Press

MEDIA CONTACT:
Pedro Julio Serrano
Communications Manager
(Office) 646.358.1479
(Cell) 787.602.5954
pserrano@theTaskForce.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a longtime advocate for fair and humane comprehensive immigration reform, responded to the U.S. Senate’s failed cloture vote today blocking consideration of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). The DREAM Act, which passed the U.S. House last week, seeks to provide undocumented young people "conditional permanent residency" if they arrived in this country before they were 16 and attend college or serve in the military. Upon graduation or completion of their enlistment, they would receive permanent legal residency with an opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"Passage of the DREAM Act would have brought our nation closer to ensuring brighter and more secure futures for our young people, including countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, by providing them a path to citizenship. It is deeply disappointing that the Senate today refused to even allow a vote on the bill. One of our country’s core beliefs is that everyone should get a fair shake to fully participate in civic life and be able to build a future in the country they love and call home. Passage of the DREAM Act would have done justice to this fundamental and humane principle. It would have marked an important first step toward fixing this nation's broken immigration system. Instead, the futures of thousands of young people continue to hang in the balance because a few lawmakers have placed politics over people and principle."

To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce.

–30–

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, founded in 1974 as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., works to build the grassroots political power of the LGBT community to win complete equality. We do this through direct and grassroots lobbying to defeat anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and legislation and pass pro-LGBT legislation and other measures. We also analyze and report on the positions of candidates for public office on issues of importance to the LGBT community. The Task Force Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation incorporated in New York. Contributions to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund are not tax deductible.