Friday, October 15, 2010

Married Gay Couples Fight Deportations,
Call For Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act


On Sunday September 26 a group of binational couples participated in Marriage Equality New York's Wedding March to bring attention to their fight to stop the deportation of spouses of gay and lesbian Americans. Can Wedding March Bridge the Vote Gap? Gay City News, September 29, 2010.


Josh Vandiver and his mother-in-law, Luz Ferreira, pictured above, were interviewed at the rally by the Spanish language newspaper, El Diario La Prensa. (Exigen Igualdad Matrimonial Para Gays, Cristina Loboguerrero, September 27, 2010). They are fighting to stop the deportation of Josh's husband, Henry Velandia, who came to the United States in 2002 from Venezuela. Josh and Henry married this summer in Connecticut (see below) and live in Princeton, New Jersey where Josh is a Ph.D. student. Henry, a professional salsa dancer, performed last month on Univision's television dance show, Mira Quien Baila. This weekend he will audition in front of Paula Abdul for her new show, using that opportunity to speak out for "our lives together, our love and equal rights." On November 12, Josh and Henry will celebrate four years together as a couple. A few days later they will appear in Immigration Court in Newark for Henry's deportation hearing. Find out how you can help stop Henry's deportation by contacting Josh and Henry here.

Josh Vandiver and Henry Velandia on their wedding day
August 29, 2010

1 comment:

  1. i would like to share this story with all people that ever meet Henry or known him. I came back from DR and, all impressed of how they dance salsa, wanted to find classes in my area. not knowing him at all, i just showed up in his class. he inspired me for so many things in this life, his positive attitude towards people, not just potential clients, but "people" as human being. USA should want to KEEP people like him and not jeopardize his life and threaten to send him back, where he does not belong anymore

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