History! Congress Announces First-Ever Hearings on UAFA

In an exciting, and historic, development, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced just moments ago that he will convene a Congressional hearing, on June 3rd, about the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). This extraordinary news means that, for the first time, our families will be the subject of a hearing specifically addressing the plight of binational lesbian and gay couples.

All of us at Immigration Equality are incredibly proud to be working closely with Senator Leahy to make this moment possible. And we’re incredibly proud of our supporters, too. Your phone calls and email to Congress – and the courage of your families and families like Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado in speaking out – were critically important in our efforts.

The June 3rd hearing will not only be a milestone on our path to victory in Washington, but it will also be a watershed moment for ensuring that our families are part of the national conversation on immigration reform. This will be a powerful moment – and a significant step forward – in our work to educate lawmakers about our relationships and engage Congressional leaders on the issue. Members of Congress are traditionally reluctant to pass legislation that has not been discussed and weighed in at Congressional hearings, so a hearing is critical to UAFA’s future success, and its inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform. The hearing is, quite simply, one of the most significant moments ever in our work to secure full equality for lesbian and gay binational couples.

In the coming days, we will have more information on this landmark hearing. If you haven’t already, sign up for Immigration Equality email updates delivered directly to your inbox. And please continue to visit our website and blog for important updates.

We will continue our work to make sure our families are included in this historic moment . . . and continue to keep all of our supporters updated on what’s happening and how you can be involved.

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