Everything has a silver lining. While I was poking about on gay immigration issues, I came across this reporting that a backroom dealing is going on for comprehensive immigration reform, something that eluded the 109th "do-nothing" Congress, at the peak of GOP power-by-numbers.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Now, I don't know how closely this might be linked with Nadler's initiative, but it seems like, at least to the casual observer, that this might be the time to be ... GLBT vigorous.
Looking about, I find that the Immigration Equality folks issued an action item a couple of weeks ago.
Others?
NGLTF - "Immigration" doesn't even appear on their list of issues and, I couldn't find any statements about whether right now might be a critical time for an issue that is not as small as some people think.
They are, like others, however, actively involved in the press office there making sure the appropriate outrage is voiced over Peter Pace's remarks. At this junction in GLBT history, such outrage is commoditized, so, while it's important, one could argue that's not what they are getting paid the "big bucks" for, yes? Opinions could differ, but that viewpoint is not without merit.
They did issue a vigorous applause statement a year-ago (that bill ultimately didn't pass in the 109th, however). I wasn't following the issue, so who knows if it was preceded by an action item or not, meaning there is no timeline-transparency on the issue (at least on the website).
Log Cabin Republicans - The Log Cabins appear to have run just two "advocacy campaigns" in 2006. Right now, there is nothing listed for 'action' in 2007. Nothing in their press releases about whether immigration is a critical issue right now, although you can find an (undated) eloquent essay on why the UAFA is need NOW. (It's just down on the list from where the 'death tax' is a pressing gay issue ...). As an aside, their newbie leader is lauding the recently introduced legislation on DADT, perhaps that will have more near-term progress than their court case suing "city hall" on the matter -- at least it's the good fight, eh?
HRC - The HRC list 'immigration' as a drop-down menu 'hop topic' and provide a hyperlink to what appears to be the lead national group on the issue, NYC-based group, Immigration Equality, although HRC are not listed as a donor group (none of the other organizations that I saw provide such a link). Importantly, HRC does 'score' the Congress on the issue in their regular scorecards (see item "F").
Such a scoring empowers people to DO something on their own, arguably. Nevertheless, so far as I can tell from the website, HRC isn't in "action alert" mode on immigration, right now. Maybe it is my mistake in thinking the current compromise that may be in the works is germane, but, whatever the case, the HRC are most visibly involved in demanding an apology from Peter Pace (which has its own problems), an action on sensationalist Ann Coulter, and ... Whale Watching.
I mention the Whale Watching because it is so cute. It's like Mrs. Banks shouting "Votes for Women!" and then swiftly going back to 'normal' and telling the nanny what not to do because we know it upsets Mr. Banks when he comes home, in the film Mary Poppins.
TIME TO GRASSROOTS THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS?
So, how long do you think it will be before someone sets up a simple website so that you can "action alert" the "National Gays"? (Smartly, so it doesn't degenerate into a whine aloud crowd).
Peter Petrelis can't do it on his own, but he provides corroborating evidence on another topic, here, that seems worthy on the face of it to me. [By the way, Tim Gill is a benefactor to IGLHRC, if I remember right (could be wrong), so maybe a call/email to Urvashi?]
God knows, I'd bet there are plenty of people with specialize expertise and a long history with some topics, that many 'staffers' may not have.
Communicating with each other via the NYTimes or the Star Ledger just seems like using a bat to do the job of knife, IMO. But, honestly, opinions are like ...
Avanti.
