Apparently ever since Immigration Equality Action Fund came out in support of the DREAM Act, they have been getting some criticism for being so supportive of a measure that helps legalize immigrant youth that were brought by their parents to this country “illegally”.  Such criticism, of course, is extremely short-sighted, as Immigration Equality Fund originally explained:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Immigration Equality Action Fund, which advocates on Capitol Hill for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive immigrants and their families, today expressed support for the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), noting that the measure would benefit countless LGBT youth by providing them with a path to citizenship in the United States […]

“The DREAM Act is one critical step forward in addressing our country’s broken immigration system,” said Rachel B. Tiven, the group’s executive director. “Many of the young, undocumented people who would benefit from its passage are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. LGBT young people who have grown up and come out in America desperately need the DREAM Act to pass. This country has gotten a wake-up call about the vulnerability of LGBT youth, and passing the DREAM Act is a crucial component of protecting our young people. DREAM provides an opportunity to build a life, and fully participate, in the country so many undocumented young people call home. Congress should address the full array of obstacles and discrimination immigrants and their families face under our current immigration system, and passage of the DREAM Act is an important first step in doing just that.”

On the heels of Project Economic Refugee calling for a stronger alliance between the LGBTQ community and the immigrants rights community, it is very encouraging to see Immigration Equality take such a brave stance and to also see Equality California following in such public stance in support of immigrants’ rights:

LOS ANGELES – November 23 – Today Equality California Institute announced the launch of “Equality Beyond Borders: LGBT Inclusive Immigration Reform,” an immigrant rights project aimed at raising awareness and increasing support for the rights of undocumented immigrants within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. With support from the Power PAC Foundation, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, the California Alliance and other key coalition partners, Equality California Institute will host a series of six workshops to promote fruitful dialogue and direct action around the issues affecting LGBT immigrants and bi-national same-sex couples.

“Through powerful personal stories and open dialogue, we hope to raise awareness and inspire action to remedy the injustices and barriers to equality that LGBT immigrants face as a result of our broken immigration system,” said Geoff Kors, Equality California Institute Executive Director. “Equality California Institute is proud to collaborate with leaders in the fight for immigration reform to shore up support for compassionate immigration reform that includes protections for our immigrant LGBT brothers and sisters.”

We need to encourage these types of alliances to fight back against those that think that building bridges between these two communities is somehow wrong.  Send an e-mail to both Immigration Equality and to Equality California to thank them for taking such a brave stance in support of a more humane U.S. immigration policy; and of course, another way to thank them is to click on their “donate” button and shoot a little donation their way.