• Immigration/Asylum

(Washington, DC, June 7, 2010)  — More than 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality groups and allies today issued the following joint statement:

Arizona’s S.B. 1070 takes the state down a path that will lead to racial profiling, discrimination and anti-immigrant extremism. We stand in solidarity with other individuals, organizations and local governments in rejecting the misrepresentation of immigrants put forth in this unjust and ill-conceived measure.

S.B. 1070 essentially declares an entire class of people to be inherently criminal on the basis of their race and appearance. The consequences of S.B. 1070 are grave and troubling: the inevitability of racial profiling and infringement on civil liberties; the strong probability of violence and harassment against individuals and their families; and the reversal of progress toward creating a more inclusive society.

We also note that this bill was signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer, the same governor who last year stripped away earned health insurance benefits from the same-sex domestic partners of state employees. Brewer’s actions as governor demonstrate, at best, callous indifference — and at worst, willful malice — toward immigrants and LGBTQ people alike.

All Arizona families — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight — have reason to be alarmed. The state’s new law threatens to tear apart families, separate children from their parents and rip apart loving couples who are building their lives together. The LGBTQ community knows all too well how easily people who ‘look different’ or ‘act different’ can be singled out for harassment and persecution. LGBTQ immigrants will be doubly vulnerable under this law, which gives license to discriminate.

We are united in our determination to stand for political and legislative change that will ensure just treatment of immigrants, people of color, and all people in Arizona. Such justice requires the repeal of S.B. 1070 and the passage and implementation of comprehensive federal immigration reform.

Today we join with groups such as Service Employees International Union, League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian American Justice Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, National Council of La Raza, National Action Network, the National Puerto Rican Coalition, and many others in the boycott against the state of Arizona until S.B. 1070 is repealed, overturned by the courts, or superseded by comprehensive federal immigration reform.

•National Center for Lesbian Rights

•National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

•Human Rights Campaign

•GLAAD

•Immigration Equality

•National Black Justice Coalition

•National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

•Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

•International Foundation for Gender Education

•Family Equality Council

•Two Spirit Press Room

•Equality Federation

•National Minority AIDS Council

•National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce(R)

•Freedom to Marry

•Gay Men’s Health Crisis

•Lambda Legal

•BiNet USA

•International Federation of Black Prides, Inc.

•Consortium of Higher Education LGBTQ Resource Professionals

•UNID@S

•SAGE