While Administrative Relief Applies to Millions of Immigrants, Millions More Are Left Out

LGBTQ Immigrants Still in Jeopardy; GetEQUAL Releases Video of Leader Coming Out to Dad at Border

WASHINGTON, DC - November 20, 2014 -- Moments ago, President Obama made a long-awaited announcement about his intentions to offer administrative relief to millions of undocumented immigrants facing the threat of deportation.

GetEQUAL has been working for four years to reform the U.S. immigration system to be more fair and more just, especially for LGBTQ undocumented immigrants. However, the administrative relief package announced tonight falls far short of protecting many LGBTQ immigrants and their families.

While tonight's announcement will positively change the lives of millions of people, there are millions more who will continue to live in fear. Furthermore, a damning investigation released by Fusion this week revealed that LGBTQ immigrants who are detained are more likely to be abused, raped, denied medication, and kept in solitary confinement for extended periods of time (http://interactive.fusion.net/trans/).

If the U.S. government cannot ensure the safety of those in its care, President Obama must keep LGBTQ-identified folks out of the system. (Call to action can be found here: http://getequal.org/end-deportations.)

GetEQUAL is launching a video tonight of a grassroots leader, Patrick Fierro, whose father was deported years ago, and who recently came out to his dad as a gay man on the U.S.-Mexico border: http://youtu.be/eAu-L0mhTds. For many mixed-status families like Patrick's, tonight's news is already too late -- their families have already been ripped apart under strict enforcement at the border and heavy criminalization across the rest of the country.

President Obama's speech tonight is an important step toward reclaiming our individual and national humanity. However it is just a first step. Tonight's announcement is a result of a long and hard-fought campaign, putting pressure on the president and on elected officials to stand up for what's right. GetEQUAL is committed to standing up for LGBTQ immigrants and their right to live safe, free, and open lives in this country.

GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information go to www.getequal.org. You can also follow GetEQUAL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/getequal or on Twitter at @GetEQUAL.

Videos

Coming Out as Gay on the Border - Posted Nov 22, 2014