial response to Navarro:
I would be very disappointed if Perry did not favor amending the Const to ban gay
marriage. These gay marriage laws are destructive .... Marriage is a vital social institution
between two members of the OPPOSITE sex. It goes way beyond just an emotional
relationship---it serves a vital role in the stability and continuity of our society, something
which homosexual marriages cannot provide. Unfortunately, the biggest victory of the gay
movement has been to shift the debate from a 'behavior' to identity, whereby those that
oppose homosexuality are considered bigoted or hateful. They have equated it to the Civil
Rights Movement, seeking to obtain the rights granted under the constitution to all races or
religions. Sexual behavior does not fall into either category!!!!It is not about homosexuals
wanting to enter into a 'marriage' so much as it is about them wanting to gain acceptance
into mainstream society by redefining the traditional definition of the institution. Because a
few liberal judges decide to sign it into law, does not mean the public is in favor of it.
Whenever it has been put on the ballot (as in California), it has failed.
A few hours later, Cardenas responded to Rena Doty Fraser, who asked why gay
marriage "is such a threat":
Rena, it IS a threat to society. It is not nature's way. They can't procreate, can they?....
You hvae them in your family? Well, there is no reason not to like them or love them, the
same way you would love one who has a disability, or an illness, etc. I just DO NOT want
them pushing their agenda on the majority who are not. This is just about sexual
preference--keep it in the bedroom!!!! It is not about being denied any constitutional
rights.....Ana, I got your point.....I am just tired of this topic being shoved in our face
continually by all these gay activists and I have to ventilate my feelings.... You know I always
wondered why homosexuals are referred to as 'gay', kind of an oxymoron? Nothing really
'gay' about them or their movement......I am all for intellectual honesty too!!
Read more & COMMENT at: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2011/08/al-
cardenas-wife-diana-gays-are-in-our-faces-with-public-display-of-affection-gay-parades-
gay-rallie.html#ixzz1U03GgKiY
Re: Comments about the LGBT Community
Mrs. Diana Cardenas,
On behalf of Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida, a Florida non profit dedicated to the
Leadership, Protection & Promotion of Latino|Hispanic LGBTQ rights (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, questioning) - the only organization of its kind in South Florida since
2002, we join the many voices outraged by your insensitive and irresponsible statements,
and call on you to immediately retract and apologize for your public comments regarding
the GLBT community.
The LGBT community if filled with loving, caring, happy & respectable individuals -
families, couples, mother, fathers, sons & daughters – much like yourself & your family.
Unlike you, Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans are respectful & protective
of others rights, and will fight for equality and fairness for all. We are patriotic, honest, hard
working, tax paying Americans that deserve and demand the same rights this great country
offers us, as it did to & your husband when you came to its shores.
Your comments placed in a public forum like Facebook are hurtful, disrespectful,
misleading and simply unacceptable. We ask you to retract your comments and
apologize. Hate and bigotry of this sort is why our LGBT youth suicide rate is 4 times that
of heterosexuals, and hate crimes & bullying plague our society. Your words only
propagate these horrible statistics.
We may agree to disagree on many issues & policies, but to attack an entire group of
Americans based on ill-informed stereotypes and your own misguided references is
counter-productive. You should know the pain and suffering this type of action has caused
Americans historically, Catholics, Cubans, Jews…the List goes on. One would hope your
personal experiences and that of your loved ones and fellow Americans would have hade
you a more tolerant and accepting individual, but not to worry, Unity Coalition|Coalición
Unida is always willing and available to work with you in better understanding the LGBT
community, our similarities, hopes, dreams and expectations. Our doors are open to you,
in the spirit of unity, understanding & love.
UC|CU offers many community workshops, including our STATE OF HATE Workshop
coming up on September 10th – We believe you would greatly benefit by attending,
opening up your mind & heart and be better informed on a topic you seem very confused
and greatly misinformed on.
Whether you accept our invitation or not, we hope you do understand the real harm you
have caused and prejudice you have displayed and call on you to do the right thing and
apologize immediately.
Herb Sosa
Director
Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida - www.unitycoalition.org
MIAMI HERALD –
Al Cardenas' wife, Diana: Gays 'are in our faces with public display of
affection, gay parades, gay rallies, non-stop bombardment!!!'
The American Conservative Union -- now led by Miami attorney Al Cardenas -- has barred
the conservative gay Republican group, GOProud, from sponsoring and fully participating
at its next national convention.
This week, Cardenas' wife Diana (Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Cardenas
Household," according to her Facebook profile) engaged in an interesting public exchange
on the social network about gays and lesbians after GOP activist Ana Navarro posted
comments concerning Texas Gov. Rick Perry's flip-flop last week on gay marriage:
"I want a candidate w/strong informed opinions & beliefs & courage to stick by them
even when not politically convenient. Is that too much to ask these days?" Navarro posted.
Here's Diana Cardenas' initial response to Navarro:
I would be very disappointed if Perry did not favor amending the Const to ban gay
marriage. These gay marriage laws are destructive .... Marriage is a vital social institution
between two members of the OPPOSITE sex. It goes way beyond just an emotional
relationship---it serves a vital role in the stability and continuity of our society, something
which homosexual marriages cannot provide. Unfortunately, the biggest victory of the gay
movement has been to shift the debate from a 'behavior' to identity, whereby those that
oppose homosexuality are considered bigoted or hateful. They have equated it to the Civil
Rights Movement, seeking to obtain the rights granted under the constitution to all races or
religions. Sexual behavior does not fall into either category!!!!It is not about homosexuals
wanting to enter into a 'marriage' so much as it is about them wanting to gain acceptance
into mainstream society by redefining the traditional definition of the institution. Because a
few liberal judges decide to sign it into law, does not mean the public is in favor of it.
Whenever it has been put on the ballot (as in California), it has failed.
A few hours later, Cardenas responded to Rena Doty Fraser, who asked why gay
marriage "is such a threat":
Rena, it IS a threat to society. It is not nature's way. They can't procreate, can they?....
You hvae them in your family? Well, there is no reason not to like them or love them, the
same way you would love one who has a disability, or an illness, etc. I just DO NOT want
them pushing their agenda on the majority who are not. This is just about sexual
preference--keep it in the bedroom!!!! It is not about being denied any constitutional
rights.....Ana, I got your point.....I am just tired of this topic being shoved in our face
continually by all these gay activists and I have to ventilate my feelings.... You know I always
wondered why homosexuals are referred to as 'gay', kind of an oxymoron? Nothing really
'gay' about them or their movement......I am all for intellectual honesty too!!
Read more & COMMENT at: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2011/08/al-
cardenas-wife-diana-gays-are-in-our-faces-with-public-display-of-affection-gay-parades-
gay-rallie.html#ixzz1U03GgKiY
Immigration Judge Closes Deportation
Case Against Married Gay Man
August 20, 2011... Attorney Lavi Soloway writes,
"San Francisco Immigration Judge Marilyn Teeter
has granted [Immigrations and Customs
Enforcement] Motion to Administratively Close
Deportation of gay Venezuelan Alex Benshimol,
ending the nightmare faced by Alex and his
American husband, Doug Gentry."
In July, Teeter had put off a decision on the case
until 2013, but had given the U.S. government 60
days to decide whether it was going to continue
with Benshimol's deportation.
Soloway writes, "According to the documents
received today, ICE moved quickly to notify the court
by the beginning of August requesting that the
case be dropped. A few days later, the Judge
granted the government's motion and closed
proceedings."
This is at least the second time ICE has taken
such an action in a case. Earlier this year, in a
case involving another Venezuelan, Henry
Velandia, and his husband, Josh Vandiver, the ICE
office in Newark, N.J., took a similar action, noting
that Velandia's case "is not an enforcement priority
at this time."
The move appears to be in line with the plan laid
out earlier this week by Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for focusing on
the "highest priority" deportation cases.
Case Against Married Gay Man
August 20, 2011... Attorney Lavi Soloway writes,
"San Francisco Immigration Judge Marilyn Teeter
has granted [Immigrations and Customs
Enforcement] Motion to Administratively Close
Deportation of gay Venezuelan Alex Benshimol,
ending the nightmare faced by Alex and his
American husband, Doug Gentry."
In July, Teeter had put off a decision on the case
until 2013, but had given the U.S. government 60
days to decide whether it was going to continue
with Benshimol's deportation.
Soloway writes, "According to the documents
received today, ICE moved quickly to notify the court
by the beginning of August requesting that the
case be dropped. A few days later, the Judge
granted the government's motion and closed
proceedings."
This is at least the second time ICE has taken
such an action in a case. Earlier this year, in a
case involving another Venezuelan, Henry
Velandia, and his husband, Josh Vandiver, the ICE
office in Newark, N.J., took a similar action, noting
that Velandia's case "is not an enforcement priority
at this time."
The move appears to be in line with the plan laid
out earlier this week by Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for focusing on
the "highest priority" deportation cases.
CLICK for more info on freedomtomarry.org