Tag Archives: Asian Americans

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, news, politics, race

Gang of Eight gets it done in the Senate, 68-32; So why doesn’t it feel so great?

All the talk early in the week of the immigration deal turning into a  “blur” or the possibility of some revolt in the Senate turned out to be just that—talk.  The Senate bill passed handily with all the security to militarize immigration  and none of the humanity that marked the family-oriented immigration policies in the past. Conservatives were appeased enough to show “bi-partisan” support for the bill. Meanwhile, all the items Asian Americans wanted added on to the bill continued to be ignored.

But it isn’t over.

The fight continues on to the House. 

And then the real horse trading begins in conference.

We’ve just finished Act I of a three-act play.

What we end up with may not be very different from what was passed today.

So the compromising isn’t over. 

Check out what I wrote earlier on the proposal on the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund blog.

 

 

 

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, news, politics, race

DOMA done, challenge to Prop. 8 denied, let the June weddings begin again in California

I could sense something good was going to happen as early as this spring, but you never know.

http://aaldef.org/blog/the-national-coming-out-party-for-same-sex-marriage.html

And today, it happened.

The Supreme Court by it’s 5-4 ruling has declared Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

This really is a states rights issue. How could those legally married in states that allow gay marriages be denied federal benefits given to straight wedded couples? That’s discrimination, and shouldn’t be allowed. The court concurred.

So if you’re in one of the states where same-sex marriage is legal, this is an especially great day.

The DOMA refutation was expected. It wasn’t clear what the court would do with Prop. 8, the same-sex marriage ban voted in by the state.  When it was challenged and California officials wouldn’t defend the ban, the proposition’s leadership went to court to defend its constitutionality. But the high court in the way it acted, chose to sidestep ruling directly on same-sex marriage. It simply ruled that the Prop.8 folks didn’t have standing, or the right to argue the matter. So the case is sent back to the 9th circuit with orders to dismiss the case, and based on reports, same-sex marriages can resume again in California.

The Pride Parade in San Francisco on Sunday is going to be extraordinarily celebratory.

After the disappointing decisions on affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act this week, the Supreme Court gives us something to cheer about.

No warm champagne toasts on these decisions.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, news, race

Vincent Chin: Another year, another anniversary, but a story we will never forget

I was on the road yesterday but did not forget that it was the 31st year after the death of Vincent Chin.

On a day when Edward Snowden continues his trek for freedom, another Giants loss, and a week of monumental constitutional decisions, there was little time on the news spent marking Chin’s story.

Check out my piece on the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund blog to read my column based on the interview with Chin’s killer, first posted last year, the 30th anniversary of his murder.

http://aaldef.org/blog/ronald-ebens-the-man-who-killed-vincent-chin-apologizes-30-years-later.html

 

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, Linceblog: Following Tim Lincecum, news, politics, race, SF Giants, sports

San Francisco Giants beat Nationals, 4-2; Immigrants win and lose, 13-5

DC’s favorite baseball team, the Nationals, lost to the San Francisco Giants in extra innings 4-2 when the Giants scored a run in the ninth to tie, and World Series hero Pablo Sandoval hit a walk-off homer in the 10th.

Back in DC, also in extra innings, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted that immigration reform package out of mark up and on to the Senate floor, 13-5.

Hard to say who won there.

The Gang of Eight’s compromise is still together, and a pathway to citizenship is still in play for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

But Asian Americans failed to get deleted provisions in the current law restored.

And in the biggest blow, same-sex advocates couldn’t even get a vote on an amendment that would allow for bi-national partners to re-unite.

Same-sex marriage is hard enough. Same sex immigration not even in the discussion.

Discrimination continues. That’s why 13-5 isn’t quite the victory it could have been.

See my 5/22 post on the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund blog.