Obama Administration's Inaction Keeps Married Gay Couple Separated

Despite a plea from Senator John Kerry, Attorney General Eric Holder has refused to act in the asylum case of Genesio "Junior" Oliveira, who requested asylum in the U.S. in 2002. In 2005, he was married in Massachusetts to his husband Tim Coco, but the couple have been separated since 2007 when Oliveira was sent back to Brazil after his asylum requests and appeals were denied.

In March, Kerry came to the aid of the couple, who would normally have no problem in this situation. But, because of the Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. does not recognize immigrants who marry U.S. citizens in a same-sex marriage.

Holder's response in this case has been silence, the AP reports:

"Tim Coco said Attorney General Eric Holder did not act on a Friday deadline in the case of Genesio 'Junior' Oliveira, effectively denying the 30-year-old Brazilian man's request for asylum in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. "We needed the Attorney General to make a decision on whether Junior could come home," said Coco, 48, of Haverhill. 'He didn't take this request seriously.' The Justice Department did not immediately return messages...Kerry spokeswoman Brigid O'Rourke said Monday that the senator will continue to work toward a solution that would reunite the couple for good. 'The fact is that if Tim and Junior were a heterosexual married couple, they would never have suffered through more than two years of separation,' said O'Rourke. Coco said he thought there was "no way" the Obama Administration would deny Oliveira's asylum request after Kerry made his plea to Holder.' We are profoundly sad,' said Coco. 'This is more than any married should have to face.'"

Cases like these are why the Uniting American Families Act, which was reintroduced in February, is so important. As well, of course, as the repeal of DOMA which prevents the federal government from recognizing anything other than a heterosexual marriage.

The UAFA has since been added to a larger comprehensive immigration reform bill. Senator Gillibrand spoke about it briefly in answer to a question at her forum over the weekend, and stressed that the immigration reform legislation must be introduced and passed before the Spring.

Senator Ted Kennedy Remembered at JFK Library: Clips

Senator Edward Kennedy was remembered at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Dorchester, Massachusetts this evening. Here is one part of Vice President Joe Biden's moving remarks that might interest you:

"I think the legacy of Teddy Kennedy can be measured in no small part as a consequence of how we in America look at one another. How blacks look at whites. How gays look at straights. How straights look at gays. How we literally look at one another. And in turn how we look at ourselves. Because when you were with him you had to measure yourself against him. And it always required you to be larger than you were inclined to be."

Biden's full remarks, plus Orrin Hatch, John Kerry, Chris Dodd, John McCain, Joseph P. Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Senators Do the Darnedest Things, The Jackson 3 & A New Zealand Travesty

In honor of Bruno's opening today, check out this love him/hate him piece from the New York Daily News. "Show me someone who's really offended by [the character] Bruno and I'll show you a highly self-righteous person," says psychiatrist Mark Goulston.

President Obama met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. (Pictured: Obama being greeted by Bishop James Harvey.) Despite their differences (to put it mildly) on abortion and stem cell research (and don't forget the gays), Obama thanked the Pope for receiving him and said, "It's a great honor."

Senator Roland Burris, controversially appointed by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich to fill a vacancy in the Illinois Senate created by the election of President Barack Obama, will reportedly not seek a full term in 2010.

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has admitted that his parents (they're alive???) paid his mistress's family nearly $100,000 "out of concern." Concern for their son's career and reputation? The money was allegedly not taken from campaign funds.

Senator John Kerry has announced his support for Massachusetts A.G. Martha Coakley's federal lawsuit challenging DOMA.

Convicted American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Iee were supposed to be sent to a prison labor camp in North Korea, but rumor has it they're at a guest house while officials seek talks with the U.S.

Gay Panic on Holiday: In New Zealand, 32-year-old Hungarian tourist Ferdinand Ambach beat 69-year-old Ronald Brown to death with a banjo and then rammed the instrument down his throat. He's just been found guilty...of manslaughter.

The ladies who Tweet.

Naked!—an exhibition of art that exposes "sundry flesh"—opened last night and runs through September 19 at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York. "Naked is not nude nor 'naturalist'—it is altogether more intriguing, predicating perhaps a state of desire, whether narcissistic or voyeuristic, that sense of being naked as an active, self-conscious state of heightened awareness if not arousal." The show features contributions from Jack Pierson (work pictured), Andy Warhol, David LaChapelle, Charles Hovland and many others. (Site is art, not porn, but is still probably NSFW.)

The Amateur Gourmet's singing, dancing tribute to...cooking fish.

In males, sexuality can be determined by birth order. The more older brothers he has, the more likely he is to be gay. Wait, I think I saw this movie—wasn't it pre-condom?

Michael Jackson's dermatologist may or may not be the father of his children, but he doesn't want them turning into "the next version of the Jackson 3."

Singapore will keep homosexuality illegal. But don't worry—they won't prosecute you for it.

According to Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin resigned for one reason only—greed. Palin's spokesman Meghan Stapleton fires back: "It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills." Oh, snap. But if Levi's working on a piece of fiction, Sarah's Barbara Cartland.

Was Ernest Hemingway a failed KGB spy?

Lesbian Mother Handcuffed, Torn from Two Sons, Partner of 23 Years

Why? Because the U.S. Government does not see LGBT people as equal citizens:

"If Jay Mercado, [Shirley] Tan's partner of 23 years and the mother of her sons, were a different gender, it's highly unlikely that [authorities] ever would have come. As a U.S. citizen, Mercado could have sponsored a wedded spouse for legal permanent residency. But although Mercado and Tan (above) married in San Francisco in 2004, federal law limits the definition of marriage to a man and a woman, and same-sex partners of U.S. citizens don't have a route to legal permanent residence extended to straight married couples...Mercado and Tan, who first appealed for political asylum for Tan in 1995 and thought their case was still pending, said they were completely unaware a deportation order had been issued in 2002. If Tan is deported this week, they will have to decide between separating two sons from one of their mothers, or moving the family to a country they have never known."

Thankfully, Congressmen like Jerrold Nadler and John Kerry are trying to help get rid of this injustice.

Binational, same-sex couples face immigration problems [san jose mercury news]

News: Orcas, Shepard Fairey, Twilight, Marc Jacobs, Iran, John Kerry

Vermont Senate gives final okay to same-sex marriage bill. "Lawmakers passed the measure on Tuesday in voice vote with no debate." On to the House.

SHOCK: Hundreds of killer whales seen in Gulf of Mexico.

Robert Pattinson smells like a man, a dirty one.

Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone to adopt?

Berlin police force bans fashion labels over their popularity among neo-Nazis: "The brands Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, ACAB, Alpha Industries, Consdaple, Lonsdale, Pit Bull, Outlaw, Troublemaker and Thor Steinar have all been put on a black list. According to police authorities, the labels are seen as a sign of right-wing extremist views and it would be damaging for officers to be associated with such ideologies. Disciplinary action will be taken against officers found wearing any of the brands at work."

NBC police drama Southland introducing gay cop (spoilers).

Twilight sequel's wolf pack is introduced.

Freedom Action Inclusion Rights (F.A.I.R.), a Southern California-based grassroots organization fighting for marriage equality And the repeal of California's Proposition 8, partners with Shepard Fairey to open 'Love Unites' store. 100 percent of the proceeds go toward efforts to repeal Proposition 8 and secure equality in California.

Openly gay Valparaiso University student stripped of senate seat after row over what constitutes "minority" status: "The student senate leaders learned that its bylaws did not include sexual orientation as a qualifying minority status. The position should be set aside only for racial and ethnic minorities, according to school officials. That has been the 'historic pattern,' said Reggie Syrcle, executive director of university relations."

Iran considers death penalty for "offensive" bloggers.

Divorce Court preview: Ted Haggard now a heterosexual without issues.

Inside the viewing party for RuPaul's Drag Race with Bebe and Rebecca Glasscock at NYC's Therapy bar.

GLAAD Director of Entertainment Media Damon Romine taking job with Screen Actors Guild.

Emile Hirsch gets serious for L'Uomo Vogue.

John Kerry writes in the Huffington Post about the Massachusetts gay immigration case I posted about on Friday: "I believe Tim and Junior should be reunited based on their legal marriage in the state of Massachusetts. I believe that all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be assured equal protection under the law...But when you cut to the chase, I don't believe Tim and Junior, or any other couple in a similar situation, should have to wait for Congress to come around to the truth that laws like DOMA are discriminatory and wrong."

Oprah interviewing women leaving men for other women today.

Big Gay Musical finds distributor: "Embrem Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to 'The Big Gay Musical,' a musical comedy film directed by Casper Andreas and Fred M. Caruso starring an ensemble of Broadway actors. It plans to premiere the film, currently in postproduction, at film festivals this summer. The cast includes Liz McCartney ('South Pacific'), Jim Newman ('Minnelli on Minnelli'), Joey Dudding ('A Chorus Line'), Marty Thomas ('Xanadu'), Andre Ward ('Xanadu'), Daniel Robinson ('Hairspray'), Jeff Metzler ('Mary Poppins'), Brian Spitulnik ('Chicago'), Josh Cruz ('Wig Out'), Celina Carvajal ('Tarzan') and Steve Hayes, one of the stars of the film 'Trick.'"

John Kerry Requests Asylum for Brazilian Gay Man Married in MA

John Kerry has come to the aid of a Brazilian man, Genesio "Junior" Oliveira, who requested asylum in the U.S. in 2002. In 2005, he was married in Massachusetts to his husband Tim Coco, but the couple have been separated since 2007 when Oliveira was sent back to Brazil after his asylum requests and appeals were denied.

The AP reports: "Oliveira asked for asylum in 2002, saying he was raped and attacked by a physician as a teenager in Brazil and feared persecution because of his sexuality. The Associated Press does not typically name rape victims, but Oliveira speaks openly about his case and allows his name to be used. In a letter sent Thursday to Attorney General Eric Holder, Kerry said Immigration Judge Francis Cramer found Oliveira’s testimony to be credible and his fear of living in Brazil genuine. However the judge denied the claim, saying the man 'was never physically harmed,' something Kerry called 'outrageous.' ... 'Tim and Junior have played by the rules since day one,' Kerry said. 'Junior’s asylum claim is a legitimate one and has been recognized as such.' The Executive Office for Immigration Review will not confirm or deny whether an immigrant has requested asylum. The Department of Justice said Holder would review the letter."

Cases like these are why the Uniting American Families Act, which was recently reintroduced, is so important. As well, of course, as the repeal of DOMA which prevents the federal government from recognizing anything other than a heterosexual marriage.