The group of minority journalists’ groups is called UNITY. I joined the NLGJA last year, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. I went to their conference in Philadelphia and had a terrific time. So then NLGJA joined UNITY, so I now belong to UNITY through NLGJA. When I asked about speaking about my issue at NLGJA in 2012, I found out about the aligning with UNITY, so proposed my session to them.
One disappointment I have is that the Association of Black Journalists has dropped out of UNITY. I don’t know why, but I wish they had not. It would be good to all be together.
Immigration is such a hot topic for journalists of color and LGBT journalists, my proposal was folded into a panel on immigration. I will be the one speaking about the passion aspect of immigration issues – what happens when people marry non-citizens and same-sex binational couples face what Karin and I face – we Americans cannot sponsor our non-American husbands or wives for immigration. Wow! I’m excited!
In Las Vegas, on August 2, 2012, from 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. I will be on the panel with this description and these other panelists:
Immigration: Beyond the Border
- Floyd E. Vasquez Jr., Assignment Manager, KOB Eyewitness News 4/HBI
- Wendy Feliz Sefsaf, Communications Director, American Immigration Council
- Judy Rickard, author of Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law
- Eric K. Ward, Programme Executive, U.S. Reconciliation and Human Rights The Atlantic Philanthropies
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Immigration Equality, Out4Immigration and Love Exiles Foundation are the three groups working on our issue – and the three groups who receive whatever money comes in from sales of my book, Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law, Findhorn Press, 2011.
My newer project, with David W. Ross, whose new film “I Do: The Movie” will be out in June 2012, is a portrait project of LGBT binational families, United by Love, Divided by Law Portrait Project. It expands the reach of my book and will keep adding portraits as we find couples and funds to add more. We will hold events to assist the work being done for our families by Lavi Soloway and Stop the Deportations – The DOMA Project. Check out the site at
http://unitedbylovedividedbylaw.com/
and see the Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/unitedbylovedividedbylaw
To follow Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law, go to its Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Torn-Apart-United-by-Love-Divided-by-Law/116343758442046
Read an excerpt of my book at this link: http://bit.ly/eIyGxh
Order online from the publisher at this link:
http://www.findhornpress.com/relationships-43/torn-apart-392.html
Elizabeth Gilbert wrote the foreword to my book. She is an ally in our fight and has suffered from the immigration situation herself as part of a binational relationship. Though she and her boyfriend were able to marry, they know what the drill was and they advocate for LGBT binational families. We like that!
Remember, too, you can follow me and what I am doing and thinking and reading on twitter @tornapartbook
