Same-sex couples seek immigration benefit

[Chris]

Judy Rickard took an early retirement and a reduced pension so she could be assured of more time with her partner, a British citizen whose stays in the U.S. are limited to six months.

Rickard, 61, would have preferred to keep working at San Jose State University and sponsor her partner, Karin Bogliolo, for residency in the United States, just as heterosexual couples can. But U.S. law does not allow for that.

"If you're going to have a system that's designed to keep families together, it should focus on keeping families together," Rickard said.

That could soon change, as more than 100 lawmakers in the House and about 20 in the Senate have signed onto bills that would add the U.S. to the 19 countries that already recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes.

Gay rights groups are encouraged that President Barack Obama has signaled that he would like to include couples like Rickard and Bogliolo in the bills.

The long-standing fight over the country's estimated 36,000 same sex couples of two nationalities is a small but emotional part of the debate over immigration reform. But including same-sex couples in the mix could make it harder to pass an immigration overhaul.

A key ally in past immigration fights, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said it would not support a measure that has a same-sex provision.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31982718/ns/politics-more_politics/

And a ridiculous topic takes a turn to the absurd.  It's nice to know the Conference of Bishops would bother themselves to oppose an amnesty bill. 

Picture of middle-aged dykes at article.  Uglier than hairless cats.

[miskie]

And a ridiculous topic takes a turn to the absurd.  It's nice to know the Conference of Bishops would bother themselves to oppose an amnesty bill. 

Picture of middle-aged dykes at article.  Uglier than hairless cats.

The one on the left's a woman ? I thought that was Al Franken....   

[Eupher]

And besides the maxed-out UF (ugly factor), precisely what benefit does the apparent swooner bring to the United States?   

[Chris]

And besides the maxed-out UF (ugly factor), precisely what benefit does the apparent swooner bring to the United States?   

Her "partner" could stay at her job as a state employee.

[JohnnyReb]

The one on the left's a woman ? I thought that was Al Franken....   

Looks like him to me too...............in drag, no less.

[docstew]

Her "partner" could stay at her job as a state employee.

Point of Order:  He asked for a benefit to society, not a liability.

[Eupher]

Point of Order:  He asked for a benefit to society, not a liability.

Thanks, doc. Absolutely true. Besides that, I think the butt ugly one that looks like Al Franken already DID retire.

[Chris_]

"If you're going to have a system that's designed to keep families together, it should focus on keeping families together," Rickard said.

Two lesbians living together does not a family make.

[Thor]

And besides the maxed-out UF (ugly factor), precisely what benefit does the apparent swooner bring to the United States?   

You can thank Ted Kennedy for the US no longer requiring immigrants to benefit this country. He proposed that change and it was passed back in the 60s.

[Eupher]

You can thank Ted Kennedy for the US no longer requiring immigrants to benefit this country. He proposed that change and it was passed back in the 60s.

Okay, just call me Rip van Winkle. Have I been asleep that long?