UAFA Senate Hearings (6/3/2009) - Shirley Tan Testimony

[roberes34]

Thanks to all the people who are making this dream possible, this will help my partner and I so much, he needs me wiht him. I have taken care of him when he was about to die, before I came back to my country, who was going to take care of him, he does not have any family, he has me. Thank God we have managed to be together in my country.

[dstebbin]

5:23

Oh yeah, that's a good way to get sympathy! Eject a small fucking boy from the room because he's crying over the very real possibility of his mother having to leave him forever!

[dstebbin]

Why has the committee not released the Bill to House floor yet? It's been in that committee for almost a year now!

[bboyliangwei]

is it real or a movie

[sls74]

This would be such a simple, common sense sort of thing for Obama to do. If he's really in our corner, he'll prioritize issues such as this.

[luxuarylifestyle]

19 other countries like canada, australia, UK, those countries in Europe dont have any issue. Why is the US making it so hard to pass this bill to become the law? Need your answer please.. thanks.

[roberes34]

Becuase I think that the US is still in the stage of maturing as a country and as a society, hopefully they will quicken things regarding this issue, my partner and I are a binational couple. If 19 countries are doing this with no mayor problems, why can the US do it as well? I sometimes do not understand the US way of thinking, a very religious country with not very religious treatment for its citizens. Peace!

[Leylaashley]

@luxuarylifestyle Because Americans are afraid of change, and for a long long time have taught each other to hate/fear what is different. And though things have gotten better, it still needs allot more work, and more open hearts, and minds, like Shirley Tan's family, and community. Together, minorities of all types can make a difference, including their friends, families, and communities that accept them for who and what they are. We cannot just sit back and HOPE it will change..

[DiannaLovesJamie]

I wish it wasn't like this. I hope the US provides fair rights

[quiIl]

Republicans, defending families unless they're someone else's since 1952.

[Thepinktriangle]

I would like to know what the big deal is.

More then 20 countries worldwide provide this right. Countries which are known for high levels of immigration, like Canada, UK, Australia, etc.

Some of them have same-sex marriage, some of them civil unions, some of them, like Ireland or Australia, have neither.

Yet they can sponsor their foreign partner.

None of these countries have any problems. The fraud argument is a non- argument.

[keithevan79]

Why are there only 2 parties in The US? When one starts to be untouched, they should be replaced. They are dying anyway because of their heartless decisions, untouched, hypocrite, and self-righteous. At least put the nominees, who believe in compassion, have brain and heart and do not think that Jesus died only for their family and friends and their little party. America is a great country and deserves great leaders, not leaders who like to divide the country and family.

[keithevan79]

The most hypocrite country in the world. Claim believe in God and go to church every Sunday but have no compassion. Put yourself in the shoes of those people. Seperating a family is so cruel. I hope that doesn't happen to you one day especially to the one who oppose UAFA.

[acuario1981]

My god just look at that child bawling his eyes out! He must be traumatized at this point!!! This is so very WRONG! America stands for liberty and equality! We need to stop the far right from transforming us into a Nazi, nativist state! Sessions needs to burn in hell for being such inconsiderate pig! Man...Republicans are clearly out of touch...

[mmm413]

This is soo very wrong.

[teagarden8650]

LOL, out out out, Mexican immigrants.

Pailin 2012!!

[steviebambam]

She is from the Philippines, stupid!

[krl358]

The GOP's 'road to nowhere' world tour apparently continues.

It's being widely reported that Senator Jeff Sessions was annoyed by Ms. Tan's crying child. Unmoved, was Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, ranking minority member of the Committee and the only Republican to bother to attend the hearing. At the sight of the weeping boy, according to a Senate staffer who was at the hearing, Sessions leaned towards one of his aides and sighed, "Enough with the histrionics."

very very nice

[smeejay]

I just sent Sen. Sessions an email congratulating him on his utter lack of humanity. Please feel free to do the same. Is it any wonder that the repugnants are dwindling down to nothing but haters?

[SAGEBOT500]

That's what we call "compassionate conservatism."

[exiled4loving]

All men (and women) are created equal?

NOT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Life, Liberty, and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?

NOT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

[krl358]

Life, Liberty, Pursuit of happiness?

What a joke!

That's right BEG for some rights Ms. Tan. Prove you & your family are human, deserving & kinda normal.

Perhaps then...just maybe the US will join 19 of it's closest allies- (UK, Can, Aus, Ger, Fra, Bra, S. Afr, Spain, Bel, Isr, Ice, Nor, Switz, Swe, Den, Fin, Neth, New Zeal & Por) - in granting you (and thousand like you) a shred of decency & the most basic of civil rights.

'Greatest Democracy in the free world' ???

PROVE IT

[losyankis]

I feel sorry for the son crying behind her. What a trooper! How terrible it must have been for him to see her being hauled off in handcuffs. Reminds me of that Miami scenario several years back that was very over-the-top and unnecessary with that young Cuban kid. Our immigration system is a mess, and this is just another way it's broken. Hope this is included in the reform.

[vermagic]

I have been in a bi-national same sex relationship for 6 years. Many plane tickets, many tears. It's totally unfair! I've sat by and watched as my brother married his girlfriend from Japan and no problem, while me and my partner must struggle every day just to be together. A gross injustice.

[434missjames]

@vermagic , I am in the same situation. I have a male cousin who is living in the states working and married. Just because he is straight. While my partner and I are figuring out ways to get me to live n the states. She has 4 children so she can't move here. Is is so pathetic.

[keithevan79]

Been living in Indonesia for 4 years now so I can be with my partner for 9 years. It is not easy to be a gay couple in the most populous moslem country in the world. We have to be very discreet and careful. I just can hope that one day my country would see me as its citizen and treat me the same not abondon me.

[rg0057]

After spending 10 years in the US as a binational same-sex couple, my partner and I decided to live in Canada, where we also got married. Canada understands the words "liberty", "equality", and "family". Hopefully the US can take one small step in this direction, for those who don't have this option.

[papasfritas54]

Please give binational same-sex couples the same rights that the rest of America has enjoyed for many, many years. It is only fair.

[hepnova]

Congress should show some "family values" and pass this into law NOW!

[beezyisms]

It is so horrible that gay couples have to be humiliated into begging for their families to be kept together. I look at that child in the background and I can barely watch the video.

[hummingcrow]

It's a bit bizarre to see Jackie Speier sitting right next to that young boy with no apparent compassion. She looks over as he cries and then looks back with her face a mask. I can't watch it again. Ick.

[johninitaly]

I saw her looking compassionate and encouraging for the youngster. It seems she's working to help this family and other like it in their terrible predicament.

[rextrek]

Liberty & Justice for All are just empty words....esp. for LGBT Americans.

[hiseminencegris]

This is as vicious a case of discrimination as I have ever seen, It's blatantly unfair.

Gay partners should be able to sponsor their non-US partners for immigration purposes. This case, and thousands like it, make that clear.

[aratinacage]

This treatment of gays is terrorism, plain and simple.