Immigration reform needs to get in line behind the gay civil rights movement, which has not yet been resolved.  Which is not to say that I don't recognize the plight of illegal immigrants because I do.  However, I didn't break the law to come into this country.  The country broke the law by not recognizing and bestowing upon me my full rights as a citizen and I find it hard as a Black lesbian to jump on the immigration reform bandwagon when my own bandwagon hasn't even left the barn.


President Bush wants a comprehensive guest worker program. 


With all due respect Mr. President, there can be no guest worker program until we resolve the issue of making sure that all lesbian and gay legal workers have the right to take up to 12 weeks of leave from work to care for a seriously ill partner or parent of a partner and the right to purchase continued health coverage for a domestic partner after the loss of a job.


Both Senator Kennedy and Senator John Cornyn of Texas backed away from insisting that guest workers would have to leave the United States after their initial two-year visa expired, basically guaranteeing that immigrant families wouldn't be separated.  Well what about making sure that the children of same-sex couples are protected and not separated from the parent they know and love in the event of an untimely death?  Same-sex couples make commitments and form families just like heterosexual couples and need the same protections.


So you see, America needs to take care of its own backyard before it debates on whether not to take care of its neighbor's backyard. Lesbians and gays are not second-class citizens.  Our issues should not get bumped to the back of the line in favor of extending rights to people who have entered this country illegally. Bottom line.


Author and poet Audre Lorde once said, “I have come to believe over and over again, that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”


While I know no one wants to be viewed as a racist when it comes to immigration reform, as a lesbian I don't want to move to the back of the bus to accommodate those who broke the law to be here.  Likewise, if our lawmakers want to hold emergency and twenty four hour sessions, let them first take up the issues of the people who are here legally and can actually vote for them in the upcoming elections before addressing the needs of those that are here illegally.  After all, immigrants aren't the only ones who want a shot at the American dream.

Jasmyne Cannick is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.  Located in Los Angeles, she can be reached via her website at www.jasmynecannick.com .

© 2006 Jasmyne A. Cannick