Causa’s LGBT work featured in short film and mentioned in NYT article

June 12, 2012

Salem, Ore. -- We have two great announcements to make about Causa's work with the Latino Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Bisexual (LGBT) Community.

First of all, we are happy to announce that a video created by Lara Media featuring Causa’s LGBT work won the Short Film Competition at the 2012 St. Louis Jewish Film Festival.

The short film, La Causa es Justa (Just Cause) can be view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pn8wJxZBfM&feature=player_embedded

Jeremy Cropf , Megan Garbayo and the team at Lara Media are working on a longer version of the film, which we will send out once it’s complete.

Another great announcement is that the work Basic Rights Oregon has been doing with Causa Oregon around LGBT Equality made it on the front page of the Sunday New York Times.

Here is the segment from the article, "Black Leaders and Gay Advocates March in Step":

"After Oregon voters in 2004 approved an amendment banning same-sex marriage, with the major group supporting the amendment using an African-American talk show host as its spokeswoman, a gay rights organization called Basic Rights Oregon decided to review its own lack of diversity and its failure to form close relationships with minority communities, according to its executive director, Jeana Frazzini.

It deepened a relationship with a Latino immigrant rights group, Causa. Since then, Basic Rights Oregon has fought local anti-immigrant ballot measures and pushed at the state level for illegal immigrants to be able to get driver’s licenses and, for those who came to this country as children, to pay in-state tuition at public universities. Causa and Basic Rights Oregon have also joined forces to run an ad on Spanish-language radio to promote legalizing same-sex marriage.

In the ad, a woman describes how she and her husband struggled to accept their gay son, then says that she does not want him to face discrimination when he finds someone to marry.

“As a Latina, I believe in loving my neighbor, in treating others as we would like to be treated, and in never turning our backs on family,” the woman says. “Marriage has brought so much happiness to my life, and I wouldn’t want any member of anyone’s family — gay or straight — to be denied that chance at happiness.”

Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/nyregion/black-leaders-and-gay-advocates-find-ways-to-march-in-step.html?_r=2

We would like to thank Lara Media, Causa LGBT Latin@s and Friends Group in Salem and Portland and would like to recognize and extend a big thank-you to all our allies in our LGBT organizing efforts including Basic Rights Oregon, Gill Foundation, and Western States Center.

Causa staff encuentro with Basic Rights Oregon

Causa LGBT Latin@s & Friends Group at May Day 2012

To continue supporting Causa’s work, please join us at Zocalo Night 2012 happening on Friday, June 22nd in Salem.  Tickets can be purchased by linking here or by visiting http://www.zocalonight.com/

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New York Times Editorial says America needs Immigration Reform in this New Year

An editorial appearing in the New York Times today calls for reform of America's immigration system saying "the country needs it; the economy needs it; the immigrants need and deserve it".

Among other things, the editorial says those who want to fix this nation's broken system will have to "shut out the choruses of no-amnestys and over-my-dead-bodys, sidestep the false arguments and press into the headwinds while holding firm to the core of the better solution".

Read the full editorial titled "Immigration's New Year" by linking here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/opinion/06wed1.html

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Senator Gillibrand Backpedals on Immigration

Last week we reported on Kristen Gillibrand’s ascension to the U.S. Senate and about her change in position on immigration. Gillibrand, a Democrat from the New York’s 20th Congressional District, was chosen by Gov. David Paterson to take the seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to a report from MSNBC, Senator Gillibrand is “backpedaling” on her once harsh positions on immigration. Gillibrand is said to be abandoning her position against “sanctuary cities” and “plans to come out in favor of legislation that would roll back federal laws that discourage states from offering the kids of illegal immigrants in-state tuition.”

According to the Associated Press, Senator Gillibrand said, "We need to recognize the heritage that the immigrant community has provided to this country and put policies in place that will reflect that core value."

Why the change of her position? MSNBC reports that she told the New York Times that "In a lot of these issues, it’s a case of learning more and expanding my view."

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Senator Gillibrand to Revisit Views on Immigration

“If Gov. David Paterson wanted to deliver a slap to immigrant New Yorkers, he effectively did so with his appointment yesterday of Representative Kirsten Gillibrand,” -- El Diario La Prensa, Spanish-language daily 1/24/2009

The criticism taken by New York's El Diario La Prensa in their Sunday edition has been a common theme around the nation in the days following Representative Kristen Gillibrand being named to fill the vacant Senate seat left by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Over the last year, Gillibrand, a Democrat representing New York’s 20th Congressional District, gained much attention over her troubling positions and voting record on immigration. On Friday, the New York Immigration Coalition issued a press release highlighting Gillibrand’s voting record and calling on her to:

“form a strong partnership with immigrant communities and fight for fairer immigration policies, so that families need not endure endless separations, and so that immigrant workers who risk everything in order to make a better life for their families are recognized for their inherent dignity and for their contributions to the U.S. economy”.

Since being sworn in on Tuesday, Senator Gillibrand has attempted to calm criticisms over her past positions on immigration. According to an article in yesterday's New York Times, Senator Gillibrand will “revisit” some of her positions on Immigration now that she “represents the whole state”. It is also being reported that she is reaching out to Hispanic elected officials and pledging to reconsider some of her positions.

As many are pointing out in the blogosphere and in the media, Senator Gillibrand needs to decide how she will best move away from her past troubling position on immigration. As Immigration Lawyer and blogger, Greg Siskind put it “Gillibrand's problem right now is that she needs to figure out how to move away from prior positions without seeming like a total flip-flopper (which is probably unavoidable)”.

We will be following this story closely in the weeks to come.

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