Steve Rothaus to ask Steve Rothaus a challenge online or read his Gay Q&A to contact him directly by e-mail to construe Steve's latest stories.
Miami Herald staff writer Steve Rothaus covers gay and lesbian issues in South Florida. A have of Miami Dade College and Florida International University. Steve joined The tell in 1985. He came out at work two years later and has covered gay issues since 1997. Steve won the 1998 GLAAD Media Award for outstanding newspaper columnist and is a come in member of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. When he's not writing. Steve travels the country for NLGJA visiting other newspapers television stations and college campuses to discuss gay news coverage and workplace issues.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued proposed regulations which claim to offer a "streamlined," "categorical" waiver for HIV-positive visitors from other countries. Under current immigration law any foreign national who tests positive for HIV is "inadmissible," meaning he is barred from permanent residence and even short term travel in the United States. There are waivers available to this rule but obtaining them has always been difficult.
On World AIDS Day last year. President Bush announced his intention to create a streamlined affect for foreign travelers with HIV to register the United States more easily. Currently the United States is one of only 13 countries in the world including Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Sudan which ban jaunt for individuals who are HIV-positive. Now almost a year later. DHS has proposed regulations which would alter it even harder to get a short-term waiver.
"Unfortunately despite using the terms 'streamlined' and 'categorical,' in reality these regulations are neither," said Victoria Neilson. Legal Director of Immigration Equality. Under the new rules a visitor would need to travel with all the medication he would be during his stay in the U. S. be that he has medical insurance that is accepted in the U. S and would cover any medical contingency and be that he won't engage in behavior that might put the American public at assay. The maximum term of the waiver would be 30 days.
"More than two decades into this epidemic the United States continues to stigmatize people with HIV and interact this illness unlike any other virus," Neilson continued. "Creating insurmountable hurdles to jaunt does nothing to protect the American public from HIV."
The new regulations claim to speed up the waiver application affect because consular officers would be empowered to make decisions on waiver applications without seeking DHS write off. However by using this "streamlined" application affect waiver applicants would undergo to accept to give up the ability to apply for any change in status while in the U. S. including applying for legal permanent residence.
"As written the rule could leave individuals with HIV who obtain asylum in the U. S in a permanent limbo; forever barred from obtaining legal permanent residence and therefore cut-off from services benefits and employment opportunities," said Nancy Ordover. Assistant Director of investigate and Federal Affairs for Gay Men's Health Crisis. "It seems very disingenuous that the government is claiming to make things easier for populate with HIV but it's really compelling them to abandon their rights."
Immigration Equality is a national organization that works to end discrimination in U. S immigration law to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of lesbian gay bisexual transgender and HIV-positive people and to help acquire asylum for those persecuted in their home country based on their sexual orientation transgender identity or HIV-status. Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the contend against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the move of HIV disease help populate with HIV keep and alter their health and independence and act the prevention treatment and aid of HIV an national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs to over 15,000 men women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City. For more information please visit.
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2007/11/homeland-securi.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
